As business continuity and disaster recovery become necessities in the enterprise, executives know that conventional methods do not hold up in a fully digitized environment. Data resources are expansive and complex, and employees need to remain productive during times when primary office locations may not be available.
Unfortunately, in-house BC and DR functions tend to fall short due to a lack of skill sets and resources. That’s why outsourcing these responsibilities is the optimal strategy for companies in today’s world. Let’s look at five reasons why an outsourced BC and DR infrastructure is the superior choice for any tech-centric business.
1. Strategic support: In many cases, organizations simply don’t know where to start when tasked with creating a BC/DR strategy. Between backups, testing and employee notifications, there are countless pieces to the puzzle that require an expert eye. By outsourcing the strategic aspects of BC and DR, a company will have the support it needs to go from the drawing board to a practical, effective solution.
2. Stable infrastructure: As a Warstreet Marketing piece contributed to IT Web pointed out, “A number of important considerations have to be taken into account when siting the disaster recovery facilities, and it’s easy to make errors.” In other words, homespun DR solutions are prone to instability and other hazards, which can’t be permitted when so much is on the line. Outsourced infrastructures are far more reliable and stable.
3. Accurate SLAs: It’s hard to guarantee service-level agreements in-house, as the IT department is already swamped with responsibility. This means that a company cannot rest assured that data will be restored on time or in full. By outsourcing these functions, organizations sign a contract complete with accurate SLAs, ensuring that service levels are set in stone from the start.
4. Transparent costs: Building, maintaining and upgrading on-site DR systems can be a drain on IT budgets, and it’s difficult to track just how much is spent. When these solutions are outsourced, a company knows just how much is being paid each month to keep things up and running.
5. Dedicated space: When unexpected circumstances prevent employees from accessing the main office, a business needs a plan to get everybody back to work – and fast. By outsourcing and leveraging a dedicated workspace, an organization can ensure that employees stay productive in an environment that feels comfortable and is fully equipped, without full ownership of an additional office.