{"id":903015,"date":"2026-05-02T05:18:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T10:18:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/02\/the-backup-myth-that-is-putting-businesses-at-risk\/"},"modified":"2026-05-02T05:18:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T10:18:15","slug":"the-backup-myth-that-is-putting-businesses-at-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/02\/the-backup-myth-that-is-putting-businesses-at-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"The backup myth that is putting businesses at risk"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Datacenter\"<\/p>\n

Ransomware and other cyberthreats often dominate conversations about data loss, but they are not the only risks businesses face. Everyday issues such as hardware failures, accidental deletions and power outages can bring operations to a halt just as quickly.<\/p>\n

The countermeasure businesses adopt is backing up their data. The assumption is simple \u2014 if data is saved, it can be restored. But this overlooks a critical factor. Backup does not keep a business running during a disruption. It only helps recover after the damage is done.<\/p>\n

That gap is where the real risk lies. When systems are down, employees can\u2019t work, customers can\u2019t access services and revenue stops immediately. According to research by Oxford Economics, downtime costs businesses roughly $9,000 per minute<\/a>, or $540,000 per hour.<\/p>\n

At that scale, even short interruptions are no longer acceptable. Organizations need more than data protection. They need business continuity.<\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll look at how relying solely on backups leaves organizations exposed \u2014 and why a comprehensive business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) strategy is essential to keep operations running.<\/p>\n

The growing gap between backup and recovery<\/h2>\n

Many small businesses are protected on paper, but not in practice. The issue is not whether data is backed up, but rather how quickly that data can be restored \u2014 and whether the business can function during that process.<\/p>\n

The \u00a0State of BCDR Report 2025<\/a> by Datto, a Kaseya company, found that more than 60% of organizations believed they could recover in under a day. However, in practice, only 35% achieved that during real downtime events.<\/p>\n

A common misconception among small businesses is that backup equals protection.<\/p>\n

Imagine a ransomware attack encrypts a company\u2019s systems.<\/p>\n

With a traditional backup setup, the response is straightforward. Identify the breach, wipe affected systems and begin restoring data from backups. Depending on the size of the environment, this process can take hours or even days.<\/p>\n

Now consider the same situation with a BCDR solution in place.<\/p>\n

Instead of waiting for full restoration, systems can be quickly spun up from recent backups, often within minutes. Operations continue in a virtualized environment while the primary systems are restored in the background. The disruption is contained, and the business continues to run.<\/p>\n

This is the gap many businesses overlook. Backup is designed to store and retrieve data while BCDR is designed to maintain operations.<\/p>\n

The cost of downtime<\/h3>\n

To better understand the cost of downtime, consider the following example. Let\u2019s say your business has 100 employees, the average hourly revenue is $1,500 and the backup data set is 2 TB. Given these parameters, a full restore from a local backup using traditional backup software could take more than eight hours. The associated downtime would cost approximately $34,000 in lost revenue.<\/p>\n

Beyond direct losses, downtime also affects reputation. Customers expect consistent access to services. When systems are unavailable, trust is affected. Delays, failed transactions and lack of access create friction that can push customers toward competitors. For service-based businesses, even a single disruption can lead to long-term client loss.<\/p>\n

This is why business continuity is now a baseline requirement. It\u2019s part of how businesses maintain operations and protect customer relationships.<\/p>\n

The right BCDR solution<\/h2>\n

Modern BCDR solutions allow systems to stay available through failover and rapid recovery, limiting financial losses and disruption.<\/p>\n

Hybrid cloud backup is one of the most effective approaches. By combining local and cloud-based recovery, it delivers both speed and flexibility. Local backups provide near-instant recovery for common issues, while cloud replication protects against larger incidents such as ransomware or infrastructure failures.<\/p>\n

If local systems are compromised by a ransomware attack, clean and isolated copies of data remain available in the cloud. Recovery does not depend on paying a ransom or negotiating access. The business retains control.<\/p>\n

That continuity is what defines a strong BCDR solution. Datto BCDR is built around this principle, delivering the speed to recover from everyday disruptions and the reliability to handle larger failures without adding complexity for your business or clients.<\/p>\n

Turning BCDR into a growth opportunity<\/h2>\n

BCDR supports long-term growth for MSPs by supporting a recurring service model. At a time when it\u2019s challenging to acquire new customers, this matters more than ever. The 2026 State of the MSP Report<\/a> by Kaseya found that 71% of MSPs consider acquiring new customers their biggest challenge.<\/p>\n

This makes expanding services within existing accounts far more valuable. In this context, BCDR stands out as a category with steady adoption and strong growth, creating a clear opportunity for MSPs to build consistent revenue while strengthening client relationships.<\/p>\n

How to have a winning BCDR sales conversation<\/h3>\n

Clients understand data loss. They can picture files disappearing. What they struggle to grasp is downtime and its impact on revenue and reputation. That gap often leads to underinvestment, with clients settling for basic backup and assuming they\u2019re covered.<\/p>\n

To bridge this gap, MSPs need to change how they frame the conversation.<\/p>\n

Shift the conversation from technology to business impact<\/h4>\n

Most clients don\u2019t think in terms of backup frequency or storage capacity. They think about whether their business can continue operating.<\/p>\n

Instead of focusing on features, focus on outcomes:<\/p>\n