Backup Internet Connectivity for Business Continuity

How does automatic failover work?

Automatic failover uses an intelligent router or SD-WAN appliance to detect the moment your primary connection drops and reroute traffic to the backup line. Most setups achieve a switchover time under 30 seconds, so staff and customers rarely notice the change. Voice, email and cloud sessions stay connected.

• A monitoring router continuously probes your primary circuit for packet loss and dropouts.
• On failure, it shifts active sessions to the backup link automatically — no human intervention.
• Quality-of-service rules prioritise voice and critical traffic so VoIP call quality holds up.
• When the primary line recovers, traffic switches back cleanly.

For multi-circuit and load-balanced designs, our SD-WAN failover configuration manages several connections from a single policy.

What types of backup connection can you use?

The three common options are 4G/5G mobile broadband, a secondary fixed line from an alternative carrier, or a dedicated leased line. The golden rule: your backup must use a different technology and a different carrier from your primary, so a single fault can't take both down. AMVIA matches the option to your risk and budget.

A leased line is typically the primary connection, with mobile or a second fixed line as the resilient backup. For sites that need protected, always-on links, our dedicated internet access and multi-site connectivity services build resilience in from the start.

Why do UK businesses need backup connectivity?

A single internet outage stops VoIP calls, card payments, Microsoft 365 and remote access at once. Even reliable lines suffer faults: the UK average broadband download speed sits at 69.4 Mbps and connections still drop for street works, exchange faults and power cuts. Backup connectivity turns an outage into a non-event.

The financial case is straightforward. UK businesses lost an estimated £3.7 billion to internet outages in 2023 — lost orders, idle staff and missed calls add up fast. According to Ofcom's Connected Nations report, fixed-line availability is high but not absolute, which is why resilience planning matters. The NCSC's guidance on operational resilience treats redundant connectivity as a core part of keeping services running through disruption.

For the wider plan around outages, ransomware and recovery, pair backup connectivity with structured business continuity planning.

How much does backup connectivity cost?

Backup connectivity is modest next to the cost of downtime. Pricing depends on the technology, bandwidth and data allowance you choose. Mobile failover is the most affordable entry point; a second fixed line costs more but delivers higher sustained throughput.

A 4G/5G backup solution typically costs from £30 per month, and a secondary fixed line from £35 per month. Set against the revenue lost in a single half-day outage, the spend is easy to justify.

How does AMVIA set up and manage your backup connection?

We design, install and monitor the whole failover path so it works on the day it's actually needed. Backup links that are never tested are the ones that fail silently — so we simulate real outages before you rely on them.

• Risk assessment — we review your primary connection, estimate downtime cost, and pick the right failover technology for your location.
• Circuit provisioning — we provision the backup on a different carrier and technology to remove single points of failure.
• Failover configuration — automatic failover is set so traffic switches the moment your primary drops.
• Testing and monitoring — we simulate failover, verify switchover times, and monitor both connections 24/7.

Where connectivity protects sensitive data, our leased line security approach adds encryption and traffic controls on top of the resilient design.

Why choose AMVIA for backup connectivity?

AMVIA manages connectivity and security for 1,200+ UK businesses as a single accountable provider, so one team owns both your primary line and its failover. Critical issues are responded to within one hour by a UK-based helpdesk. We hold Cyber Essentials Plus certification and Microsoft Solutions Partner status.

• One provider for line and failover — no finger-pointing between carriers when something breaks.
• Cyber Essentials Plus certified — independently assessed UK security baseline.
• Microsoft Solutions Partner — Modern Work, Security and Azure Infrastructure.
• 1,200+ UK businesses supported across legal, finance, healthcare and professional services.