disaster data recovery Archives

The Importance of a Reliable BDR Plan for Business

JC Collier on June 28, 2023

In every business, there is an element of risk involved. In addition to operational risks, there may be hidden threats that can arise suddenly. One of the best defenses a business can wield in these situations is a reliable bdr plan.

In the last few weeks, we have been covering BDR solutions. What BDR solutions are, what they can do for your business. Talked about how to gauge the quality of a particular BDR plan. Indeed, it’s worth all the discussion because we can never overemphasize the importance of a reliable BDR plan for your business, your employees, and your clients.

Benefits of Having a Reliable BDR Strategy

Our series of blog posts on backup and disaster recovery began with an article called “What Is BDR and How Does It Impact Business?“. In this first week, we covered the key benefits businesses gain from a good BDR strategy.

A good BDR strategy will give you protection against data loss and damage. Specifically, the data backup component of the BDR will safeguard your information in the face of a data breach, a system failure, a natural disaster, and so on.

A secure data backup system with the most innovative security measures and encryption tools offers better security, which is another significant benefit. With such a system, all your business information will remain safe and untouched. Also, a sound BDR will ensure higher customer retention even after a disaster.

Why is a BDR a Necessity?

In week 2, we published a blog post on the “Top 5 Ways Your Business Can Be Impacted Without a BDR Plan.“

This blog talks about what could happen to your business if you operate without a reliable BDR strategy.

There are more events that can cause the collapse of a business than most business owners realize. Other than the publicized cyberattacks, factors like cloud-based threats, the increasing number of remote employees, and any natural disaster can damage an unprotected one.

Most of these are events that no one can predict or prevent. Using a robust BDR solution is the only way to keep your data secure from current external threats.

Signs of a Reliable BDR Solution

By now, we have established the importance of having a backup and disaster recovery plan for any business. But then, not all BDR plans are equal. How do you know if the one you have will work for you? In week 3, we tackle this concern in our blog post called “How Do You Know If Your IT Provider Has a Solid BDR Plan for You?“.

If you have a reliable IT provider, there’s a chance they have designed a great BDR solution for your company. But if you want to know how effective your BDR strategy is, check if it includes the five vital components: proactive measures for disaster recovery, priority for critical functions, emergency response procedures, secure data backup, and routine testing.

How a Managed IT Provider Can Help with a Reliable BDR Plan

Now that it’s clear how crucial a BDR plan is for your business, the only thing left is to bring in the right IT provider. So that they can design and implement a suitable plan. We have provided reliable backups and disaster recovery strategies for small and midsize businesses for years.

If you want a system that will give you the most protection, call us, and we will set you up! And don’t forget to download our FREE BDR infographic. It’s full of tips to help you learn about the BDR solution we offer.

How To Know If You Have a Solid BDR Plan?

JC Collier on June 22, 2023

Data backup and disaster recovery are two of the most critical services businesses expect from an IT provider. It is especially crucial when malware attacks are so frequent that your business can easily crumble if caught without adequate preparation. That is why you will need to have a solid BDR plan.

If you have an IT provider, there’s a good chance they’ve already set up a BDR plan for your business. The question is, how do you know if this plan is any good? Will it protect you in the event of a nasty cyberattack? Will it help you get your business back on its feet after suffering the effects of a natural disaster? Is the protection it gives your business worth the money you are paying for it?

Crucial Elements of a Solid BDR Plan

Many business owners are not tech experts; therefore, they hire IT providers to manage their technology needs. But even without professional expertise, you can tell how solid your BDR plan is by checking if it satisfies the following areas.

Proactive Measures for Disaster Recovery

There are many causes of disasters, and a sound and solid BDR plan should have proactive measures for each possibility. From natural disasters to system failures caused by human error and everything in between, your BDR strategy should have it all covered.

Priority for Critical Business Functions

Each business is unique and has its own set of critical functions. That means there is no single solid BDR plan that works for everyone. You know that your IT provider has given you the best solution if they have taken the time to understand your business and have identified the crucial elements that need the highest level of protection.

