OT Backup & Recovery
OT environments are expected to run, even when conditions are not ideal. Hardware fails. Updates go wrong. A configuration gets overwritten. A cyber incident forces systems offline. In those moments, Recovery is not about "having backups" in theory. It is about whether you can restore critical systems safely and fast enough to bring operations back under control.
Arista Cyber provides OT Backup & Recovery as a resilience service focused on availability and continuity. We help organisations protect critical OT configurations, control projects, system data, and supporting infrastructure so Recovery is repeatable, not improvised. The emphasis is on backups you can trust and recovery procedures teams can follow when time matters.
Many sites have some form of backup in place, but reliability is inconsistent. Backups may be incomplete. Storage locations may be unclear. Restores may never be tested. Engineering files may live on personal machines. When a real outage happens, teams often discover the gap too late. This service closes that gap by making backup and recovery a managed operational capability.
PROTECT, RECOVER, AND SUSTAIN OPERATIONS OT RESILIENCE STARTS WITH BACKUP. SAFEGUARD YOUR OT SYSTEMS WITH BACKUPS YOU CAN TRUST AND RECOVERIES YOU CAN COUNT ON
Why OT Backup & Recovery Matters
OT recovery is different from IT recovery. In IT, restoring a server often means restoring data and access. In OT, restoring a system can affect control behaviour, process stability, and safety readiness. You may need to restore in a specific order. Vendor tools may be required. The environment may depend on older systems that cannot be rebuilt quickly.
A strong OT backup and recovery program answers practical questions:
- ✔ What must be backed up to restore operations, not just to "save files."
- ✔ How frequently backups should run and who owns them
- ✔ Where backups are stored and how they are protected
- ✔ How to restore safely without introducing configuration drift
- ✔ How to validate that backups are usable before an incident occurs
Key Advantages
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1.Protect critical OT configurations and data.
Backups preserve the information that keeps OT systems functioning, including control logic, device configurations, engineering projects, and key system settings. -
2.Enable fast Recovery from incidents and operational failures.
Reliable restore capability reduces downtime by helping teams bring systems back in a controlled way after cyber events, failed changes, hardware faults, or accidental deletion. -
3.Support disaster recovery and business continuity planning.
Backup and Recovery are a core part of resilience planning. It strengthens preparedness and provides evidence that Recovery is possible within the required timeframes.
Deliverables
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1. Backup strategy and architecture
A clear backup strategy that defines what needs protection, how often backups should run, where data should be stored, and who is responsible for ownership and maintenance. -
2. Backup and Recovery architecture design
A recovery-ready design covering storage, access control, version handling, and restoration pathways suited to OT constraints. -
3. Implementation of a backup and recovery solution
Deployment guidance and configuration support to put the process into operation, including automation where it makes sense and controls to reduce manual error. -
4. Testing and validation
Recovery testing to confirm backups can be restored successfully. After testing, we capture what worked, what didn't, and what needs to change so Recovery does not depend on guesswork.
Our Approach
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1. Decide what must be recoverable
First, we identify what you would actually need to restore to bring the site back safely. That usually includes control projects, configuration files, and the supporting pieces that systems depend on. We also check where those files are sitting today because in many plants, important items end up scattered across engineer laptops, shared folders, or vendor machines. -
2. Set backup routines that match operations
Backup timing and methods have to fit the way the plant runs. We keep it consistent and manageable, not over-engineered. We look at what changes often, what barely changes, and what would cause the most pain if it had to be rebuilt during an outage. -
3. Put the process in place with clear ownership
Automation helps, but it is not the whole solution. We set up the process with access controls, named owners, and routine checks so backups keep happening month after month, not only right after the project finishes. -
4. Prove Recovery, then tighten the runbooks
We run restore tests that reflect real conditions, then adjust the runbooks based on what the test exposed. That includes restoring order, required tools, and the checks teams should do after a system is brought back online.
Highlights
- ✔ OT configurations and critical files are protected properly
- ✔ Recovery that is faster and less uncertain during outages
- ✔ Less dependence on one person's memory
- ✔ Stronger continuity planning that can be defended during reviews
Ready to Strengthen OT Recovery?
When an outage happens, you do not want Recovery to depend on someone hunting for the right file or guessing the correct restore order. A proven backup and recovery process makes restoration calmer, faster, and far more predictable.
Arista Cyber helps you establish OT backup and recovery processes that are reliable, well-owned, and validated through realistic testing. The result is a recovery capability that supports continuity when incidents occur, without relying on improvisation.
If you want backups you can trust and recoveries you can count on, Arista Cyber can help you put the right process in place.
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