Business internet backup checklist

1. List what must stay connected

• List the applications that must continue and those that can pause.
• Identify acceptable interruption and reconnection behavior for each application.
• Document outage procedures and who makes operational decisions.

2. Inventory each site

• Primary provider and connection type; router, firewall, and switch models.
• Site address, likely equipment placement, and available power backup.
• VPNs, static addressing, inbound services, and vendor-managed applications.

3. Check for shared failure points

Two services are not automatically independent. Shared power, local infrastructure, equipment, or upstream dependencies can affect both. Ask which failures your proposed architecture covers and which remain outside its scope.

4. Test the backup connection

Check candidate coverage, install in the intended location, and test during representative operating periods. Confirm that critical applications work over the backup connection. Keep guest and nonessential traffic within the agreed backup policy.

5. Test failure and return to normal

• Disconnect the primary link and check each critical application.
• Test degraded service where the link remains up but applications struggle.
• Restore the primary connection and verify failback behavior.
• Record observations, recovery steps, and any application-specific limitations.

6. Schedule regular checks

Assign an owner for periodic testing, equipment changes, service changes, and incident review. Repeat checks after changes to equipment, applications, or service.

Common questions