When it comes to cybersecurity, prevention should always be your top priority. Yet, no cybersecurity strategy can guarantee 100% protection at all times. Additionally, your data remains at risk from other types of disasters. Following disaster recovery best practices will help you minimize damage if incidents occur.
“Proactivity is always key to data protection. That applies to preventative cybersecurity, rapid incident response, and recovery.” – Julio Aversa, Vice President of Operations, Tenecom.
Despite the importance of disaster recovery solutions, 21% of SMBs have no disaster recovery (DR) plan in place. Typically, this is because they simply aren’t sure what the right solutions are. There are many types of disaster recovery strategies you can implement, but not all will suit your needs.
Although, there are certain best practices that every business should follow, no matter what their strategy is. This article will showcase 8 such practices. We will also take a closer look at why having a DR plan is so important, no matter how strong your preventative measures are.
Why a Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) is Important to Have
A disaster recovery plan (DRP) allows organizations to restore critical systems and data after a disruption. It minimizes downtime, which reduces revenue loss, reputational damage, and potential legal penalties.
While most people assume data loss is primarily caused by cyber attacks, there are other reasons why it may occur. In fact, 70% of data loss incidents have nothing to do with cybersecurity issues. That’s why it’s a good idea to assess your biggest potential risks so you can plan your recovery process accordingly.
Other potential reasons why data loss may occur that do not involve cyber attacks include the following.
| Hardware Failure | Physical damage to storage devices, such as hard drives or servers. |
| Human Error | Mistakes like accidental deletion, overwriting files, or improper handling of data. |
| Natural Disasters | Events such as floods, fires, or earthquakes can destroy physical infrastructure. |
| Power Outages | Sudden power failures can cause improper shutdowns that may corrupt files or damage data storage systems. |
| Theft or Loss of Devices | Losing devices like laptops or smartphones, or having them stolen, can result in the permanent loss of data stored on those devices. |
8 Best Practices for Disaster Recovery You Need to Use
1. Ensure You Have a Detailed Plan
Your disaster recovery plan should include precise procedures for restoring IT systems and data in the event of a disaster. Clearly define each team member’s role in the recovery process to minimize confusion and ensure smooth execution.
Additionally, the plan should be regularly reviewed and updated to account for any changes in the IT environment. Changes in technology, personnel, or business operations can all impact the effectiveness of your disaster recovery efforts.
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2. Perform Regular Data Backups
Data backups should be conducted on a regular, automated schedule to ensure the latest data is captured. The frequency of these backups depends on how critical the data is, but for most businesses, daily backups are recommended.
If storage space is a concern, consider an incremental backup strategy. This strategy means that backups only capture the data that has changed since the last backup. This approach can also reduce the strain on system resources.
3. Prioritize Critical Data & Applications
Not all data and applications are equally important to business operations, but some are critical to your functionality. So, it’s a good idea to conduct a business impact analysis (BIA) to identify the most critical data and applications. Once you pinpoint that, you can prioritize them in your DRP.
A BIA looks for critical aspects of business operations and evaluates how disruptions would affect them. Specifically, it identifies key processes, systems, and data that are essential for day-to-day operations. The BIA also assesses the financial, operational, and reputational impacts of losing these systems and determines how long you can function without them.
This approach minimizes downtime and enables your business to resume key functions quickly. Less critical systems can then be restored after the essential ones are back online.
4. Test Your Process Regularly
Regularly testing your DRP, meaning the plan and procedures it outlines, ensures that it functions as intended in a real scenario. Conducting both full-scale disaster recovery drills and smaller tests of individual components helps identify any issues in the recovery process before a real disaster strikes.
Testing also ensures that all staff members understand their roles and can perform their tasks efficiently under pressure. Despite comprehensive planning, only 13% of IT users follow protocols unless they are enforced. It’s also a way to identify gaps in your plan and adjust accordingly before it’s needed.
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5. Implement Redundancy
Redundancy mechanisms, such as mirrored servers or failover systems, should be in place to ensure the continuous availability of critical systems. Redundancy is especially important for mission-critical applications that cannot afford downtime. By implementing these measures, businesses can avoid major disruptions and recover faster.
6. Maintain an Updated Inventory of IT Assets
An up-to-date inventory of IT assets is essential for effective disaster recovery. This inventory should include detailed information about all hardware, software, and network components, along with their configurations and locations.
Regularly updating this inventory is essential to keep it accurate and aligned with any changes in your IT environment. Having this information readily available makes it easier to identify which systems are affected during a disaster and ensures that nothing is missed during recovery efforts.
7. Implement Offsite Backup Solutions
Backing up your data to a remote location shields it from localized disasters, such as fires or floods. This practice ensures that your backup data remains safe, even if the primary site is compromised. Regular checks should be conducted to verify that the backups are functioning and accessible when needed for recovery.
8. Create a Remote Work Strategy
Whether or not your organization normally allows remote work, having a remote work option is an important part of DRP. That’s because some potential disasters may impede your employees’ ability to work efficiently at your office. Having a remote work plan to account for such events will help ensure your business continuity.
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Easily Implement Your Data Center’s Disaster Recovery Plan With Expert Help
Business continuity and disaster recovery planning are no doubt essential for all organizations. While these disaster recovery best practices can help, finding the time and resources to conduct them is an additional challenge.
If this is a problem for you, Tenecom can help. Our team can perform a comprehensive risk assessment of your IT systems and help you tailor your business continuity planning accordingly. We also provide proactive network monitoring to help reduce your risk of having to use your DRP.
Reach out today to learn more.