Data is one of the most valuable assets any organisation holds. From customer records and financial information to intellectual property and operational systems, losing access to critical data can cause serious disruption, reputational damage and long‑term financial impact. Yet despite growing awareness, many businesses still underestimate the importance of a secure backup strategy – until they experience data loss first‑hand.
Data loss isn’t limited to accidental deletion or hardware failure. Cyber attacks, ransomware, system outages and even physical incidents all present a genuine risk and relying on untrusted, untested or poorly protected backup solutions can leave organisations exposed at the moment they most need to recover.
When Backups fail
Several high‑profile UK organisations have demonstrated just how damaging inadequate backup and recovery planning can be.
The NHS and the WannaCry attack
In 2017, parts of the NHS across England were severely disrupted by the WannaCry ransomware attack. Hospitals and GP surgeries lost access to critical systems, appointments were cancelled and patient care was affected. While the attack exploited outdated systems, the impact was worsened by limited recovery capability in some trusts, highlighting the importance of tested, accessible backups as part of operational resilience.
Hackney Council’s prolonged disruption after ransomware
In 2020, Hackney Council suffered a major ransomware attack that impacted housing services, payroll, planning and social care systems. The recovery process took months, with significant public disruption and financial cost. The incident demonstrated how complex and lengthy recovery can become when backups are not easily restorable or when systems are deeply interconnected.
Travelex’s ransomware attack and operational shutdown
UK‑based foreign exchange company Travelex was forced to take services offline for weeks after a ransomware attack in early 2020. With systems unavailable, both online and in‑store services were disrupted, leading to financial losses and reputational damage. The incident reinforced how critical secure, isolated backups are for rapid recovery, especially for customer‑facing businesses.
These examples underline a clear lesson: having backups is not enough if they cannot be relied upon in a crisis.
Why “we have backups” isn’t a recovery strategy
Many organisations believe they are protected simply because data is backed up somewhere. Unfortunately, this assumption often proves false when an incident occurs.
Untrusted or poorly designed backup solutions fail because:
- Backups are stored on the same network as live systems
- Ransomware can encrypt or delete backup data
- Backups aren’t regularly tested or monitored
- Recovery times don’t align with business needs
- Backup data is incomplete, outdated or corrupted
In these situations, backups technically exist, but they don’t support recovery or business continuity.
The importance of secure, trusted backups
A modern backup strategy must be designed with the modern risks to businesses in mind. Trusted backup solutions focus on cyber resilience, not just data retention.
A secure backup plan should include:
- Immutable backups that cannot be altered or deleted by attackers
- Offsite or cloud‑based storage to protect against physical loss
- Strong encryption and access control
- Continuous monitoring and regular recovery testing
- Clear recovery objectives aligned with operational priorities
This ensures businesses can restore data quickly, safely and with confidence.
Business continuity success
When implemented properly, trusted backups become a cornerstone of business continuity.
Rapid recovery after ransomware
Many UK organisations affected by ransomware have avoided paying ransoms entirely by restoring clean data from secure backups. This enables quicker recovery, reduced downtime and avoids rewarding cybercriminals.
Protection against human error and system failure
Accidental deletion and system misconfiguration remain common causes of data loss. Reliable backups allow businesses to roll back systems to a known good state with minimal disruption.
Resilience after physical incidents
Fires, floods or power failures can destroy on‑premise infrastructure. Offsite and cloud backups enable organisations to continue operating even when physical locations are unavailable.
Backups are a core part of cyber resilience
Backups should never be treated as a “last‑minute safety net.” They are a critical part of a wider cyber resilience and business continuity strategy, sitting alongside cyber security controls, monitoring and incident response planning.
With cyber threats affecting organisations of all sizes across the UK, businesses must plan not just for prevention – but for rapid recovery.
Plan recovery [before you need it]
Data loss is an operational risk that every organisation faces. The difference between a temporary setback and a serious business crisis often comes down to whether secure, trusted backups are in place.
Relying on unverified, poorly protected or untested backup solutions can leave organisations exposed at the worst possible moment. Investing in a secure backup strategy, and regularly validating recovery processes, helps ensure your business can withstand disruption and continue operating when it matters most.
Because protecting your data means protecting your business. Want to learn more? Register for our upcoming webinar to give you the chance to review your current back up strategy this World Backup Day.
