--- title: "OT resilience demands rapid recovery: Rethinking traditional backup" description: "Industrial organizations face a stark reality: Downtime is costly, disruptive and cannot be entirely prevented. In a recent podcast, Stephen Nichols, Country Manager for Canada at Acronis, shared his perspective on why rapid recovery is now a fundamental pillar of industrial resilience and how modern backup strategies are evolving to meet the challenge." canonical_url: https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/ot-resilience-demands-rapid-recovery-rethinking-traditional-backup/ locale: en last_updated: 2026-10-27 --- [Acronis Blog](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/) # OT resilience demands rapid recovery: Rethinking traditional backup Industrial organizations face a stark reality: Downtime is costly, disruptive and cannot be entirely prevented. In a recent podcast, Stephen Nichols, Country Manager for Canada at Acronis, shared his perspective on why rapid recovery is now a fundamental pillar of industrial resilience and how modern backup strategies are evolving to meet the challenge. [Try now](https://www.acronis.com/en/products/cyber-protect-ot/trial/) [![Image 2: Allison Ho](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/4001b7fac80a9a9ed6a3a01dec591360.png)](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/authors/allison-ho/ "Allison Ho") [Allison Ho,](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/authors/allison-ho/)Content Marketing Manager 3 min read Last updated 16 December 2025 Industrial organizations face a stark reality: Downtime is costly, disruptive and cannot be entirely prevented. Whether it’s a cyberattack, hardware failure or simple data corruption, operational technology (OT) environments must be ready to recover quickly. In a [recent podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-industrial-security-podcast/id1441395559), [Stephen Nichols](https://www.acronis.com/en/pr/2025/acronis-appoints-stephen-nichols-as-country-manager-for-canada/), Country Manager for Canada at Acronis, shared his perspective on why [rapid recovery](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/a-new-benchmark-in-easy-and-fast-recovery-after-cyberattacks-or-data-loss/) is now a fundamental pillar of industrial resilience and how modern backup strategies are evolving to meet the challenge. The Industrial Security Podcast Rapid Recovery - When Security Fails featuring Stephen Nichols [Listen on Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/25nzxleK6Z5200FQ6nl2dQ) [Listen on Apple](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rapid-recovery-when-security-fails-the-industrial/id1441395559?i=1000741125257) ## Downtime is not an option For manufacturers, utilities and other critical infrastructure operators, even a brief outage can ripple through supply chains and production schedules. “Downtime is incredibly expensive and disruptive, especially in supply chain issues where you’re talking about just-in-time delivery,” Nichols explained. The stakes are high: A single system failure can halt operations, and traditional recovery methods. Take, for example, flying in replacement hardware from another region. It’s a consideration that’s no longer practical. Nichols described a real-world example: “If they have a problem with one of their systems, the only solution that they had prior to working with us was that somebody from Germany had to get on a plane and bring a new device and get that installed. So that’s a huge amount of downtime.” The need for a faster, more reliable approach is clear. ## Modern backup: Beyond local storage Many industrial sites still rely on network-attached storage or local backup servers. While better than nothing, these solutions are vulnerable to ransomware and physical disasters. Nichols emphasized that “the modern best practice is to have that copy actually in an immutable storage in the cloud.” This approach not only protects against cyber threats but also meets compliance requirements for off-site, tamper-proof backups. Acronis’s architecture respects the Purdue model, with a lightweight agent installed on the control system, a management server in the DMZ and secure cloud storage. This design ensures that backup data moves securely without interfering with real-time operations. “It’s about being able to backup and restore that data without a lot of overhead or complication,” Nichols said. ## Recovery that works every time The true test of any backup solution is recovery. Industrial environments often run on legacy systems and unique hardware, making restoration complex. Acronis addresses this with universal restore technology, allowing recovery to dissimilar hardware — even if the replacement isn’t identical. “As long as we can load three drivers, we can make it bootable,” Nichols explained. Ease of use is also critical. With Acronis, recovery can be initiated with just a few clicks, even by non-IT staff. Whether restoring from local or cloud backups, the process is designed to minimize