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As corporations look back at unpreceded cascade of hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, and power outages disrupting operations across the US and the globe in 2011, reviewing the disaster recovery (DR) plans for an enterprise should be a top priority.
The effects of a natural disaster on a business can be detrimental, and it is staggering to realize the number of enterprises that are unprepared or under-prepared for a data disaster.
Does your enterprise have a rock-solid data disaster plan? If so, are you well equipped to implement a plan when a disaster occurs?
Data growth, hardware updates and additional applications can cause your DR plan to become outdated, leaving you with a lack of information in the event of a disaster. However, you can diminish the effects of a disaster event with a few simple steps that will help you to update your DR plan and prepare for the future.
3 Steps to Improve Your Disaster Recovery Plan
1. Create an effective disaster recovery infrastructure: Data growth can severely affect the time and effort necessary to recover after a disaster. Excess amounts of data without appropriately sized disaster hardware can increase the time necessary for an enterprise to recover, delaying the goal timeline for system recovery, known as the recovery time objective (RTO). If hardware additions are required, quality storage vendors can provide used storage options at a price that enables you to bring your disaster recovery plan up to date.
2. Test your disaster recovery plan: Testing is a cruel part of DR, although many small to medium sized businesses neglect this important step. Testing your plan before a disaster occurs can bring unexpected flaws to light, allow your staff to become familiar with the plan, and make the transition smoother in the event of an actual data disaster. Schedule a practice DR test at least once a year to keep your disaster recovery plan up to date.
3. Make sure your disaster recovery plan is current: Outdated disaster recovery plans can make a data disaster even worse. Make sure that your plan is updated with current contact information, vendor information, any hardware upgrades, and lists of current applications. The lists should be simple and clear so that employees who are fatigued or stressed will be able to interpret them. Once a new plan is designed, make sure all the old plans are discarded and that the new plan is easily accessible.
Natural disasters can not be invented, but the effects of a data disaster can be minimized with proper preparation, training and testing. Preparation is the key to successful disaster recovery – let expert storage vendors help you secure your data and prepare for any trouble that might come your way.
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Source by Kari Fuller
