What backup and disaster recovery does an SMB need?

The answer before the details

An SMB needs backups that are inventoried, protected, tested and tied to a recovery owner. The question is not just whether a backup exists. It is what systems come back, how quickly, who performs the restore, what data is missing, and how the business operates while recovery is happening.

Use this FAQ to answer the first buyer question, then compare the related service pages and the assessment path before choosing a tool, vendor or automation workflow.

What should be included in a backup plan?

Include servers, cloud files, Microsoft 365, databases, line-of-business apps, websites, custom software, configuration records and recovery instructions.

How often should restores be tested?

The right cadence depends on risk, but untested backups should not be treated as reliable. A plan should include periodic restore checks.

Do cloud tools still need backup planning?

Yes. Cloud systems can still suffer deletion, misconfiguration, account compromise, retention limits, vendor outages or data-gaps.

Can custom software affect recovery?

Yes. Custom applications may depend on databases, secrets, integrations, hosting and deployment steps that normal file backups do not cover.

What to avoid

Common ways this answer gets misused.

• Treating the answer as a replacement for scoping the actual business system.
• Choosing a product before ownership, data exposure, escalation and human review are clear.
• Leaving the answer disconnected from the service page or assessment path that should follow it.