Chaos on the Rise — IT Disaster Recovery Is Critical
Disasters, both natural and manmade, are on the rise globally and domestically. And oftentimes, small businesses take the brunt of these catastrophes.
Yet, one in three businesses have outdated plans to prepare for these emergencies, according to Forbes. That is, if they have a plan in the first place. FEMA reports that 90 percent of businesses that don’t have emergency plans fail.
A disaster recovery plan is critical to the health of a business in the event of a catastrophic event. A prepared plan of action reduces the risk of closing your business forever. From cyberattacks to natural events, small businesses put their hard work at risk when they don’t have a recovery plan in place. To keep your business from derailing amid crisis, you need to prepare as if a disaster is inevitable.
Here are four simple strategies to protect your business from unexpected catastrophe.
1) Take Stock
Conduct inventory of your software applications, data and hardware, including servers, desktops and laptops. By documenting a pre-itemized inventory, you’re better positioned to identify which hardware and software restorations to prioritize in your recovery efforts. Your business can get back on its feet easier with hardware restoration, data backup and applications, which serve to mitigate the effects of negative events and get your business recovered faster.
2) Backup. Backup. Backup.
One of the top causes of data loss is hardware failure. Losing business data threatens to slow or halt your recovery efforts when you’re ready to open shop. It’s an absolute must to back up all the information you need to run your business in regularly scheduled intervals. Identify which data to back up on servers, computers and wireless devices. And make it a regular part of your operations to schedule and conduct these backups. IT support systems will help to keep your relevant information safe and your business up and running faster after a disaster.
3) Test the Plan
Business continuity after a disaster is more certain if you run tests to determine how efficiently your IT recovery plan runs. You’ll learn what’s still missing and what modifications to make to ensure a full recovery. Consider hiring a managed service provider to handle your disaster recovery and business continuity. And be sure to outline the details of the plan and make the plan accessible. You wouldn’t want to lose that crucial plan in the next 500-year flood.
4) Work with a Managed Service Provider
An MSP works to assess your goals, identify your technology pain points and tailor a plan unique to your business and industry. With a technology partner, you don’t have to do the heavy lifting, or any lifting at all. A team of experts is right by your side to proactively protect your business. An MSP enables you to concentrate on the operations of your business, because IT issues are taken care of.
When you’re witnessing the next catastrophic event on the news, think about how your business will fare if it happens to you. Small businesses need to prepare as if danger is always around the corner. An IT recovery plan through your MSP partner is the only way to maintain peace of mind and comprehensive protection. Business owners have the option right now to get prepared for a smoother recovery period with a disaster recovery plan that keeps the doors open. Computer Doc designs and implements a tailored recovery plan to ensure you feel confident, regardless of chaos.
Contact us today to get started.
Source: disasterrecovery.org, ready.gov