Emergency Response Procedures for a Solid BDR Plan

During an emergency, it is critical to have a timely response, as this would be very helpful in mitigating risks and preventing further damage. A solid BDR plan should incorporate an emergency response protocol that includes IT support for keeping the company’s data and network as safe as possible.

Secure and Reliable Data Backup

The point of a data backup system is to have a secure copy of all your business data that you can use for recovery in case of a disaster. A solid BDR plan would backup data in cloud storage, which offers a high level of security and is in a separate location from your business.

Routine Testing and Reviews for a Solid BDR Plan

Even the most solid BDR plan can eventually become outdated, especially with the rate at which technology changes. Also, as your business grows, the risks might also change. Therefore, a reputable IT provider always does routine testing to check the integrity of your systems and makes adjustments to ensure that it keeps up with all the changes.

Evaluating Your Current BDR Strategy

Look at the BDR solution your IT provider has set up for you and see if it meets all the above requirements. If it does, then you should be in good shape. But if anything seems off or not up to par, it’s time to consider upgrading to a better BDR plan.

At our company, we have been keeping businesses prepared for worst-case scenarios for years. We specifically design BDR solutions to meet each client’s needs. You should include a solid BDR strategy in the list of your small business needs. You can familiarize yourself with the many benefits of a BDR plan by downloading our FREE Infographic.

If you want to experience peace of mind for your business, call us today, and we will set you up for a free consultation.

Top 5 Ways Your Business Can Be Impacted without a BDR Plan

JC Collier on June 15, 2023

A backup and disaster recovery plan is crucial for every business, regardless of industry or the size of the enterprise. Disasters can stem from many situations, from natural calamities to online attacks or even a simple human error. Without a proper BDR plan, your business might easily get destroyed, possibly with very little hope of being able to get back up at all.

With the prevalence of online and offline threats, we cannot emphasize enough that a small business needs as much protection as possible. So if you are stubbornly resisting the call to put a reliable BDR plan in place, this is the perfect post for you. Keep reading to discover the drastic ways that may impact your business if you keep going without a BDR plan.

BDR Plan for Natural Disasters

No one can tell when or where a natural disaster will occur or how severe its effects will be. What will you do if your business records get caught in a raging fire or your servers get damaged beyond repair in a Category 4 typhoon? Without a BDR plan, you might as well sit in a corner and weep because there is no way you can recover the lost data.

Cloud-Based Threats

Businesses have been taking advantage of cloud solutions for multiple applications, which is a good thing. But with this trend also comes a horde of new online risks. In migrating your business to the cloud, it becomes one more target for relentless hackers searching for the next victim. A modern BDR plan takes these threats into account and lists actions with suitable security measures to minimize the risk to your business and your cloud-based data and processes.

Data Protection

A company’s data is one of its most valuable assets and must be protected. The backup should include transaction records, legal contracts, customer information, and a horde of data that would put you in a very unpleasant situation should it fall into the wrong hands. To keep your data safe, keep an updated copy in a secure location in case your primary storage gets compromised or damaged. Only a professional BDR solution can give you the data protection and security your business needs.

Remote Employees

Remote work has become very common because of the pandemic. While it has many perks for both the workers and your business, there is also the added risk that remote employees are inadvertently adding to the company. Often, remote employees use their networks at home while working, which are not very secure. If a hacker infiltrates your business, you can roll out your BDR plan to stop the damage and get back to normal operations as quickly as possible.

Ransomware

Almost all the million-dollar data breaches reported this year involved ransomware. This is one of the easiest and most effective attacks hackers use to conduct their illicit affairs. Many companies that have been the victims of ransomware attacks could recover, but only because they had an effective BDR strategy. And if you don’t have one, who knows what terrible fate awaits your business following an attack?

Protect Yourself and Your Business Today with a BDR Plan

According to statistics, about 40 percent of small and midsize businesses do not have any BDR plan. All they have is antivirus software and some data backups on an external hard drive, and that’s about it.

Danger will always lurk around, and there is no better time than now to prepare yourself. You should include a solid BDR strategy in the list of your small business needs. You can familiarize yourself with the many benefits of a BDR plan by downloading our FREE Infographic.

When you are ready to take the next step, we are standing by. Call us today, and we will create a robust BDR strategy to keep your business as secure as possible.

