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GRADAX

Backup vs disaster recovery

Backup vs disaster recovery: one keeps copies of your data, the other gets your business running again. You usually need both.

Backup vs disaster recovery is the difference between having a copy and being back in business. A backup is a stored copy of your data that you can restore from. Disaster recovery (DR) is the plan, tooling and standby systems that bring your whole service back after a major failure.

A backup alone can restore files, but it may take hours or days to rebuild servers around them. DR is built to restore operations within a target time. Most businesses need good backups first, then DR for the systems they cannot afford to lose for long.

Side by side

CapabilityBackupDisaster recovery
What it isCopies of data and filesA plan plus systems to restore operations
Main goalDo not lose dataDo not stay down for long
CoversFiles, databases, configurationsServers, applications, network and access, with data
Recovery time (RTO)Hours to days, rebuild may be needed firstMinutes to hours, by design
Recovery point (RPO)Time of the last backupCan be near zero with replication
Typical triggerDeleted file, corruption, ransomware, bad updateOutage of a site, datacentre or whole platform
CostLow to moderateModerate to high, standby capacity costs money
Needs testingYes, test restores regularlyYes, run recovery drills
Best forEvery businessSystems where downtime is costly

What each one is good at

Backup

Included

  • Affordable and simple to understand
  • Protects against deletion, corruption and ransomware
  • Old versions can be kept for weeks or months
  • A good base for any recovery plan

Not included

  • Slow to restore a whole environment
  • Data since the last backup is lost
  • Useless if never tested or stored in the same place as the original

Disaster recovery

Included

  • Brings systems back within a target time
  • Can lose almost no recent data
  • Covers a whole site or datacentre failure
  • Gives a written, tested procedure

Not included

  • Costs more than backup alone
  • Needs planning and regular drills
  • Complex for systems with many dependencies

Choose backup when

  • You mainly need to recover files, databases or earlier versions
  • A few hours of downtime during a restore is acceptable
  • You are protecting against mistakes, corruption and ransomware
  • Budget is tight and you have no backups yet
  • You want a safe base before adding anything else

Choose disaster recovery when

  • Every hour offline costs sales, bookings or contracts
  • You run systems customers depend on, such as a shop or booking platform
  • Clients or regulators ask for recovery targets
  • A datacentre or site failure must not stop the business
  • You are ready to test the plan at least once a year

Questions people ask

Is a backup the same as disaster recovery?
No. A backup is a copy of data, while disaster recovery is the ability to restore full operations within a target time.
Do I need both backup and disaster recovery?
Yes for critical systems. Backups protect the data, and DR makes sure the service itself comes back quickly.
What are RTO and RPO in backup vs disaster recovery?
RTO is how long you can be down, and RPO is how much recent data you can afford to lose. DR is designed around both targets.
How often should I test recovery?
Test restores at least every few months and run a full recovery drill at least once a year. An untested backup is a guess.

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