Tag Archive for: disaster recovery

Dispelling common misconceptions about disaster recovery for modern businesses

Disasters come in various forms, from malicious cyberattacks to unexpected system failures to natural calamities. With these threats becoming increasingly common, businesses must navigate through a maze of myths and misconceptions surrounding disaster recovery. Here are the top six disaster recovery myths you should be aware of.

Myth 1: Disaster recovery is only necessary for large corporations

News outlets often report on major disruptions and disasters that impact big corporations because they make for great headlines. After all, corporations that are typically presumed to have several safeguards falling victim to disasters is a gripping story.

However, this has led to the misconception that only large corporations need disaster recovery plans. Cyberattacks, technical issues, and natural disasters affect businesses of all sizes, and no organization is immune to the potential damages. Whether it’s a small business with limited resources or a large corporation with an extensive IT infrastructure, having a disaster recovery plan in place is essential for keeping operations running smoothly.

Myth 2: Data backups are all you need for disaster recovery

Despite being a crucial component of disaster recovery, data backups are not sufficient on their own. A comprehensive disaster recovery plan encompasses backup solutions along with other critical elements such as disaster response protocols, alternate infrastructure options, and communication strategies. Companies with mission-critical systems may even need to set up a secondary worksite to ensure business continuity in the event of a disaster. Without a well-rounded plan in place, businesses risk losing valuable time and resources trying to piece together a recovery strategy in the midst of a disaster.

Myth 3: Disaster recovery is expensive and complex

While implementing a robust disaster recovery plan requires investment, it is not inherently prohibitively expensive or overly complex. Cloud-based data backups and disaster recovery solutions from managed IT services providers have made it more affordable and manageable for businesses of all sizes to have a comprehensive disaster recovery plan in place. Plus, the cost of a disaster recovery plan is significantly lower than the potential losses a business could face in the event of a disaster.

Myth 4: Only IT departments are responsible for disaster recovery

Disaster recovery planning should involve the entire organization, not just the IT department. While the IT team plays a critical role in implementing and maintaining disaster recovery solutions, it is essential for all employees to understand their responsibilities in case of a disaster. Business continuity planning should involve cross-departmental collaboration, awareness training for employees, and clear communication protocols during emergencies.

Myth 5: Achieving zero downtime and data loss is always feasible for disaster recovery

Although zero downtime and zero data loss are ideal scenarios for disaster recovery, they may not always be practical or achievable for every business. The cost and complexity of implementing such high levels of resilience can be prohibitive for many organizations.

Instead, businesses should establish realistic recovery objectives based on their specific needs and prioritize the most critical systems and data for recovery. Less critical systems and data may have a longer recovery timeframe, but as long as the most vital functions are restored quickly, the business can continue to operate.

Myth 6: Disaster recovery planning is a one-time task

Disaster recovery planning isn’t something that can be checked off a to-do list and forgotten about. Business environments evolve, new threats emerge, and technology advances, making it crucial to revisit and revise the recovery plan periodically. Conducting regular assessments, testing procedures, and incorporating lessons learned from simulations or real incidents are essential for maintaining an effective disaster recovery strategy.

If you want a truly effective disaster recovery plan that’s not based on myths and misconceptions but rather on hard data, contact us today. We provide comprehensive disaster recovery planning and solutions that can help your business mitigate risks, reduce downtime, and ensure minimal loss in case of a disaster.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from TechAdvisory.org SOURCE

/by

Essential tips for making an effective disaster recovery plan

As a business owner, you know that data security is paramount. It’s therefore essential to ensure you have taken all necessary steps to protect yourself against potential data loss events, such as data breaches and natural disasters. In this essential guide, we will outline the key steps you should take in creating a disaster recovery plan (DRP). Following these can save your business from an incredibly costly catastrophe.

A DRP is a documented set of processes and strategies that an organization puts in place to be able to recover and restore its critical data and systems in case of a disaster or an unexpected event. The plan outlines the steps to be taken before, during, and after a disaster to minimize the impacts on the organization’s operations and ensure business continuity.

To create an effective DRP, follow these steps:

Conduct a risk assessment

A risk assessment is a critical component of any DRP, as it helps identify potential hazards, vulnerabilities, and risks that could impact an organization’s operations in the event of a disaster. By conducting a risk assessment, you can identify and prioritize the risks your organization faces and develop appropriate strategies and actions to mitigate those risks.

Develop a recovery strategy

Design a strategy to address each risk identified in the assessment phase. This could include developing backups of data or systems, investing in cloud-based services, using redundant hardware, or establishing alternative physical locations for your business operations.

Establish availability requirements

Availability refers to the ability of an organization’s systems, applications, and data to be accessible and functional in the event of a disaster or an outage. To determine your company’s availability requirements, identify the resources (e.g., servers, databases, etc.) and services (email, customer service) that are critical for your business operations and determine how quickly they need to be restored following an incident.

Set up backups

Select the most appropriate backup strategy (i.e., full or incremental) for your needs and devise the best plan for storing your backups safely off site so that you can access them when needed.