What Is BDR and How Does It Impact Business?

JC Collier on June 7, 2023

Businesses these days conduct most of their processes digitally. On one hand, this is great because it speeds up transactions, improves data accuracy, and so on, allowing for faster and more efficient IT business development. But the heavy reliance on digital data brings new risks of data loss or damage. All businesses should have a good backup and disaster recovery plan to lessen these risks. We will explain to you what is BDR and how it impacts businesses.

An Introduction to What is BDR

BDR stands for “backup and disaster recovery.” It is a set of solutions that make sure data is safe and can be recovered after a disaster. A BDR plan aims to protect a business and maintain the continuity of operations despite any mishaps.

We often consider BDR solutions a defense against cyberattacks, which are becoming more frequent in recent years. But they are also beneficial in other circumstances, like keeping a business safe after a natural disaster or in any situation where the company’s data is at risk.

What a Sound BDR Strategy Can Do for Your Business

The lack of a proper BDR solution can have a negative impact on your business. At the very least, it can cause disruptions to your operation as your staff scrambles to recover all your data. In worst-case scenarios, you might not only find yourself with a destroyed business, but you may also face lawsuits as a repercussion of the disaster.

But if you have a tried-and-true BDR solution protecting your data, more than likely, you won’t have to face these dreadful scenarios. In addition, there are multiple other benefits that you can enjoy, such as the following.

Protection against Data Loss and Damage

There are so many ways for digital data to get lost, stolen, or damaged. It can happen through a data breach, a cyberattack, a system failure, human error, or a natural disaster. But if your business has a trusty BDR plan, it will protect your data despite any of these unfortunate incidents.

Better Data Security

Data security is integral to IT business development. A good BDR system makes sure of this by keeping a copy of all your business data, like contracts, transactions, client profiles, and so on, in a safe and remote location. Through high-tech encryption tools and physical security measures, we should protect data backups both physically and digitally.

Customer Retention

If you are not prepared for a disaster, you could lose hours or even days of downtime as you try to get everything back in order. Your clients will not be very forgiving of such situations and will probably leave and take their business to your competitors. With a sound BDR plan, you can have a quick and complete recovery, and your customers can have peace of mind and will not have a reason to leave.

Evaluating Your BDR Strategy

If your IT provider has already set up a BDR solution for your business, that’s great. But do you know how dependable it is? If disaster strikes, are you sure your defenses will hold up and keep your system and data protected?

Discover the impact that a BDR plan has on your business. Learn how the BDR plan affects your employees and the growth of your enterprise. For ideas and tips on creating your BDR strategy, download our FREE infographic or watch the video HERE.

We can also assess your existing BDR plan and make the necessary adjustments to make it perfectly suitable for your business needs. Call us today for a consultation!

Achieving Compliance as a Team

JC Collier on March 20, 2023

Before your company can fully comply with all the requirements set by third parties like regulatory bodies and clients, there are dozens upon dozens of tasks that need to be completed. These tasks are spread across different areas of the company and are impossible for just one individual to accomplish. The process of achieving compliance would require a fast and thorough team of compliance specialists.

Vital Matters to Discuss when achieving compliance

In most cases achieving compliance failures can be attributed to a lack of planning and communication. To avoid these problems, bring your compliance team together right from the start and discuss all the crucial matters.

Email Encryption

Daily, hundreds of emails can go back and forth in your company. You need a reliable encryption system to protect all emails and keep all data away from these hackers.

Data Encryption

Customer data, credit card information, and other data must all pass through a secure collection system to avoid theft or exposure to unauthorized parties. This method is crucial when achieving compliance.

Firewalls

Skilled hackers can easily override some firewalls. If you are still using an older firewall try upgrading to a multi-level system for a much better defense against unwanted intruders.

Backups

Data backups are your lifeline of a system failure or cyberattack and are crucial when achieving compliance. It is crucial to create backups regularly and store them in a safe location in a system that complies with client and government requirements.

Data Availability and Storage when achieving compliance

Sensitive information within your business must only be accessible to authorized individuals. There should be a surefire method of restricting access to sensitive information to minimize data breaches.

