How Can I Improve my Business’ DR Preparedness?

The value of a Disaster Recovery or Control Plan is the ability to react to a threat or event swiftly and efficiently. This can only be achieved when a department has informed staff, disaster supplies and planned procedures — in short, a Disaster Recovery Plan. Recognition of the need for such a plan must be present at an early stage, no matter who stimulates this awareness.

The first step to being DR prepared is to build a detailed disaster recovery plan.

Start by determining specific procedures for your DR plan. Do this by setting ‘Recovery Time Objectives’ (RTOs) and ‘Recovery Point Objectives’ (RPOs) for critical applications.

The Recovery Time Objective (RTO) is the duration of time and a service level within which a business process must be restored after a disaster in order to avoid unacceptable consequences associated with a break in continuity Basically, the RTO answers the question: ‘How much time did it take to recover after notification of business process disruption?’

‘RPO’ designates the variable amount of data that will be lost or will have to be re-entered during network downtime. It’s essentially the amount of “real time” that can pass before the disruption begins to seriously & unacceptably impede the flow of normal business operations.

The next step is then to test the plan. Constant testing can set a cadence that your organization deems effective, while also allowing for improvements and critical adjustments. You must always undergo continuous testing and monitoring as your business grows and develops.

When it comes to continuous improvements, always look to how you can improve on your DR plan, taking into account the changes or developments in your business and the industry.

For a strategic partnership with a managed service provider. This is an important consideration because an experienced provider can offer assistance with DR testing while providing ongoing monitoring to ensure data is being regularly backed up and is always secure.

By following these 4 simple steps, you’ll be in a good position to stay fully protected in any situation that might come your way.