Each business must have a disaster recovery plan, although this is not always the case. Why is this plan so important? Well, it will allow you to withstand any type of disaster and protect your company’s data and the entire business. We are not talking only about viruses and cyberattacks, but also natural disasters such as a fire or flood. In the following text, we are going to tell you some main features of it and also how to create it.
The very first thing you have to understand is that data recovery and data backup are not the same things. Yes, a third-party IT Company, such as Data Magic Computer Services, will provide you with both of these, but the former one includes everything from replacing damaged gadgets to filing complaints, while the latter one is just a puzzle piece of the entire plan.
Now, let’s talk about how to create one. There is no universal guide since it has to be designed according to each company. There are many factors that affect this plan such as the size of the company, the number of employees, trade, location, federal regulations, organizational and management structures, technology ownership, and so on.
Furthermore, there are five main questions that have to be answered – what types of disaster can occur, who is responsible for each section of the company, what will be your immediate response, as well as intermediate and long-term recovery actions. It is also important to investigate every part of your business thoroughly to learn how it can be damaged and what you can do to preserve it.
Firstly, you have to run a Business Impact Analysis. Think about which sections of your company are at risk, what their role is and explore each of their vulnerabilities. Make the list of people who are responsible for that section and consider how they can manage any kind of emergency. Don’t forget to calculate the time you will need to restore all data and return to your normal business running.
When creating a disaster recovery plan it is of utmost importance to consider all weak points of your business. There may be more than you anticipated, but it is important to list them all since it is the only way you can come up with a solution for each possible problem in advance. It may include DDoS attacks, stolen laptops, hacked servers and stolen customer data, viruses and malware, and even fires, floods and earthquakes.
Moreover, you have to delegate recovery work amongst your employees. In order to handle every emergency situation successfully, you will need a team people who will know what their exact job is. Don’t expect your IT person to handle everything, because it simply isn’t possible. When thinking about different scenarios, make a list of people who should be contacted first. Consult both your employees and a third-party ally and come up with the best course of action.
Lastly, you have to test each segment of your plan. There is no point in having one if you are not 100% sure that it will work. Test your solutions, make sure that your employees know what they have to do, and learn how much time it will take to bring everything back to its normal course.
All in all, these are some main features of a solid disaster recovery plan, but you should also employ other tools such as data backup, antivirus software, security system, and so on.
