The reality is that disasters can happen at any time (we once saw the fire sprinklers go off above a server rack.) Without the right plan in place, the impact on your business can be devastating. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you understand the key factors that go into a successful disaster recovery plan.
Identify Critical Systems and Data
The first step in any DR plan is identifying your critical systems and data. This includes everything from customer data to financial records to the software and hardware that keeps your business running. Figure out how much data you can afford to lose. For instance, if you’re backing up once daily, you’re saying you can afford to lose up to 24 hours data. This is often called the “Recovery Point Objective” or RPO.
Have a Backup Strategy
Backing up your critical systems and data is a critical part of any disaster recovery plan. This means regularly backing up your data to secure, off-site locations to ensure that it can be easily restored in the event of a disaster.
Create a Communication Plan
When a disaster strikes, communication is key. That’s why it’s important to have a communication plan in place. This should include clear steps for notifying employees, customers, and vendors about the disaster and how it will impact your business. It’s also important to have a plan for communicating with your team during the recovery process to keep everyone informed and on the same page.
Develop a Recovery Strategy
Recovering from a disaster isn’t just about restoring your data and systems. It’s also about ensuring that your business can continue to operate during the recovery process. This means developing a recovery strategy that includes steps for restoring your critical systems and data, but also for maintaining operations during the recovery process. Figure out how long you can afford to be without your data. For instance, if it takes 7 days to recover, would your business survive? This is often called your “Recovery Time Objective” or RTO.
Test Your Plan Regularly
Finally, it’s important to regularly test your disaster recovery plan to ensure it’s effective and up-to-date. This means simulating disaster scenarios and walking through your plan to identify any gaps or areas that need improvement. By regularly testing your plan, you can ensure that your business is prepared for anything that comes its way.
At Adaptive, we’ve helped countless businesses develop and implement disaster recovery plans that work. If you need help getting started, we’re here for you. Get in touch with us today to learn how we can help you protect your business from disaster.