Data loss and the disasters that precede it can be both expensive and stressful. Even minor data loss affecting 75 or fewer files can result in downtime and financial losses. These are costs that most businesses do not anticipate and many times cannot afford. In just two years, the overall volume of data lost at an enterprise-level has surged by 400%.
Costs are just one of the reasons why every organization should have a backup and disaster recovery plan in place, but there are other compelling reasons to do so.
In the IT world, the terms backup plans and disaster recovery plans are sometimes used interchangeably. However, these are two distinct aspects of your company’s infrastructure, and it’s vital that you understand the distinction and have both types of plans in place to maintain business continuity.
Let us start by understanding the terms backup and disaster recovery:
Backup Plan
A backup plan is simply a strategy for ensuring that your critical data, files, applications, and business information are backed up and ready to recover in the event of a disaster, such as data loss due to hardware failure or a cyberattack. There are many various ways to backup your data, and 49% of firms employ multiple options to secure their data successfully.
Disaster Recovery Plan
A disaster recovery plan includes your backup plan and aids in the development of a thorough playbook for how your company will keep running in the event of the worst scenario. If your business is under a cyberattack, for example, you may find yourself having a full backup of your company’s data and nowhere to restore it.
It’s not enough to have a solid process for backing up and securing your critical data in your disaster recovery strategy. It also includes preventive efforts to prevent disasters from occurring in the first place, as well as a detailed set of protocols outlining who is accountable for responding to various aspects of a disaster.
Stages of the disaster management cycle:
- Prevention: adopting proactive security measures to avoid disruption
- Preparation: establishing safety guidelines
- Mitigation: when an issue occurs, limiting loss
- Recovery: resuming regular operations
What Are The Advantages Of Implementing A Backup And Disaster Recovery Plan?
Following are the benefits of having a backup and disaster recovery plan in place:
Reduction In Frontline IT Time
A typical IT team spends a large amount of time responding to end-user requests for file and device recovery. But with an end-point backup solution deployment, the IT team will have to spend less time on frontline assistance. It was established during a study that there was a 90% drop in calls for backup support after end-users were able to do restores without IT help. The time spent handling missing devices is greatly reduced as a result of fewer help-desk calls concerning lost files.
Cost-Effective
The more data you lose, the more expensive it is to replace – assuming it can be replaced at all. Costs can easily rise when professionals work overtime to restore systems and information.
Improves Inventory Management
Creating an efficient disaster recovery plan typically necessitates a long-overdue physical inventory of a company’s assets, which is a good thing! Maintaining precise hardware and software records is beneficial, especially in the event of permanent physical damage or theft.
Improved Employee Productivity
One of the more surprising but crucial advantages of having a disaster recovery strategy is an increase in employee productivity. Creating a disaster recovery strategy necessitates cross-training and the ability of many people to do specific critical jobs. There will be no interruptions or extended downtime due to vacation days, sick leaves, or resignations.
Customer Retention
Clients nowadays expect steady dependability and near-instant outcomes. Failures and downtime are not tolerated as well. Clients will readily switch to another competitor if a company fails to satisfy their expectations or suffers protracted periods of downtime. A backup and data recovery plan ensure that your business is not irreversibly ruined in the event of an IT disaster. Reduce the risk of data loss and downtime to keep your customers.
Added Anti-virus Protection
Cyber-attacks, computer viruses, and ransomware attacks are just a few of the internet’s harsh realities. The destruction that these things wreak continues to grow. They have enough collateral to corrupt user files. They have also been reported to cause permanent file destruction in some circumstances.
Anti-virus software is a more straightforward and effective solution in this case. However, critics claim that they consume waste processing power and slow down the system. Anti-virus software can be easily bypassed by utilizing comprehensive backup and recovery methods. Even if a file has been corrupted or erased, the user will still be able to retrieve the file or document in question.
Takeaway
If you’re still not convinced if you need a thorough disaster recovery plan, consider the following: In the case of a disaster, 85% of companies without a disaster recovery strategy fail. Don’t just assume you’re prepared; if you find you aren’t, it may be too late to rectify the situation. Make sure that your company is prepared for any disasters that may arise. You can contact the experts at XO now to learn how we can help you become more prepared and resilient.
