ITDR ≠ Backup: Understanding the Difference Could Save Your Business

Backing up your data is essential. But thinking that it’s enough to ensure operational continuity is a common — and potentially costly — mistake. Having a copy of your files doesn’t mean you’re ready to restart your critical systems.

It’s time to address a widespread misconception: an IT Disaster Recovery Plan (ITDR) — also known in French as a Plan de relève informatique (PRI) — is not the same thing as having backups. They are complementary but fundamentally different in their objectives, structure, and impact on organizational resilience.

👉 This article is intended as an awareness piece, and therefore focuses on a few representative examples. It is not a comprehensive technical guide.

Backup ≠ Recovery

Many organizations assume they are ready for a major disruption simply because “everything is backed up.” That’s false. A backup is a copy of data. An ITDR plan is a detailed and tested action plan that allows critical systems to be restored within defined timeframes, in the correct order, and with all dependencies in place.

Here’s a simplified comparison:

Element	Backup	ITDR Plan
Main objective	Retain data	Restart critical IT systems
Content	Files, databases	Full environments, configurations, sequences
Storage environment	Local, cloud, hybrid	Secondary site, secure cloud, isolated zone
Recovery targets	Often undefined	RTO (Recovery Time Objective) and RPO
Tied to Business Continuity Plan	Rare	Must align with business continuity priorities
Testing	Infrequent	Should be regular and cross-functional

 

The False Sense of Security of Backups Alone

Imagine you buy a set of four brand-new car tires and store them off-site… but you don’t have another vehicle to install them on if your car is stolen or totaled.

That’s exactly what many organizations do: they back up data off-site, but have no plan or environment to restore that data onto if a major incident occurs.

 

The Critical Role of the Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and Business Impact Analysis (BIA)

A solid ITDR plan isn’t improvised. It must be based on the organization’s Business Continuity Plan (BCP), which itself is informed by a Business Impact Analysis (BIA).

The BCP defines:

• Which systems are essential to the mission
• Required recovery times (RTOs)
• Maximum acceptable data loss (RPOs)
• Minimum backup frequency
• Key technical dependencies

And no — an ITDR plan does not require duplicating your entire IT infrastructure. It must focus on critical systems, and define how to bring them back online quickly and safely, based on actual business needs.

 

Having Backups… Poorly Managed

Even the best backup is useless if it’s inaccessible, corrupted, or incomplete.

That’s why the 3-2-1 backup rule remains a gold standard:

3 total copies of your data (1 primary + 2 backups)
2 different types of media (e.g., local disk and tape, or cloud and NAS)
1 copy stored offsite

This protects against a variety of scenarios: fire, hardware failure, ransomware, human error. But again, this is not a disaster recovery plan — it’s a technical prerequisite.
The ITDR plan determines how to use these backups effectively in a real recovery scenario.

 

Technological Robustness: Your First Line of Defense

A good ITDR plan is part of a broader strategy of technological robustness — the ability of your systems to resist, absorb, and recover from disruptions without excessive downtime or data loss.

In other words: the ITDR plan helps you recover after the disruption. Robustness aims to avoid or mitigate the disruption in the first place.

✔ Practical examples of technological robustness:

1. True geographic redundancy
   Critical systems or servers must not be hosted:
   • In the same server room
   • In the same building
   • Ideally, not even in the same power grid or region
2. Internet connection redundancy
   Two separate providers with failover mechanisms ensure continued access during outages.
3. Dual power sources for critical equipment
   Some servers and network devices should be connected to two separate power feeds to prevent total shutdown.
4. Backup power systems
   UPS systems (batteries) for instant switchover, combined with regularly tested generators, provide operational autonomy during power outages.
5. Isolation of critical environments
   Copies of the ITDR plan, crisis management systems, and dashboards should be hosted outside the main network, so they remain accessible even in case of a total compromise.

Robustness doesn’t replace recovery — but it reduces how often you need to activate your ITDR and improves the odds of a smooth response when you do.

 

Dependencies: A Common Blind Spot

A system might be restored… but won’t function properly if its dependencies aren’t also restored.

ITDR plans must identify:

• Unidirectional dependencies: e.g., a local application pushing data to a cloud service.
• Bidirectional dependencies: e.g., a cloud-based portal interacting with a local database and triggering downstream workflows.

All technical dependencies should be mapped, validated, and regularly updated to avoid restoring “zombie” systems — live but useless.

 

ITDR Accessibility: Often Overlooked

Too many organizations store their disaster recovery plans… on the very network they’re meant to recover. In a cyberattack or major failure, the plan itself becomes inaccessible.

A reliable ITDR plan must be:

• Stored offline or outside your main infrastructure
• Accessible remotely if your primary offices are impacted
• Downloadable or printable, with key sections available in physical form if needed

When it comes to crisis management, accessibility is just as important as content.

 

In Conclusion: Ask the Right Questions

The key question isn’t:

“Do we have backups?”

It’s:

“Can we restart our critical systems within the required timeframe, in the right order, with all dependencies in place?”

And above all:

“Is our ITDR plan current, business-aligned, and accessible at all times?”

 

Quick Self-Assessment

Ask yourself:

• Are we following the 3-2-1 rule for backups?
• Do we know our actual RTOs and RPOs — and are they tested?
• Is our ITDR plan based on real BCP requirements?
• Has the plan been updated to reflect recent tech changes?
• Can we access it without relying on our main network?

An effective ITDR plan isn’t just a PDF collecting dust on a file server.
It’s a living strategy, integrated with your operations, ready to deploy when it matters most.

 

Strategic Support to Prevent Disruption

At Benoit Racette Services-conseils inc., we assist organizations in protecting their critical operations, ensuring the safety of their teams, and maintaining client trust, even when a major disruption occurs.

With over 27 years of specialized experience in business continuity, crisis management, emergency measures, and IT recovery plans, Benoit Racette provides rigorous and confidential support, transforming complex issues into concrete solutions tailored to your reality.

🔍 Resilience Diagnostics
🛡️ Up-to-Date Business Continuity Plans
🚨 Functional Crisis Management Plans
💾 Realistic IT Recovery Plans
🧪 Tests and Exercises to Validate Your Plans and Strengthen Your Teams
🎓 Targeted Training in Continuity, Crisis Management, and Operational Preparedness

These are the tools that distinguish organizations that merely endure from those that respond with mastery. Would you like to analyze your vulnerabilities, adjust your plans, or prepare effectively?
👉 Contact us: [email protected]