Disasters can happen at any time and to any business. That is why it is so important to have a Backup And Disaster Recovery Plan in place.
This article will walk you through the steps of creating a plan to protect your business in a disaster.
A backup plan is essential for any business, and it can be the difference between recovering from a disaster and going out of business.
Step 1: Create a Response Team
When creating your backup and disaster recovery plan, it is crucial to have a response team in place.
This team should consist of individuals responsible for the organization’s data and systems and capable of responding to a disaster. You can utilize services to help your team, such as Timewade, which provides backup and disaster recovery support.
Your response team should be able to work together quickly and efficiently to minimize the damage caused by the disaster and get the organization back up and running as soon as possible.
The response team should clearly understand their roles and responsibilities in the event of a disaster.
They should also have a plan to communicate during a disaster. This plan should include the following:
- Establishing a communication protocol
- Identifying a primary and backup contact person
- Installing a system for transmitting and receiving information
The team should also be familiar with the organization’s data backup and recovery procedures. They should know where the backups are located and how to restore them in the event of a disaster.
Step 2: Set Clear KPIs, RPOs & RTOs
Once you’ve created your response team, the next step is to establish the following:
- Key performance indicators (KPIs)
- Recovery point objectives (RPOs)
- Recovery time objectives (RTOs)
These metrics will help you determine how quickly you need to recover after a disaster and what data needs to be restored first. By setting these concrete goals, you can better prepare and assess your Backup And Disaster Recovery Plan.
KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)
KPIs (key performance indicators) are the goals and targets you set for your Backup And Disaster Recovery Plan.
These should be specific and measurable and may include timeframes for recovery or data loss tolerances.
You can use KPIs to track cybersecurity threats, system performance, and other key metrics that can help you identify areas for improvement in your backup plan.
RTOs (Recovery Time Objective)
RTOs (recovery time objectives) represent the maximum acceptable downtime after a disaster.
This can be measured in terms of either business needs or technical requirements – for example, it might take two hours to get your network back up and running. Still, it could take much longer to restore your data and get critical applications running again.
RPOs (Recovery Point Objective)
RPOs (recovery point objectives) are the maximum acceptable amount of data loss, expressed as a time interval.
For example, if your RPO is 24 hours, any backups older than 24 hours cannot be used to restore data after a disaster.
Step 3: Have Your Response Team Create the Plan
The third step in creating a backup and disaster recovery plan is to have your response team generate the plan. This team should be composed of individuals familiar with your company’s systems and who can act quickly in the event of a disaster.
The team should develop a process for recovering your systems and data and identify any potential risks and how they will be addressed.
The response team must clearly understand your company’s goals and objectives. They should also be familiar with the organization’s hierarchy so they can quickly report to the appropriate individuals in the event of a disaster.
The team should have access to all necessary information, including:
- System context diagrams
- Contact information for key personnel
- Passwords
- The best data recovery equipment available
Once the response team has created the plan, it’s crucial to test it regularly to ensure it is effective. Make sure that all team members are familiar with the plan and know their role in the event of a disaster.
Step 4: Understand What Warrants Plan Execution
Your company’s backup and disaster recovery plan should be executed only when needed. The specific events that warrant plan execution will vary by organization, but there are some general considerations that all businesses should keep in mind.
Some events that might warrant the plan’s execution include:
- A natural disaster such as a tornado, hurricane, or earthquake
- An artificial disaster such as a fire or chemical spill
- A system outage that affects critical business operations
- Data loss or corruption that could cripple the organization
- An attack on the network that jeopardizes confidential data or systems
Risk Assessment
When deciding whether or not to execute the plan, it is essential to weigh the risks and benefits of doing so. If the event is minor and does not pose a significant threat to the business, it might not be worth disrupting normal operations to enact the plan.
On the other hand, if the event could severely impact the company, it is important to take appropriate steps to protect it.
It is also important to consider the potential consequences of not enacting the backup and data recovery plan. If something goes wrong and critical data or systems are lost or damaged, the business could suffer irreparable harm.
By contrast, if the plan is executed but turns out to be unnecessary, there may be some minor disruption but nothing that cannot be overcome.
In short, while there is no single formula for determining when to execute a company’s backup data and recovery plan, some general guidelines can help make this decision.
Organizations should consider the following:
- The nature of the event
- The potential consequences if it goes unchecked
- The impact of enacting the plan
Step 5: Test Your Plan
One of the most important steps in creating a DRP is testing it. You need to make sure that your plan actually works and that your staff knows how to execute it. Testing your DRP can help identify potential problems and gaps in your plan.
There are several ways to test your DRP. These include the following:
Conducting tabletop exercises that simulate the plan’s execution. This can help identify areas where staff members may struggle or become confused, as well as areas where the plan may be lacking or incomplete.
Performing actual DRP tests, such as moving equipment to a backup location or restoring data from backups. This can help ensure that your systems and data are recoverable in the event of a disaster.
Conducting an external audit of your DRP by an independent consultant or testing firm. These organizations can objectively assess your plan and identify any potential issues. Engaging the assistance of a seasoned managed IT services company can yield significant benefits in establishing a robust disaster recovery plan for your company.
Regardless of how you choose to test your plan, this process must be done periodically so that you can make any necessary adjustments or improvements over time. If you fail to test your DRP on a regular basis, your plan may become outdated and less effective.
With regular testing, however, you can ensure that your DRP remains an effective tool for keeping your company safe from data loss or system outages.
Whatever approach you take, make sure you are prepared to respond to any issues that may arise during testing. And remember, the goal is not to catch every possible problem – but rather to identify potential issues so that they can be fixed before they become a real problem.
Step 6: Review and Update Your Plan Periodically
Reviewing and updating your disaster recovery plan periodically is important to ensure that it still aligns with your organization’s needs and current infrastructure.
Changes in personnel, technology, or business processes could mean that parts of your plan are no longer effective. Periodic reviews also help ensure that everyone who needs to be aware of the plan is updated on their duties and responsibilities.
Some things you may want to consider when reviewing and updating your plan:
- Are your backup procedures still effective?
- Have any new systems or applications been added since the last time you updated your plan?
- Do any of your employees have new roles or responsibilities since the last time you updated your plan?
- Has your organization’s risk profile changed since the last time you updated your plan?
- Are there any new threats or hazards that could affect your organization?
- Do you have any new data that needs to be backed up?
Executive Conclusion
A well-executed backup and disaster recovery plan can help ensure the continuity of your business during a system failure or natural disaster.
Following the steps in this guide, you can create a plan that will help you protect your data and keep your business running smoothly no matter what happens.
Do you have any questions about disaster recovery plans? Let us know in the comments below!
Frequently Asked Questions
A: There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to back up your data will vary depending on your needs and preferences. However, some standard backup methods include using an external hard drive, backing up to the cloud, or using a software program that creates copies of your data.
A: Again, there is no definitive answer to this question, as how often you should back up your data will depend on your individual needs. However, it is generally recommended that you back up your data at least once a week.
A: A disaster can refer to any event resulting in significant damage or data loss. This could include a natural disaster, such as a hurricane or flood, or an IT failure, such as a system crash. Preparing for any disaster is crucial to ensure your business operations’ continuity.
A: If your computer crashes and you don’t have a recent backup, your best option may be to try and recover your data from the hard drive using data recovery software. However, there is no guarantee that this will be successful, so it is always best to have a recent backup available just in case.