Physical Access

Maximizing digital security is critical, but you must not take physical safety measures for granted. Every employee should shut down their computers properly after use. Screen filters might be necessary when achieving compliance for some workstations with sensitive data.

Responsibilities of the Internal Compliance Officer to achieving compliance

In addition to choosing a highly skilled IT compliance team, you also need an internal compliance officer on your payroll when achieving compliance. Their primary duty would be to monitor the staff and ensure that each one abides by compliance procedures—locking their systems when they leave their workstations, practicing caution when using credit card information and private company data, and so on.

Regular cybersecurity training is also part of the responsibilities of the internal compliance officer. Quarterly training is ideal for keeping employees aware of the pervasive dangers online. When new employees join the team, they should receive training on compliance policies as well.

Finally, it is also the internal compliance officer who maintains compliance-related documentation such as communication standards and backup plans.

Delegating Compliance to an MSP

Even businesses that are not in the IT industry will need to comply with several IT regulations when achieving compliance. If you do not have an in-house tech team and if your staff does not have the expertise or experience to handle the task, there’s no need to worry. MSPs, or managed services providers, can take these technical matters off your hands.

If you partner with us, we will assign your company a team of compliance experts who will ensure that you meet all relevant requirements. Whether you need to fulfill requirements for HIPAA, PCI DSS, GDPR, NIST, or any other regulatory authority, we will take care of it to completion. Give us a call, our team will also coordinate closely with your organization to ensure we meet all requirements. You can also check out our Free Cybersecurity Infographic if you’re looking for great advice to keep your business safe in the meantime.

February Recap: Personal Identifiable Information (PII) In Data Security

JC Collier on February 27, 2023

This month, we focused on a variety of topics regarding personal identifiable information (PII). PII includes an individual’s name, address, phone number, and medical history. In this digital age, PII is increasingly being stolen from unsuspecting individuals and organizations alike. PII allows cybercriminals to easily access financial accounts, and commit identity theft, and other crimes.

You can never really underestimate these hackers and the havoc they can wreak. Just to give you an idea, take a look at some of our latest blogs about PII.

Week 1: Top Data Breaches in 2022

In one of our recent blogs, we enumerate the top 10 data breaches in 2022 so far. These data breaches have resulted in millions of dollars worth of losses and have affected millions of unsuspecting individuals.

Data Breaches to Steal Money

Cryptocurrency websites have been attacked, with about $33 million stolen from Crypto.com in January and $625 million from Ronin Crypto, also within the first quarter of the year. Microsoft and Twitter have also been victims of massive attacks, which they are fortunately able to catch shortly.

Data Breaches to Steal Personal Identifiable Information

Other massive data breaches in the year have involved stolen credit card information sold on the dark web, insurance, and healthcare records stolen from the Australian healthcare and insurance company called Medibank, and data on missing persons stolen from Red Cross.

How Data Breaches Happen

The hacker used someone’s personal information to break into the company’s highly protected network, causing these data breaches.

Week 2: Understanding Personal Identifiable Information

Personal identifiable information or PII refers to any data or detail that can be used to unequivocally identify an individual. Some of the more popularly used PII are a person’s full name, social security number, and biometrics. We talk more about PII in another of our recent blogs.

Because of the power that these bits of information wield, hackers aim to collect them by whatever means necessary. Once they get their hands on this critical data, they will be able to easily gain access to restricted areas of companies, both online and offline.

Securing Information with a Data Privacy Framework

The importance of personal identifiable information is very clear. With this in mind, it is just as important to keep this data as safe as possible. One of the best ways to ensure this is to use a reliable data privacy framework.

There are many existing ones that you can use but for the highest level of protection, it is best that you have your own framework, designed and built specifically for your company. With such a security solution in place, you can be more at ease knowing that you are better protected against potential intruders.

Week 3: Protecting Your Personal Identifiable Information

In week three, we talk about specific things you can do to protect your personal identifiable information. Because no matter how much you trust your data privacy strategy, you should still take all the steps you can to be ahead of hackers at all times. Our guide lists some effective ways to protect your PII both online and offline. Read the full blog here.

