Enterprise Data Backup & Disaster Recovery (DR) Blueprint

Overview

Existing backup processes were ad hoc and did not meet industry compliance standards (ISO 22301).

Solution Overview

Backup Strategy Implemented a 3 2 1 policy - three copies of data, two on separate media types, one off site. Utilised Veeam Backup & Replication with Azure Blob Storage for the off site copy. Guarantees data durability and rapid recovery.

Retention & Compliance - Configured retention schedules (7 days daily, 30 days weekly, 365 days yearly) aligned to regulatory mandates. Added automated compliance reports via Veeam ONE. Provides audit trail for regulators and internal stakeholders.

Disaster Recovery Plan Designed a tiered DR site - primary data center, secondary on prem cluster, and cloud failover. Automated orchestrated switchover using Azure Site Recovery. Minimises downtime to <30 minutes under most scenarios.

Testing & Validation - Conducted monthly restore drills for critical applications (ERP, WMS) and logged results in the DR playbook. Updated the playbook after each test to reflect lessons learned. Builds confidence in the plan’s effectiveness.

Governance - Drafted a Data Protection Policy that outlines roles, responsibilities, and escalation paths during incidents. Trained IT staff on policy execution. Ensures accountability and reduces human error.

Outcome

• The company now meets ISO 22301 certification requirements for business continuity.

• Backup windows were reduced by 40 % through incremental backups and WAN acceleration.

• During a simulated outage, the team restored core services in under 25 minutes, well within the agreed SLA.

Key Takeaway

• Architecture first, policy second – A well planned infrastructure provides the foundation for all security, compliance, and performance gains.

• Automation is key – From VPN provisioning to backup orchestration, automation reduces human error and frees up IT teams for strategic initiatives.

• Governance drives trust – Clear policies, documented processes, and regular testing are what turn technical solutions into business level assurances.