Cloud Migration: Data Backup and Disaster Recovery
As companies increasingly depend on digital resources, it becomes expedient to establish a data backup and disaster recovery plan as an integral part of business for efficient operational continuity. This ensures data resilience and effective recovery when a disruption occurs. Data backup and recovery in cloud systems enable the recovery of lost or compromised data independently of a physical hardware.
Now, as lofty as it seems to get your applications and data to the cloud, the inevitable can still happen; data can be compromised, lost or damaged, and this can result in an irreparable financial loss and reputational damage. Consequently, organizations should have a sturdy backup and recovery plan that includes a cloud backup and disaster recovery strategy. This approach deploys cloud-based devices and resources to enable the recovery of data and IT infrastructure in the event of a disruption.
Data Backup
Data backup is the process of keeping retrievable copies of an organization’s data and storing them on a remote, cloud-based server. This enables an easy and timely access to and recovery of data in the case of a data loss or system accident compromise.
Disaster Recovery Plan
Disaster recovery follows the concept of “Failsafe”. An efficient data recovery plan (DRP) is a multi-layered approach which has a data backup, a comprehensive business continuity plan, and a designated disaster recovery site to ensure that applications, data, and operation are restored while ensuring minimal downtime and data protection (Datamotive, 2025). A DRP specifies explicitly how an organization can restore its data, applications, and other IT assets in the event of situations, such as a cyber-attack, natural disaster, accidental deletion, or system malfunction.
Components of a Disaster Recovery Plan
1. Data Backup and Replication: A regular backup of data and applications in both on-site and cloud environments ensure data protection and reproduction for a seamless recovery.
2. Business Continuity Plan (BCP): An efficient recovery strategy also includes specific plans for the resuscitation of interrupted business operations.
3. Disaster Recovery Site: This is an alternate site, on premises or cloud-based, where applications can be restored in the event of an accident on the main site.
4. Regular Testing and Maintenance: Data recovery systems should be serviced on a regular basis for efficient service delivery.
5. Effective Communication Plan: This is an information sharing strategy to communicate team members’ roles, as well as customers’ and stakeholders’ responsibilities during and after a disaster.
References
DarkTrace (Undated). Cloud Backup and Disaster recovery
https://darktrace.com/cyber-ai-glossary/cloud-backup-and-disaster-recovery
Datamotive (2025). Cloud Migration vs Disaster Recovery: Do You Need Both?
https://www.datamotive.io/blog/cloud-migration-vs-disaster-recovery-do-you-need-both
Fernandez, A. (2023). Data Backup and Disaster Recovery Process for IT Leaders
https://www.hycu.com/blog/backup-and-disaster-recovery