# How should backups and disaster recovery work for mental health records?

URL: https://tymirahealth.com/resources/faqs/how-should-backups-and-disaster-recovery-work-for-mental-health-records
For: Digital health teams | Digital health and technology | Reviewed by Independent clinical reviewer, Registered mental health clinician, Kenya | Last reviewed 8 November 2026

**Answer:** Kenya's Digital Health Regulations require regular, encrypted backups stored securely, and certification applicants must submit a backup and recovery policy. Keep several copies, including at least one offline or immutable copy to survive ransomware, and test restoring records on a schedule, not just backups running. Set recovery targets: how much data you can afford to lose and how quickly the system must return. Encrypt backups, restrict who can access them, and include them in your retention and deletion rules.

Sources: Kenya Law: https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/act/ln/2025/76/eng@2025-04-11 - ISO: https://www.iso.org/standard/84647.html

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