Recovering from Getting Hacked

So, you have been very careful and you have done everything that you are supposed to do to keep your PII safe. But despite all this, it is still possible for some really ingenious hackers to get into your system. In case that happens, here is our Free Breach Infographic that tells you how to quickly recover from whatever damage has been done. Want to learn more about PII and how to keep your data safe? Call us today and let’s have a talk!

A Guide to Protecting Your PII

JC Collier on February 20, 2023

PII is short for Personal Identifiable Information, which refers to any data that can identify a specific person. A hacker can exploit your PII to gain access to restricted areas, make unapproved purchases under your name, or even steal your identity entirely. To keep these incidents from happening, you must know about protecting your personally identifiable information. This is a practice that you must do both online and offline.

Physical Ways of Protecting Your PII

Although we now do most of our business online, there is still a lot of tangible data that hackers can get their hands on if you are not careful. Mail, account statements, and utility bills all have PII like your name, full address, and account numbers on them. Thus, you need to keep these documents safe from data thieves.

Secure Storage

One of the crucial steps in protecting your personal identifiable information is the safe storage of your documents. You can start by having a lock on your mailbox, which is a must. You can also use a secure PO Box where only you can access your mail. It is also advisable to keep your important documents in a fireproof safe at home instead of carrying them around in your purse.

Scrutinize Your Mail

When you get bills or account statements, go through them carefully and check for items you might not recognize. Even better, check your financial statements online regularly instead of waiting for the paper bill. Mail is notorious for including your PII, and is why mail theft is so common.

Use a Shredder

Never throw away bank statements or any financial documents, even if you don’t need them anymore. Hackers are not beneath the practice of dumpster diving, trying to recover any data that can help them do their dirty work. Invest in a personal shredder that you can use to dispose of sensitive documents.

Digital Ways of Protecting Your PII

It is now much easier for hackers to get access to people’s data because almost everything is online. Be very careful when traversing the web to keep your PII safe.

Choose Strong Passwords

Good passwords are hard to figure out because they use a combination of letters, numbers, and other special characters. Change your passwords at least once a month for more security.

Use Only One Credit Card

You are at greater risk of having your credit card information stolen if you frequently shop online. Don’t use more than one credit card when shopping online, this will keep your PII safer and less likely to be stolen.

Be Mindful

Whether you are browsing the web, checking your email, or checking your social media accounts, always keep your guard up. Do not click on suspicious links or attachments, and ignore pop-ups because these are all likely to contain malware.

PII: Steps to Take If You Think You Were Hacked

Despite all your precautions for protecting your personal identifiable information, you may still feel that someone has compromised your data. There are a few critical things that you need to take care of right away. Instead of going into a full-blown panic, we strongly recommend that you follow our FREE 10-step guide on what to do if you think you have been hacked. You might feel helpless at first, but by following this guide, you will get on the road to recovery much faster and have a good chance of recovering your data and regaining control of your network. To learn more about protecting your personally identifiable information and keeping your network safe, you can check out the many useful resources we have or give us a call!

Quiz Time: How Well Do You Understand the Role of Backup Disaster Recovery?

JC Collier on December 27, 2022

In recent weeks, we have talked a lot about backup disaster recovery and how important it is when running a business. We have discussed what a business owner needs to form a solid recovery strategy. We’ve also listed some terrible things that can happen if you don’t protect your business with a good plan for dealing with disasters.

It troubles us that many business owners do not fully understand backup disaster recovery and do not take it seriously. If you want to check your comprehension of this process, you can take this simple quiz we have prepared. It is very informative and reveals important facts about disaster recovery.

A Brief Quiz on Backup Disaster Recovery

The following are ten statements that have to do with backup disaster recovery. Read each one carefully and establish whether the statement is TRUE or FALSE.

Cyberattacks are no longer as frequent as in previous years, so having a disaster recovery plan for your business data is not important anymore.
Backup and recovery involve making copies of data and storing them in a safe place where they can be accessed and restored if needed.
Cloud-based data backup is completely and permanently safe.
Hiring a professional to back up your data and doing it yourself are equally reliable.
You can only lose your data if a hacker infiltrates your system.
Hackers can create a data breach through phishing attacks.
There is no connection between being hacked and having weak passwords.
Regularly updated cybersecurity software will protect you from phishing attacks.
Data encryption is an effective way to protect your data from hackers.
Implementing multi-factor authentication for all employees can be expensive for your company.

