Disasters can strike at any moment, sometimes with warning and, in other instances, without any. As technology has evolved, so too have the ways in which firms can shore up IT infrastructures, back up mission-critical data and restore operations as quickly as possible. Companies that want to improve their business continuity and disaster recovery strategies are able to do so with myriad solutions.
Backups are often at the center of disaster preparedness. Content, whether corporate information or consumer assets, is the lifeblood of many organizations. Firms without access to this valuable data cannot function to the best of their abilities consistently. This is the reason companies often employ backups that include the most important assets.
But keeping these devices at the office is not effective. If disasters strike a company's office, the IT systems are vulnerable to damage or full destruction, which is the same fate the backups will experience if they are stored at the office. Businesses that rely on physical tools should have secondary sites available to protect these systems.
The cloud is also a possibility
Companies that desire faster access to data following disruptions can adopt cloud computing. Cloud environments are available through Internet connections, enabling staff members to use devices such as PCs, tablets and smartphones to access information, regardless of location. This capability comes in handy should a business's office remain closed while cleanup is taking place.
"Companies can take more than one street with their BC/DR strategies."
The cloud is also more flexible in that organizations do not have to worry about recovering assets from secondary sites and transporting the backups to the office. However, companies should not solely just rely on the cloud for their recovery efforts. If the service provider offering access to cloud suites experiences a disruption of its own, the customer will be unable to maintain operations.
This is why it is best to blend the best of both the physical and cloud worlds when shoring up business continuity and disaster recovery initiatives to not take any chances when a Mother Nature-related event, human error or power outage occurs.
Let recovery specialists take a look
Plenty of businesses rely on IT systems daily that are in industries well outside of the tech industry. Companies in this position should consider seeking help from third-party specialists. These service providers can be the foundation of customers' business continuity and disaster recovery strategies, whether that involves suggestions for which data backups to employ, how to educate employees on best practices and the steps to take to achieve full recovery.
Organizations should be focused solely on their core values and goals, generating revenue, delivering improved customer service and expanding into new markets. Without service providers in their corner, companies would have to devote less time and resources toward disaster preparedness. Firms that enlist the help of recovery specialists will no longer have to fret over maintaining assets themselves, instead relying on experts to make sure they are ready to be proactive, not reactive, during disasters.