Ask two different questions
Imagine your bookings application becomes unavailable. The first question is how long you can manage without it. The second is whether you could reconstruct the latest bookings if the available recovery copy is older than the failure. A fast restore can still lose important recent work.
Conversely, a recent copy does not guarantee a quick return. You may need a replacement device, permission to use the copy, an application installation or a decision from the owner. Both objectives must be considered alongside the whole recovery route.
Use examples, not borrowed promises
| Illustrative activity | Possible RTO | Possible RPO | Business question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taking customer calls | One hour | Not normally a live-call data target | Can staff use the independent diversion? |
| Office accounts | One working day | Previous working day | Can transactions be reconstructed safely? |
| Current bookings | Two hours | One hour | Does the actual backup frequency support that? |
These figures are examples for discussion, not a service offer. A practice manager may decide that a particular record cannot safely be reconstructed. An office with a quiet afternoon may accept a longer interruption for a less important task.
Start with the consequence of interruption
Speak to the people doing the work. Ask what happens after an hour, an afternoon and a full day without the activity. Consider customer commitments, payment deadlines and the safety of decisions made without complete records. Do not set every target to the shortest possible interval without considering cost and feasibility.
Write down who accepted the target. A supplier can explain technical options, but the owner needs to decide what interruption the business can tolerate. Where a contract contains a recovery commitment, compare its exact wording with the workshop target.
Check the complete recovery route
Look at the last successful backup, the time the copy represents and the steps needed to use it. Include sign-in, authorisation, connectivity, replacement hardware and application checks. Ask whether the alternative depends on the same service whose loss you are planning for.
Do not confuse a support response target with either objective. A response is the point at which support engages under the agreement. It does not mean your application is restored or your recovered data is sufficiently recent.
Record test results separately
During an exercise, record the chosen recovery point, time to usable work and checks completed by an application owner. Keep the result alongside the target, including gaps and follow-up actions. A test result from one scenario is not a guarantee for every future incident.
The ICO's data security guidance says organisations must be able to restore access to personal data in a timely manner after a physical or technical incident. Read ICO data security guidance.
What we can do for you
We help you agree priorities, document workarounds and check the recovery arrangements. Continuity planning is quoted as a fixed fee after a free 30 minute call. The technical fallbacks use our standard prices.
| Technical fallback | From per month, plus VAT |
|---|---|
| Independent Microsoft 365 backup | £2.50 per user, included as standard in support agreements |
| Email filtering | £1.50 per user, not needed as an additional filter with Microsoft 365 Premium |
| Server backup with cloud failover | £35 per server |
| Desktop and laptop backup | £10 per device |
| Business phone system | £11 per user |
Monthly starting prices exclude VAT and use a 3 year term billed monthly. Shorter terms cost a little more. Your price and the actual fallback arrangements are confirmed in a written quote.
Questions about this service
Does a backup keep every service running?
No. Backup provides a recovery copy. Alternative access, replacement equipment, staff instructions and decisions are separate parts of a continuity plan.
Will you guarantee a recovery time?
We agree targets after reviewing the systems, dependencies and test results. A planning target or example is not a contractual recovery guarantee.
Is security monitoring an out-of-hours helpdesk?
No. Our security partner's analysts provide the contracted 24x7 account monitoring. Normal support hours are Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 17:30, excluding UK bank holidays.
Where should we start?
Call 01494 866668 for a free 30 minute planning conversation. Describe the activity you could least afford to lose and the arrangements already in place.
Free tools to help you prepare
Continuity tools
- Free business continuity plan template for small businesses
- How much does an hour of IT downtime cost your business?
- Find your single points of failure
Use these planning aids to prepare a conversation. Do not put passwords or confidential records in a worksheet.
Related information
Talk to us about your business
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