1. A method of data recovery as a data protection service is being provided in a first processing environment, where, in connection with the data protection service, data has been stored in a data store remote from the first processing environment, the method comprising: initiating a data recovery operation upon a determination that given data in the first processing environment needs to be recovered because it is missing, incorrect or corrupted; recovering the given data to a former point-in-time state as reflected in the data store, wherein the recovery comprises: presenting a structure of the given data to an application associated with a data source so that, from a point-of-view of the application, the data source is recovered prior to fully synchronizing the data source; and synchronizing the data source to the structure of the given data; and enabling the application to continue accessing or updating the given data during the recovery.