Why You Absolutely Need to Build a Solid DR Strategy
Imagine waking up one day to find your phone wiped clean with no contacts, no photos, and no messages. Now, picture this happening to an entire business, where all their files, data, and systems are gone. Scary, right? That’s why businesses need a Disaster Recovery (DR) system. It helps them bounce back when things go wrong. Here’s how to build one.
Have a Hierarchy of What Needs to Be Secured
The first step is to know what’s important. Before anything else, figure out what you absolutely can’t afford to lose. For a business, this could be data like customer information, financial records, and emails. It also includes the systems, which are the software tools that keep the business running smoothly. Lastly, consider the people, specifically those who need to take charge if a disaster strikes.
Understanding Your Risk
Think about what could go wrong, such as natural disasters like floods, fires, or earthquakes. Cyberattacks are another threat, where hackers could steal or lock up vital data. Even simple human errors, like someone accidentally deleting important files, can cause major issues.
Set Recovery Goals
Businesses need to answer two big questions: how fast do we need to recover and how much data can we afford to lose? The first question refers to the Recovery Time Objective (RTO), which is the maximum amount of time the business can be down. For example, if a business can’t afford to be down for more than an hour, their RTO is one hour. The second question relates to the Recovery Point Objective (RPO), which measures the maximum amount of data loss that is acceptable. If losing more than one day’s worth of data is unacceptable, the RPO is one day.
Back Up Your Data
Not all backups are the same. On-site backups are stored in the same location as the business, making them quick to access but risky if there’s a fire or flood. Off-site backups are kept in a different location, offering safety from local disasters. Cloud backups store data online, making it accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. Some businesses also use real-time data replication, where data is copied instantly to another system for minimal data loss.
Now for Your DR Plan
This plan should detail exactly what to do if disaster strikes. It should include step-by-step instructions on how to restore systems and data, clearly defined roles so everyone knows their responsibilities, and a communication plan to ensure that employees, customers, and partners stay informed.
Having a plan isn’t enough, however. It needs to be tested regularly. Businesses should run drills to simulate disasters and practice the recovery steps. This helps identify any weak spots in the plan. Any issues found during these drills should be fixed promptly. Since technology and business processes change over time, it’s also important to keep the plan updated.
Data can be vulnerable during this period, so businesses should use strong passwords, ensure that backup data is encrypted, and comply with any legal requirements related to data protection.
Without a disaster recovery plan, a business risks losing money, customers, and even its ability to continue operating. But with the right plan in place, a business can recover quickly, almost as if nothing ever happened. If you need help designing and implementing a comprehensive disaster recovery plan for your business, the IT experts at White Mountain IT Services can help. Give us a call at (603) 889-0800 to start the conversation today.
