Disaster Recovery
Do you have a DRP?
Does your organization have a disaster recovery plan (DRP)? If you experienced a sudden loss of communications, how quickly could you be up and running? How well could you cope with an unexpected computer crash?
As more businesses rely on digital technology to create and maintain records, they become more vulnerable. Of companies that had a major loss or computerized data, 43% never reopen and 51% close within two years. Only 6% survive long term.
Disaster recovery strategies
The most common strategies for data protection are:
- Backups made to tape and sent off-site at regular intervals (preferably daily)
- Backups made to disk on-site and automatically copied to off-site disk, or made directly to off-site disk
- Replication of data to an off-site location, which overcomes the need to restore the data (only the systems then need to be restored or synced). This generally makes use of Storage Area Network (SAN) technology
- High availability systems which keep both the data and system replicated off-site, enabling continuous access to systems and data
Organizations should also implement pre-emptive measures to prevent disasters, such as:
- Surge Protectors — to minimize the effect of power surges on delicate electronic equipment
- Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) and/or Backup Generator to keep systems going in the event of a power failure
- Fire Preventions — more alarms, accessible fire extinguishers
- Anti-virus software and other security measures