downtime and complexity. ## Balancing cloud risk and resilience Some organizations worry about cloud connectivity introducing new risks. Nichols acknowledged these concerns but pointed out that most industrial sites are already cloud-connected in some way. “Here’s a cloud that increases your resiliency rather than simply increasing your efficiency,” he said. Cloud-based backup is not just about convenience. It’s about ensuring that recovery is possible when it matters most. ## A pillar of industrial security [Backup and rapid recovery](https://www.acronis.com/en/products/cyber-protect-ot/) are essential components of a complete OT security strategy. As Nichols concluded, “Backups are wonderful, but it’s really recovery. It’s the ability to get things back up that matter.” In today’s industrial landscape, resilience starts with a backup plan that’s ready for anything. The Industrial Security Podcast Rapid Recovery - When Security Fails featuring Stephen Nichols [Listen on Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/25nzxleK6Z5200FQ6nl2dQ) [Listen on Apple](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rapid-recovery-when-security-fails-the-industrial/id1441395559?i=1000741125257) [Data protection](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/tags/data-protection/) [Operational Technology (OT)](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/tags/operational-technology/) ## Written by ![Image 3: Allison Ho](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/4001b7fac80a9a9ed6a3a01dec591360.png) Allison Ho Content Marketing Manager Allison develops content on cybersecurity, data protection, artificial intelligence and endpoint management while closely collaborating with thought leaders. Her technology B2B marketing experience includes expertise in SEO. [Previous post](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/a-banner-year-for-acronis-a-look-at-industry-recognition-and-test-results-in-2025/) [A banner year for Acronis: A look at industry recognition and test results in 2025](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/a-banner-year-for-acronis-a-look-at-industry-recognition-and-test-results-in-2025/) [Next post](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/gridheart-and-acronis-cyber-foundation-empower-1-200-students-with-new-resource-center-in-kenya/) [Gridheart and Acronis Cyber Foundation empower students with new resource center in Kenya](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/gridheart-and-acronis-cyber-foundation-empower-1-200-students-with-new-resource-center-in-kenya/) About Acronis Acronis is a leader in AI-native cyber protection, unifying data protection, cybersecurity, IT operations and hybrid infrastructure to deliver business continuity, security and compliance with less cost and complexity. More than 21,000 service providers trust Acronis to protect over 750,000 businesses in 150 countries. Acronis is headquartered in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=acronis.com) ## Related stories Want to learn more? Read the latest stories featuring this solution on our blog. [Acronis Blog](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/) ![Image 4: Acronis Cloud Storage adds a recovery warranty](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/blog-card/6a693ef2012c6324f65b0b452c11b3d6.png) [Acronis Cloud Storage adds a recovery warranty](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/acronis-cloud-storage-adds-a-recovery-warranty/) Secure, scalable cloud storage with a recovery commitment backed by Acronis. The Anti-Ransomware Recovery Warranty that helps MSPs make recovery a visible part of the service they deliver. **October 12, 2026**4 min read ![Image 5: Acronis Cyber Protect v17: Improving cyber resilience across people, data and infrastructure](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/blog-card/c2467c28c0278609eb3560cb2a8a4d53.png) [Acronis Cyber Protect v17: Improving cyber resilience across people, data and infrastructure](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/acronis-cyber-protect-v17-improving-cyber-resilience-across-people-data-and-infrastructure/) Acronis Cyber Protect v17 Q3 2026 expands integrated cyber protection with new capabilities that strengthen security awareness, improve backup operations and extend protection across more virtual environments. The result is stronger cyber resilience, simplified operations and broader protection delivered through a single platform. **October 05, 2026**4 min read ![Image 6: SCADA backup and recovery: protecting PC-based supervisory control systems](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/blog-card/541eac32c82d84a5616d868ed24a68e0.png) [SCADA backup and recovery: protecting PC-based supervisory control systems](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/scada-backup-and-recovery/) SCADA backup differs from IT backup. Learn what to capture, how to plan recovery, and how Acronis Cyber Protect for OT supports PC-based OT systems. **September 11, 2026**8 min read