Quiz Answers

FALSE.

Quite the contrary, cyberattacks are even more prevalent today than ever. There are also many new kinds of attacks that were unheard of as hackers have become more creative as we improve our disaster recovery plan.

TRUE.

Data can be duplicated and stored in as many locations as you want. Usually, there is at least one on-site and one off-site location. Frequent backups are recommended.

FALSE.

It’s safer than a few other types of storage, but cloud backups are still not 100% guaranteed to be safe, especially now that a rising number of cyberattacks are targeting the cloud.

FALSE.

A professionally managed service provider can do so much more to protect and back up your data than you can do on your own for disaster recovery. This protection includes 24/7 monitoring and full restoration in case of a disaster.

FALSE.

There are many ways of losing data. It could be through an online attack, human error, electronic failures, natural disasters, and many more.

TRUE.

Phishing is now a common way for hackers to steal data, and it is also used to break into networks and encrypt data.

FALSE.

According to surveys, approximately 80% of data breaches can be traced to weak passwords and are not recommended when having a disaster recovery plan.

FALSE.

It is necessary to update your cybersecurity software. Unfortunately, this does not ward off phishing attacks. For protection from these scams, employee training and education are the best forms of protection.

TRUE.

Data encryption is one of the most trusted methods of protection. A managed service provider can easily do this for you and keep your confidential information safe.

FALSE.

Multi-factor authentication is one of the cheapest ways for business owners to protect their data and have disaster rcovery, but they don’t spend enough on it.

Evaluating the Results

As we said, there are a lot of false notions about backup data recovery. So if you did not get a perfect score, don’t fret! The good news is that you are now more informed. We can also help you protect your business with a reliable backup and disaster recovery strategy that you can quickly and systematically roll out whenever necessary.

If this Quiz was harder than it looked, then maybe you should watch out Free Cybersecurity Webinar to brush-up on the latest cyber trends. If you have any questions about your data security, give us a call and let’s solve that problem. Finally if you enjoyed this quiz, we have a second Disaster Recovery Quiz for you to further your knowledge!

The Consequences of Not Having a Proper Disaster Recovery Plan

JC Collier on December 19, 2022

We have often talked about how having a disaster recovery plan is one of the most crucial elements of good business management. Despite our constant posts and reminders, however, there are still thousands of business owners all over the world that do not take disaster recovery seriously.

Most businesses take precautions to protect other aspects of their business—car insurance, vendor contracts, and so on. But it’s scary that many people choose not to spend money on a good disaster recovery plan.

How will you handle a disaster that damages your data, equipment, or other resources? If you have prepared a business contingency plan for such events, you will have something to fall back on. There might be losses, but they will be minimal, and you will be able to restore everything soon enough.

If you don’t have a proper disaster recovery plan, you might not be able to continue with business operations. Here are some consequences you might face if you cannot prepare a suitable recovery plan for your business right from the beginning.

Disaster and Substantial Data Loss

Businesses rely on many kinds of data to operate properly. From marketing to sales to customer records, your company’s data plays a considerable role in day-to-day operations. If your data gets lost or damaged, your business can invariably collapse!

Even huge companies are not immune to the effects of data loss. Many people have had to spend millions of dollars just to get their data back after they lost it because of a cyberattack or a natural disaster.

Business Interruption

If a disaster hits your business and you don’t have the means to recover, your operations may come to a stop. You can’t work and earn money until your business is back on its feet. Without a proper disaster recovery plan, recovery can take a very long time!

Depending on the amount of damage, you will either need to rebuild your business or relocate. Either way, the process will be difficult if you don’t have a recovery plan.

Loss of Customers when not having a Disaster Recovery Plan

No matter how loyal some of your customers might be, it is unlikely that all of them will stick around if they see that your business has suffered from a disaster. Some may wait a while if they see you doing your best to recover and restore all lost information. They will take their business elsewhere if they discover you can’t fully recover.

What’s worse is that even if the disaster did not directly affect other clients, the news might spread quickly, and they might leave as well. New prospective clients might also think twice about entrusting their needs to you.