Without backups, important data and information can be lost permanently, resulting in significant financial and reputational damage to your organization. Backups are also used to restore systems and data to a state before the disaster occurred, helping ensure business continuity while minimizing the impact of the disaster on your business operations.

Test your plan

Test your DRP periodically to make sure it will work as planned when an incident occurs. A DRP is only useful if it can be executed properly, and testing helps identify and address any gaps in the plan.

Testing a DRP also provides an opportunity to identify weaknesses that could be improved or procedures that need adjustments. It allows you to verify that the plan is complete, up to date, and relevant.

Train your employees

Your employees are often your first line of defense when a disaster strikes, and their actions can significantly affect the outcome of a recovery effort.

Training employees on the DRP helps ensure they understand exactly what they need to do during an emergency. It also provides them with the knowledge and skills needed to carry out their duties effectively, minimizing the risk of errors or delays in the recovery process.

Are you concerned about data safety? Don’t leave it to chance — call us for all your DRP needs! With our cutting-edge technology, dedicated team, and industry-leading expertise, you can rest assured that your data and systems are in expert hands.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from TechAdvisory.org SOURCE

/by
,

Is your business prepared for hurricanes?

Hurricane season is here. These harsh weather events can produce devastating high-speed winds, torrential rains, and microbursts, and can bring your business to a grinding halt. To address the threat of hurricanes, your company should have an effective hurricane disaster recovery policy in place.

What is a hurricane disaster recovery plan?

A hurricane disaster recovery plan is a written set of procedures on how to respond to a hurricane. Just like a standard disaster recovery plan, this policy contains steps that should be taken before, during, and after a hurricane, including:

  • How to anticipate and mitigate the effects of a hurricane
  • Emergency procedures to ensure everyone’s safety
  • Steps for restoring vital business systems and operations
  • Long-term plans for full business recovery

How to create a hurricane disaster recovery plan

While each organization’s hurricane disaster recovery plan is unique to its industry, the basic framework should contain the following:

1. Risk assessment
Conducting a comprehensive risk assessment will help pinpoint vulnerabilities your company must address. This lets you prioritize the most critical parts of your planning and help you shape your hurricane disaster recovery policy.

2. Preventive planning
While it’s impossible to stop a hurricane, anticipating and carefully planning for it can help prevent serious damage to your business. Think about how people board up their windows before a hurricane strikes. You need to take preventive steps to protect vital aspects of your business from a hurricane. This includes:

  • Backing up your data
    Data backup is an important component of any disaster recovery strategy. Even if a hurricane does not completely destroy your IT infrastructure, the disruption caused by the loss of huge quantities of data can lead to lost productivity and revenue.Having a robust data backup system allows you to quickly restore vital business data and minimize downtime caused by a hurricane. Examples of data backup solutions include:

    • Off-site backups – Storing copies of your backups in off-site data backup centers in areas rarely hit by hurricanes is an ideal solution. This ensures that you will have secure copies of your data even if your servers and computers are destroyed during a hurricane.
    • Cloud storage – Cloud storage lets you access your data and files remotely, as long as you have a stable internet connection. This allows employees to work from home in case your offices suffer severe damage.
  • Protecting physical assets
    During a hurricane, the biggest threat to your servers and other electronic equipment is flooding and water damage. Here are some ways you can keep them safe.

    • Avoid storing servers in the basement, as this is usually the first area that will be flooded.
    • Choose a storage room with no water pipes in the walls and ceiling to prevent water from leaking in.
    • Install flood detectors to warn you if water enters your facility.
    • Invest in turtle shells to protect electrical equipment from leaks.

3. Response
This covers the emergency procedures that should be taken during a hurricane to minimize the risk of injury to employees, such as:

  • Guidelines on how to protect oneself from strong winds
  • Where to take refuge if trapped in the building
  • Evacuation policies to ensure everyone’s safety

You should also include the names and contact information of emergency personnel to ensure all safety measures are carried out properly.

4. Restoration
This contains steps on how to restore critical business operations and systems after a hurricane, and who will be responsible for the restoration process. It should include clear instructions on what needs to be restored first, such as:

  • Data backups
  • Power
  • Network access
  • Servers and other damaged equipment

Conducting a business impact analysis will identify critical business systems and help you formulate an effective restoration plan that will get your business back up and running as soon as possible.

5. Recovery
Even if your company restores vital systems quickly, you still need a complete, long-term recovery plan. It should include details on how the company will fully restore operations to pre-hurricane levels. Here are some examples:

  • Repairing of damaged structures
  • Replacement of destroyed equipment
  • Relocation of business if needed
  • Returning the workforce to full capacity

Hurricanes are unpredictable, but having a disaster recovery plan in place will help you recover as quickly as possible. Talk to our experts today to learn more about disaster recovery planning.

If you’re concerned about any natural disasters putting you out of business, call us today. We offer comprehensive business continuity services that every company should have.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from TechAdvisory.org SOURCE

/by