In this article · 8 sections
When something goes wrong (a crashed computer, ransomware, a hacked website, an expired domain, a long internet outage), panic wastes precious hours. An IT disaster recovery plan is a short document that says exactly what to do, who to call and how to restore critical systems. Small businesses need one too.
Step 1: List your critical systems
| System | Why it matters | Max acceptable downtime |
|---|---|---|
| Website and booking form | New enquiries | Few hours |
| Business email | Client communication | Few hours |
| WhatsApp Business number | Customer orders | Very short |
| Accounting/billing | Invoices, GST | 1–2 days |
| Customer database/CRM | Follow-ups | 1 day |
| Internet connection | Everything cloud-based | Very short |
Step 2: Identify the risks
- Hardware failure (dead disk, stolen laptop)
- Ransomware and malware
- Hacked website or email
- Expired domain or hosting
- Internet or power outage
- Staff leaving with passwords
- Accidental deletion
Step 3: Prevention and backups
- Follow the 3-2-1 backup rule
- Website backups off-server. See website backup guide
- Auto-renew for domains and hosting
- Backup internet connection and UPS/inverter
- Password manager with emergency access
- Two-factor authentication everywhere
Step 4: Write the recovery steps
For each scenario, a few clear steps. Examples:
Website down or hacked 1. Check if it's the hosting, domain or the site itself 2. Contact your web/hosting support 3. Restore from the latest clean backup. See hacked website recovery 4. Change all passwords
Office internet down 1. Switch to backup connection/hotspot 2. Inform customers via WhatsApp status if needed
Ransomware on a PC 1. Disconnect it from the network immediately 2. Don't pay before getting expert advice 3. Restore from offline backups
Step 5: Contact list
Hosting support, web developer, ISP, IT support, bank, payment gateway, domain registrar, plus account IDs (not passwords) for each.
Step 6: Store the plan safely
Keep a printed copy and a copy in the cloud. If your computer is down, you still need to read it.
Step 7: Test it
Twice a year, test restoring a file, a website backup and switching internet connections. Update the plan after every incident.
FAQs
What's the difference between backup and disaster recovery?
Backups are copies of data. Disaster recovery is the full plan to get the business running again: people, steps, systems and contacts.
How long should the plan be?
For a small business, 2–4 pages is plenty.
Joboo Web's maintenance plans include backups, monitoring and fast recovery for your website. Ask us.