Disaster Recovery

What is a disaster situation? It is a situation where your whole IT network is crippled and cannot function due to a complete and total loss of all your data. In most cases you have heard the words before, but you don’t really care anyway as you think it’s just another term for selling something that you will probably never need or use, right? WRONG, Any of the following factors below can happen to you at any time and even though it is unthinkable because these things will only happen very rarely if ever, it only takes once and all your hard years of work and data is GONE and LOST forever. Can you just picture this in your mind for a moment? Here are some of the most common factors listed on order of occurrence:

 

» Computer Hardware Failure

» Electricity Power Surge (Overvoltage)

» Theft or vandalism

» Fire

» Flooding

 

 

So how do we get it all back now? Well you simply CANNOT get your data back unless you have proper onsite and more importantly offsite backup procedures in place that are scheduled to run on a regular basis (at least once a day). Even with the advanced technologies that we have today retrieving data from a badly damaged hard disk drive can cost thousands of dollars and take a very long time, during which your business is at a standstill and is costing you even more money. Even worse if your Server, computer or notebook (laptop) has been stolen then your chances are almost impossible, and yes, you WILL have to start all over again.

 

So, you do have a backup in the top drawer and you don’t have to worry about any of this, as someone is actually replacing the tape, disc or even worse floppy disk every day so you think you are safe. They might even be using a USB Stick (flash drive) and they do take it home every day, because the person at the shop told them that these are great for offsite backups and never mentioned that one day you might find there’s nothing in there at all, it’s all gone. Does this tape or USB Stick also have a complete copy of your operating system (Windows) including all your programs and emails, or are you going to have to install everything from scratch?

 

When was the last time someone actually tried to restore some data back from the tape or disc?, Yesterday, last week, last month, six months ago or even worse NEVER? Do they even know how to use the backup program so they can do a proper data test restore? Or do they just copy and paste in the old traditional way. Too bad if they missed that critical document you spent four hours working on all day yesterday. Can you really trust this person with your business lifeline in their hands; your data?

 

Why take it offsite? Ultimately it is useless having some form of data backup on the premises if any of the above mentioned scenarios does happen. If the fire kicks in, the drawer will burn too and so will your precious backup. If the thief decides to also take the data safe, then it is also gone and you’re left with nothing. But the most important thing is that these backups will need to be regularly tested offsite by a professional who knows how to use the backup program and to ensure that you can actually recover all your data safely and completely in any event.

 

Have you got a plan? What exactly is a disaster recovery plan (DRP)? It is an IT focused plan designed to restore operability of the target systems, applications, or computer facility at an alternate site after an emergency. A DRP addresses major site disruptions that require site relocation. The DRP applies to major, usually catastrophic, events that deny access to the normal facility for an extended period. Typically, disaster recovery planning involves an analysis of business processes and continuity needs; it may also include a significant focus on disaster prevention.

 

Let us keep your data safe? This is what we do for a living, so we do it well because we do it over and over again. Our professional team will make sure that your data not only is happening as scheduled, even up to every hour if you require, but we will conduct regular test restores at least once a month to ensure that if the unthinkable does happen, we are prepared, can and will have you up and running in the least possible amount of time so that your business does not suffer. What have you got to lose? Let us come and explain to you more in detail on how this will work. Contact us today.