Disaster recovery and business continuity planning are among the most valuable services an MSP provides — and among the most undertested. This guide covers what your MSP should include, how to set appropriate recovery targets, and how to verify your DR plan actually works.
Key Metrics: RPO and RTO
RPO (Recovery Point Objective): How much data can you afford to lose? If RPO is 1 hour, backups must run at least hourly. If RPO is 15 minutes, near-continuous backup is required.
RTO (Recovery Time Objective): How long can you afford to be down? If RTO is 4 hours, all critical systems must be restored within 4 hours of a disaster.
| Business Type | Recommended RPO | Recommended RTO |
|---|---|---|
| Financial services | 15 minutes | 1-2 hours |
| Healthcare | 15-30 minutes | 1-4 hours |
| E-commerce | 1 hour | 2-4 hours |
| Professional services | 1-4 hours | 4-8 hours |
| General business | 4-8 hours | 8-24 hours |
What Your MSP Should Include
Backup Services
- Automated daily (minimum) backups of all critical systems
- Offsite/cloud backup with geographic redundancy
- Encrypted backup storage (at rest and in transit)
- Backup verification testing (at least quarterly)
- Retention policies aligned with compliance and business needs
Disaster Recovery Plan
- Documented recovery procedures for all critical systems
- Priority-ordered system recovery sequence
- Contact lists and communication plans
- Alternative work arrangements (remote access, temporary facilities)
- Regular DR plan review and updates (at least annually)
Business Continuity Services
- Failover infrastructure (cloud-based DR sites)
- Communication failover (VoIP redundancy, cellular backup)
- Remote work enablement (VPN, cloud applications)
- Vendor coordination during disasters
- Post-disaster assessment and improvement
Types of Disasters to Plan For
- Ransomware attacks: The most common business disaster in 2026
- Hardware failure: Server, storage, or network equipment failure
- Natural disasters: Hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, power outages
- Human error: Accidental deletion, misconfiguration
- Vendor outages: Cloud provider downtime (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
DR Testing: The Most Critical Step
93% of businesses that cannot access their data for 10+ days file bankruptcy within one year. Yet many businesses never test their DR plans.
Your MSP should conduct:
- Tabletop exercises: Walk through DR procedures quarterly
- Partial restore tests: Verify backup integrity monthly
- Full DR tests: Complete system restoration annually
- Ransomware simulation: Test recovery from encrypted-system scenarios
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does disaster recovery through an MSP cost?
DR is typically included in comprehensive MSP packages. Standalone DR services range from $500-$5,000/month depending on environment size and RPO/RTO requirements. Cloud-based DR has reduced costs 50-70% compared to traditional approaches.
How often should backups run?
Depends on your RPO. Most businesses need at minimum daily backups; many benefit from hourly or near-continuous backup for critical systems. See our MSP SLA guide.
What if my cloud provider goes down?
Your DR plan should account for cloud provider outages. Multi-cloud strategies, local backup copies, and provider SLA understanding are important. Ask your MSP about their cloud provider redundancy strategy.
Can I test disaster recovery without disrupting operations?
Yes. Modern DR solutions support non-disruptive testing using isolated recovery environments. Your MSP should conduct these tests regularly without affecting production systems.
What is the difference between backup and disaster recovery?
Backup is copying data. Disaster recovery is the complete process of restoring business operations — including systems, applications, network connectivity, and user access — from those backups. Backup without a tested DR plan is incomplete protection.
The Bottom Line
Disaster recovery is insurance you hope to never use but cannot afford to lack. Ensure your MSP provides documented DR plans, regular testing, and recovery targets aligned with your business needs.
For more, see our complete MSP guide.
Related Reading
- MSP Backup and Disaster Recovery Stack Guide
- MSP BCDR Business Continuity Services
- How to Choose the Right MSP for Your Business
- MSP Compliance and Certification Guide
- MSP Liability Insurance Guide
-- The MSP Finder Team