Huge Spending

Disaster recovery can be expensive, even with a plan, especially if you do not prepare for a disaster. Depending on the type of disaster, you may need to buy new hardware and re-encrypt any lost or damaged data. You are also losing a lot of money because you haven’t yet gotten back on your feet.

Disaster Recovery Plan: Final Thoughts

Research shows that 40% of businesses do not have a contingency plan in case of a disaster. These businesses will have a hard time getting their money back if something bad happens.

If you want to prepare your business for a disaster, we can help! Get in touch with us, and we will build a disaster recovery strategy to give your business the most comprehensive protection possible. Don’t forget that we can help you check if your office has exposed or stolen passwords or login info by running a Free Dark Web Scan. If you want to test your Backup Disaster Knowledge, take our BDR Quiz!

Things to Consider in Building a Data Recovery Strategy

JC Collier on December 12, 2022

Disasters have different effects on our business, all of them unpleasant. We can avoid many of these disasters by setting up cybersecurity protocols to protect sensitive data. We can think of a data recovery strategy to help prevent these disasters from happening. Many threats avoid the tightest defences, leaving your system in complete chaos. With these breaches, you need a plan for recovering data that will keep your business running even if something unexpected happens.

Types of Disasters to Look Out For With Your Data Recovery Strategy

There are many types of disasters that can befall a business. The first type that comes to mind is the online attacks that lead to data breaches, hacking, and data theft if you don’t have a recovery strategy in place. Indeed, cybercrime is among the leading causes of data loss and damage these days. But there are also plenty of other dangers that you should be able to recover from.

Building Disasters

Natural disasters or man-made disruptions in the physical location of your business can cause a lot of damage and must be planned for. If you experience a fire or the power goes out, a bucket of water or generators might not be enough to save your business. You will also need a good data recovery strategy that you can rely on.

Communication Failure

Digital and non-digital disasters can also cause a failure in communication. Hacking and data breaches, for instance, can hinder inter-departmental communication. Natural disasters can also cut off communication channels, but differently.

Application Failure

Hardware and software that haven’t been updated regularly can cause systems to crash, which can cause data loss or damage if we have no recovery strategy for our data. You can protect your business from these things by ensuring your equipment and all apps are always up to date.

Datacenter Disasters

Malware attacks are the most common cause of data centre disasters. Viruses, phishing software, and similar tools can directly target your company’s data for theft or use them to make ransom demands.

City and Regional Disasters

These are more widespread disasters that affect the entire city or state. It can be harder to stop these disasters because they are often out of people’s control. Typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and other similar natural disasters are examples of this type.

National and Worldwide Disasters

These disasters happen on an even bigger scale. They can be physical or digital and can quickly spread to many places. The recent pandemic is an example of a disaster that was so bad that it stopped all businesses globally. Similarly, many types of data attacks also target victims on a global level. That is why we should always have a data recovery strategy in place when this type of disaster happens.

Critical Elements of an Efficient and Reliable Data Recovery Strategy Solution

Now that you know what you are up against, you can plan a data recovery strategy that will work best for your business. When making a strategy, prioritize which parts of your business must be recovered first.

Each business is unique and has its own specific needs and priorities. To understand the best data recovery strategy for your business, you need to know about your resources, finances, risks, insurance, supply chain, and compliance needs.

The Crucial Role of Dependable Backup In Data Recovery Strategy

When coming up with a data recovery strategy, you should always have a copy of all your data for when something goes wrong. You can store your backup in the same place as your business, which sometimes works and is usually the easiest option. But usually, cloud-based data backup is much more reliable, especially in natural disasters that could destroy your physical data storage.

Final Thoughts

Preparing a data recovery strategy for your business is not something you should take lightly, as you can see. It will take a lot of careful thought, time, and, ideally, the expertise of cybersecurity experts.

One step you can take is to watch our on-demand cybersecurity webinar. You’ll feel safer knowing your credentials are not for sale by hackers!

You know your business best, so you are in a great position to make a strategic plan for data recovery. But if you would like to take advantage of our team’s expertise and experience in data recovery, we are more than happy to help! Call us anytime, and we will prepare your business for any disaster.