Downtime and data loss can be catastrophic. With natural disasters, human error, and cyber threats constantly looming, having a solid disaster recovery and business continuity plan is essential. You're putting your business at significant risk if your strategy is to hope it never happens, or deal with it on the fly following an incident. This is where understanding the technology and partnering with a Managed Service Provider (MSP) can make a significant difference.
Data disasters can strike in various forms, including natural disasters like hurricanes, power outages, human error, hard disk failures, computer viruses, thefts, and hacker attacks. Understanding these risks is the first step in developing a robust disaster recovery strategy. Here are a few real-life facts:
Human error remains the number one cause of cloud data breaches, with "issues with vulnerability and configuration management, Identity and Access Management (IAM), and failures to properly use Multi-Factor Authentication" cited as leading contributors.
Outages and downtime are common, with power issues found to be the most consistent cause of serious data center losses, while network-related issues are "the largest single cause of IT service outages." In Uptime's 2023 Institute data center survey, more than half the respondents (55%) had experienced an outage in the previous three years.
More than half (54%) of the respondents to the 2023 Uptime Institute data center survey reported that their "most recent significant, serious or severe outage cost more than $100,000, with 16% saying that their most recent outage cost more than $1 million."
According to the US National Cybersecurity Institute, 60% of small businesses that experience a significant data loss are forced to close within six months--while another 72% shut down within two years.
These statistics highlight the critical need for businesses to be prepared for potential data disasters. The impact of a disaster can be devastating. Lost revenue, damaged employee morale, and a crippled competitive advantage are just a few consequences. Recovery can take months or even years, further emphasizing the need for a proactive approach to disaster recovery and business continuity. Here are some of the most critical steps your business needs to take to be prepared to respond and recover.
Backing up data regularly is crucial. Establishing a method and schedule for backups, creating solid procedures, and automating the process can significantly reduce the risk of data loss. Preparation is key to ensuring that your data is always protected and easily recoverable.
Storing data offsite on a secure server, utilizing remote storage with encryption security, and limiting authorized users are essential components of a comprehensive disaster recovery plan. Offsite storage ensures that your data remains safe even if your primary location is compromised.
A well-implemented backup and disaster recovery plan offers numerous benefits:
Efficient Fail-Safe Process: Ensures that data is quickly recoverable in the event of a disaster.
Speed, Reliability, and Scalability: Provides a robust solution that grows with your business.
Compliance: Meets regulatory requirements.
Cost-Effective: Reduces the financial burden of data loss.
Automated Backups: Eliminates the need for end-user intervention with continuous backup as files change.
Partnering with an MSP offers numerous advantages for disaster recovery and business continuity. For starters, they're experts in cybersecurity and a reputable MSP will have a deep bench of experience to pull from. They can help you with:
Monitoring: Continuous oversight to ensure systems are functioning correctly.
Support: Round-the-clock assistance to address any issues promptly.
Security: Robust measures to protect data from threats.
Maintenance: Regular updates and upkeep to prevent potential failures.
MSPs protect desktops, laptops, and servers, driven by end-user and admin data recovery. They offer fast network-speed recovery times and can restore entire systems or specific files, emails, or folders. With custom scheduling and restore intervals, data backup becomes a seamless part of business operations.
Scheduled offsite automated data backup eliminates the need for tape archives and protects data from fire, theft, sabotage, and natural events. Data is encrypted at leading data centers, ensuring full replication and rapid recovery.
Understanding the technology behind disaster recovery and business continuity is essential for protecting your business from unforeseen events. Partnering with an MSP can provide the expertise and support needed to implement effective strategies and ensure your business can withstand and recover from disasters.
If you're ready to enhance your disaster recovery and business continuity plans, call Protelligent for a no-risk assessment. With the right solutions and support, you can safeguard your business against inevitable challenges.