With SMEs facing cyber threats once reserved for large corporations, having a robust IT recovery plan has never been more critical.
Having customer databases, financial records or project files compromised can have a devastating impact on businesses, through a loss of both revenue and reputation, whatever your sector.
That's why disaster recovery solutions, from comprehensive backups to threat detection, are an essential part of IT planning for businesses in 2026, with Gloucestershire managed services provider, System Force IT, saying protecting data should be treated as an 'urgent priority'.
Jez Walton, technical director at System Force, says: 'Disaster recovery isn’t just about protecting data – it’s about protecting the continuity of the entire business.'
System Force advises that where many companies go wrong is relying on outdated backup solutions, such as external hard drives and manual processes.
It says these methods lack automation and reliable recovery testing, with true resilience requiring 'a layered, intelligent approach' consisting of both cloud and onsite backup solutions that can be restored at a moment's notice.
Jez explains: 'A backup is only as good as your ability to restore it. We always stress the importance of regular testing, not just having data stored somewhere.'
It also recommends deploying proactive threat detection, through monitoring tools that scan your network for unusual activity, meaning ransomware can be caught early and isolated before it spreads.
Jez says: 'Most disasters we see today aren’t accidental – they’re cyber-related. Early detection and active monitoring are critical to stopping issues before they escalate.'
But having effective backups and threat detection is only half the solution, with the ability to get you back up and running, fast key to minimising costly downtime.
System Force says that through restoring or virtualising critical systems in the cloud, businesses can ensure their constant availability for clients.
'The real game changer is being able to bring systems back online quickly. Cloud virtualisation means businesses can be operational again in hours, not days', Jez explains.
Working with a managed services and strategic IT partner like System Force is the best way that businesses can implement effective threat detection and a disaster recovery plan that's tailored to their individual needs – crucially, before it's needed.
System Force is inviting Gloucestershire firms to find out more about disaster recovery planning as part of its monthly series of free online webinars.
To sign up for its Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery webinar – running live at 10.30am on Wednesday 8 April 2026 – and to find out more information, visit systemforce.co.uk/webinar-sign-up.
For details on how to get in touch with System Force about disaster recovery solutions for your business, head to systemforce.co.uk.
