In our last article, we asked whether Managed Service Providers (MSPs) are really doing everything they can to protect their customers’ data. The truth is, even when backups are in place, recovery often isn’t as straightforward as it should be.
68% of organisations hit by ransomware last year managed to recover some data from backups yet 88% still paid the ransom to get data back.
The Arctic Wolf State of Cybersecurity: 2025 Trends Report
This quote paints a worrying picture. Backups exist, but they’re not always trusted. When organisations doubt their ability to recover quickly and fully, they panic — and pay the attacker anyway.
Why backups fail
Backups can give a false sense of security — they appear to be running, but when the pressure is on, gaps and weaknesses are exposed. For MSPs, this is where the real risk lies. Even if backups exist, they can still fail your customers at the very moment they’re needed most:
- Incomplete or out-of-date backups – A backup that runs successfully doesn’t always mean the data you need is there. Critical files can be missed, or the job can silently fail on certain systems.
- Untested restores – The true test of a backup isn’t whether it runs, but whether you can restore from it. Without regular restore testing, there’s no guarantee it will work when needed.
- Slow or painful recovery – Even when backups exist, recovery can take longer than customers can tolerate. Extended downtime can damage reputations and bottom lines — leaving clients frustrated and pressuring MSPs to find a faster way out.
- Human error & oversight – With dozens or hundreds of jobs to manage across multiple clients, it’s easy for manual checks to slip. One missed failure could be the difference between recovery and catastrophe.
The rising tide of AI-powered attacks
Generative AI is enabling cybercriminals to create sophisticated, personalised attacks at scale. Phishing emails are harder to detect, deepfake requests are more convincing, and malware is evolving to bypass traditional defences.
The volume of attacks is growing and with it so is the likelihood that one of your customers will fall victim. That makes reliable, trusted, and well-tested backups more important than ever.
What MSPs can do differently – fully managed backups
So, what’s the answer? It isn’t just about having backups. It’s about having reliable disaster recovery including backups you can trust. Backups should be:
- Monitored daily for silent failures.
- Tested regularly to ensure recoverability.
- Documented for compliance and reporting needs.
- Ready for rapid recovery when the pressure is on.
MSPs can try to build and maintain this internally, but it often means diverting valuable time and resources from other areas. That’s why many MSPs work with a specialist partner and have a fully managed backup. It removes the stress of daily backup management and gives them the confidence that data can be recovered without compromise.
If one of your customers was hit with ransomware tomorrow, are you 100% confident their backups would allow a fast, full recovery?
If the answer is anything less than yes, now is the time to rethink how you approach backups. Whether you invest more in internal processes or consider partnering with specialists, making backups dependable could be the single most important decision you make for your clients this year.
Backup Systems can give you peace of mind
At Backup Systems, we’ll take care of everything. From running and checking backups, to patching and upgrading. Get in touch today.
