Are you looking for disaster recovery guidelines to keep your organization’s data safe, secure, and always available? Many organizations take key steps to make sure their business operations aren’t interrupted by data loss, and it is critical you follow their lead.
Disaster Recovery: The Last Line of Defense
Netflix tests the integrity of their systems through a “Simian Army,” which is used to randomly check the resilience of systems against all types of failures. This is key because after all business continuity plans fail, disaster recovery becomes the last line of defense.
Disasters are expensive, costing companies close to $60 million a year according to IHS Markit. The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) has drawn guidelines regarding how long IT systems can be down. Not only will a disaster lead to many challenges for your company internally, but the FFIEC will level penalties should your organization go beyond the downtime you’re allotted.
Compliance Considerations
A disaster recovery plan needs to begin with establishing your goal. Most solid strategies focus on taking data and moving it to a safe, cost-effective location. The next step is to make sure backups are constantly updated to reflect what is happening in real-time.
Before you can do this, you need to be aware of the compliance issues that can impact how you choose where you’ll store your backup data. HIPAA and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act provide regulations which need to be considered. Any personal data that goes to the cloud, for example, can’t leave the country of residence under these regulations.
On-premise vs. in the Cloud
It’s really up to the structure of your individual organization whether you go with an on-premise data center, one in the cloud, or with a hybrid solution. It’s a fine balance between risk and cost against what is legally required. Some organizations enjoy the hybrid IT infrastructure, either private or public, because they have control of their data performance and security throughout the enterprise.
The Evolution of “Disaster”
In the past, the main focus of disaster recovery planning was around natural disasters. Today it is critical to protect against or develop a plan for how to react after a cyberattack, such as ransomware, which is malware that holds data hostage until a ransom is paid. The consequences of this can be avoided by having backup disaster recovery solutions that are as simple as “snapshot” management software.
Because it’s no longer an issue of if a disaster will strike, but when, organizations are becoming more creative in how they approach disaster recovery efforts to prevent data loss as well as the loss of money and credibility. It’s more important than ever to get to know which threats are most likely to prey on your data.
At Infinium Communications, we strive to exceed our customers’ expectations in designing, delivering, and supporting custom-fit telecom solutions. With a single, unified team, we provide voice, data, and professional services. Give us a call to discuss how we can help your business.