In less than 60 seconds, you are about to learn 10 things that could save you days, weeks of downtime. Not to mention the undue stress on your company, and potentially thousands of dollars lost, due to a data disaster…
Use this article as your checklist to assure that your business has the right plan in place to get back up and running quickly if and when disaster strikes.
Simply thinking in advance what needs to happen when things go south and documenting it, can go a long way toward getting your network back up and running quickly if it something were to happen. Outline the types of disasters that could happen, and a step-by-step recovery process. Be sure to include a budget, what to do, who should do it and how. Store printed copies along with key contact information and login details for essential credentials.
Hire a trusted professional to help you. Trying to recover data after a disaster without professional help is business suicide. One wrong step can result in weeks of downtime, or permanent data loss. To improve your odds of a quick recovery, work with a professional who has experience in both setting up your plan and helping you recover when a loss occurs.
Have a communications plan. What if your employees can’t access your office, e-mail or phone system and how should they communicate with you? Make sure your plan details the alternatives, including multiple ways to stay in touch.
Automate your backups. The#1 cause of data loss is human error. If your backup system depends on a human being doing something, it can be a recipe for disaster. Always automate your backups so they run like clockwork.
Keep an off-site backup copy of your data. On-site backups are a good first step, but if they get flooded, burned or hacked along with your server, you’re out of luck. Which is why you should always maintain a recent copy of your data off-site.
Be able to access and manage your network remotely. You and your staff will not be able to keep working if they can’t get into your office. Have your IT manager or consultant handle an emergency or routine maintenance. This will help and you’ll love the convenience.
Image your server. Storing your data off-site is great, but if your system goes down, the software and architecture that handles all that data must be restored for it to be of any use. Imagine your server creates a replica of the original, saving you an enormous amount of time and energy in getting your network back in gear. Best of all, you don’t have to worry about losing your any of your preferences, configurations or favorites.
Document your network. Network documentation is simply a blueprint of the software, data, systems and hardware that comprise your company’s network. Work with your IT manager or consultant to create one with you It’ll save you time and money in the event your network needs to be restored.
Maintain your system. While fires, flooding and other natural disasters are certainly a potential risk, it’s ever more likely that you’ll experience downtime due to a virus, worm or hacker attack. That’s why it’s critical to keep your network patched, secure and systems up-to-date. Don’t forget: deteriorating hardware and corrupted software can wipe you out. Replace old hardware and update current hardware to steer clear of this threat.
Test, test, test! If you’re having trouble of setting up a plan, the least you can do is to make sure it works! Hire an IT professional to test monthly to make sure your systems work properly to secure your data. After all, the worst time to test your parachute is after you jump out of the plane.
Not sure where to begin? Call 215-723-3495 today or fill out the form to the right to request a
Data Recovery Assessment.
Visit NCIbackup.com for more detailed solutions.