In the business world, one of the most important aspects is being prepared and planning ahead of time. Of course, though, this extends to several aspects of the workplace. For example, it’s important that you know what business goals you need to accomplish, and that you have a plan for carrying it out.
For example, where do you see your company in the next five years? As another example, let’s say you’re trying to bring in new customers. Do you have sales goals, and how successful do you see your company being down the road?
While these are important, however, nothing beats being prepared for disaster(s) in the workplace. Considering how unpredictable business disasters can be, it should be a requirement for any organization.
With that said, what’s the best way to be ready for these unexpected incidents? This is where a disaster recovery plan comes into place. It’s not just enough that you have one, however, but that you know how to use it effectively as well.
What are some useful tips for creating a disaster recovery plan, and what should you include in it? Here are a few things to remember.
One of the most important aspects of any backup and disaster recovery plan, is backing up your data on a regular basis, and doing it efficiently as well. After all, in the event of a disaster, you want to make sure your files are pretty much untouchable.
Aside from having multiple methods for backing up your info, what is the best way to store said data?
First of all, be sure you have a flash drive. A portable tool that can store gigabytes of info, it’s a great way to make sure your files are safe in the event of a disaster.
If a power failure occurred, for example, none of your files or unsaved data would be lost. However, flash drives aren’t always reliable. Considering their size, it’s easy for them to get lost, stolen, or misplaced.
Not to say you should dismiss flash drives completely, but have you also considered using cloud computing? The biggest advantage of this method, is that it stores your info on the Internet instead of your computer’s hard drive.
If a ransomware attack happened, for example, none of your files would be lost or deleted on the hard drive. As long as you have a device with Internet connection (such as an iPhone/iPad) all data is accessible.
When you’re preparing for disaster, always make sure to test out your plan ahead of time. Also, consider the fact that you might not even need to use the disaster recovery plan until years down the road.
Because of this, the efficiency of your plan in its current state, might not be so effective years down the road. Keep it updated on a regular basis, and make any necessary changes as well.
Also, be cautious of any new or advanced threats lurking in cyberspace. Hackers are always looking for ways around even the most advanced technology.
Lastly, while having a recovery plan is important, make sure you know to handle each disaster as well. For example, the way you’d recover from a natural disaster, is much different from how you’d handle a ransomware attack or liquid spill on your keyboard.
Overall, a good disaster recovery plan isn’t just prepared for one incident, but it takes all possibilities into consideration. Speaking of which, are your employees prepared too? If not, get them informed of what you expect of them, and run them through various emergency procedures.
For more information about ways to create an efficient disaster recovery for your business, feel free to contact us today at Springpoint. As an IT Recruiting and Managed Service Provider, we look forward to hearing from you.