Lost data is no April fool’s joke

Whilst we all wait in anticipation for fake news stories in the paper, joke-themed advertising campaigns and our friends and family members to play pranks on us, one thing this April fool’s day certainly wouldn’t be funny… lost data.

As businesses become more reliant on technology, it is imperative that an IT disaster recovery plan is in place, to ensure protection of critical data and systems, and keep operations running smoothly.

Data can be damaged or lost unexpectedly and for many reasons – hardware failure, human error, malware – and the impact can be unprecedented.

By implementing a disaster recovery plan, businesses have a framework for dealing with incidents that threaten their IT infrastructure, assuring business continuity.

So, what should you consider when creating a disaster recovery plan?

1. Audit internal systems – which hardware, software and data do you hold within your business?

2. Identify vulnerabilities – So you’ve found your business relies on one printer for printing invoices. What would happen if that one printer was to break? How long would it take to get it back up and running?

When identifying vulnerabilities it’s important to look at each internal system listed during the 1^st step of your disaster recovery plan. What are the functions of your listed internal systems? Outline how disruption could affect each of them and check how long it would take to get any faults fixed.

3. Mitigate risks – Whilst there are some disasters we can’t predict or plan for, we can keep risks to a minimum through antivirus software, network monitoring, regular backups and routine inspections. That way, if the worst was to happen, your data is easier to recover and you can reduce downtime.

4. Document the disaster recovery plan – “It didn’t happen if you didn’t write it down!” Make sure your full plan is documented and includes both short term and long-term aspects that will combine and restore the businesses functions back to maximum capacity as soon as possible.

5. Train staff – it’s not just the responsibility of one person. A disaster recovery plan must be communicated to staff, and their responsibilities clearly outlined.

6. Update – As businesses and technology evolve, so do threats. A successful disaster recovery plan will be continually tested, reviewed and updated.

Investing in technology is key to conducting business today – a disaster recovery plan will protect your investment, and ensure your business bounces back from any unplanned incidents.

Here at Infuse Technology, we can work with you to create and implement a flexible business continuity plan, ensuring your critical operations continue to function even in the case of a disaster.

To speak with one of our experts, please email hello@infusetech.co.uk.