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Why an IT Disaster Recovery Policy is Vital

Every business has the majority of its information and important data online. From customer names, addresses and bank details, to product descriptions and content of your every growing website.

You may think that your business is of no interest to anyone with illegal or criminal intent in the online world, targeting only the big companies. You would be wrong however, as disaster can strike any business and any time.

If this was to happen, how much of your current information stored on PCs, laptops, the cloud etc. could you access?

All those years of building your customer database, trade partners and connections could all be lost in seconds. It happens and has happened to small businesses and larger ones too, with some IT breaches bringing a business to its knees or even wiping it out altogether.

Having an IT disaster recovery policy is vital as it clearly sets out how your information is to be stored, how data is to be backed up and by whom. It should also outline in the event of disaster who is responsible for what, who makes the decisions and who sets off the chain of events that means you recover as much of your data and information as possible.

Modern-day threats to cyber-security

Knowing what threats you face is important, and will essentially inform the detail needed in your policy. These four reasons are why and IT disaster recovery policy is vital in the modern age…

i.   Cyber-attacks, hacks and breaches

There have been some very public security hacks and breaches in recent years but it may not surprise you to learn that some of these ‘hacks and breaches’ remain out of the headlines. Clearly, the thought of the general public knowing that hackers have accessed their personal details is an issue that no company or Government wants to be made known.

It happens to all sizes of business, from start-up and micro businesses to larger global corporations, as well as Government departments.

ii. Natural disasters

Flooding, fire, lightning strikes and so on are common in countries across the world and the recent wet winters here in the UK have placed many companies and businesses under pressure. For many, this has meant uncertainty about the future.

But with a disaster recovery policy, you can ensure that you do as much as you can to protect your business’s electronic and digital, online presence which may mean you carry on turning over, even though your office based may be flooded or inaccessible.

iii.   Terrorism

We live in an uncertain world, where enemies and foes are increasingly sophisticated in how they attack. From hacks and breaches, to physical attacks, these incidences are frighteningly commonplace.

An IT disaster recovery plan should include all major personnel, which again can make a difference between being able to access important information in a time of chaos and crisis.

iv.  Equipment breakdown

IT equipment is reliable, most of the time, but hard drives do not have an infinite life. In other words, you should expect that IT equipment, such as hard drives will malfunction, potentially locking you out of your important databases and information.

An IT disaster recovery plan is a set of instructions on how to back up data, who is responsible and how to access information in a crisis. It should also be a policy that recognises what these threats are. What is the biggest threat to your businesses IT?

Contact Clyde Solutions if you would like to discuss an IT Disaster Recovery solutions for your business.