Disaster Recovery: What does It Mean and How Can I Prevent It in the First Place?

Disaster recovery is a term that’s thrown around nowadays in relation to protecting businesses against unfortunate events, but what does it exactly mean? Disaster recovery is essentially a system put in place in preparation for a range of disasters which can affect businesses’ productivity and reputation, and cause economic downturn. 

These can include cyber attacks, industrial accidents, natural disasters, and pandemics. In fact, the impact of covid-19 led to an awareness of the importance of having disaster recovery systems in place and many businesses are now working with an IT company in order to do so.

Why is Disaster Recovery Important?

Disaster recovery is important because it helps to ensure business continuity. Disasters such as a data breach, for instance, can cause serious downtime. This will mean businesses will automatically make a loss and it could also permanently affect their reputation. The costs needed to repair damages caused by a security breach and to recover data can also be significant. It’s, therefore, essential to have preventative measures in place.

How Does Disaster Recovery Work?

Businesses can use disaster recovery sites which will store an encrypted copy of sensitive data and information on the original server. Disaster recovery sites are used to restore the entire technological infrastructure if the primary data center has been compromised. These can be internal, external, or cloud-based. Many businesses rely on disaster recovery and cloud hosting services provided by an IT company as they use the latest in encryption technology and cybersecurity best practices. Their data centers are also staffed 24/7 and prepared for the event of an emergency.

How Can I Prepare for Disaster Recovery?

In order to prepare a disaster recovery plan, businesses need to perform a thorough assessment of all risk factors. This should also include an analysis of the technology environment and the prioritizing of disaster recovery goals. 

It’s then necessary to put together a step-by-step plan that will help minimize the impact of various disasters. This will usually outline noting the key personnel involved, software and systems needed, insurance coverage, and actions for dealing with legal issues.

The details of a disaster recovery plan will also depend on the size and scope of the organization. As well as having a backup system in place for data, network, and system protection, business owners will also need to consider alternatives for facility-related components depending on the impact of the disaster. These can include heating and cooling systems, power, fire safety, and personal security.

How Can an IT Company Help?

By working with an IT company you will have access to the expertise and resources needed in order to protect your business in the event of a disaster. They’ll be able to offer 24/7 monitoring of your data, network, and systems, and actively help to anticipate and prevent risks. You can rest assured highly trained experts will be prepared if the unfortunate does occur.