A DRP is a documented set of processes and strategies that an organization puts in place to be able to recover and restore its critical data and systems in case of a disaster or an unexpected event. The plan outlines the steps to be taken before, during, and after a disaster to minimize the impacts on the organization’s operations and ensure business continuity.

To create an effective DRP, follow these steps:

Conduct a risk assessment

Develop a recovery strategy

Establish availability requirements

Set up backups

Without backups, important data and information can be lost permanently, resulting in significant financial and reputational damage to your organization. Backups are also used to restore systems and data to a state before the disaster occurred, helping ensure business continuity while minimizing the impact of the disaster on your business operations.

Test your plan

Testing a DRP also provides an opportunity to identify weaknesses that could be improved or procedures that need adjustments. It allows you to verify that the plan is complete, up to date, and relevant.

Train your employees

Training employees on the DRP helps ensure they understand exactly what they need to do during an emergency. It also provides them with the knowledge and skills needed to carry out their duties effectively, minimizing the risk of errors or delays in the recovery process.

Are you concerned about data safety? Don’t leave it to chance — call us for all your DRP needs! With our cutting-edge technology, dedicated team, and industry-leading expertise, you can rest assured that your data and systems are in expert hands.

Protect your network equipment

With the help of UPS-supported modems or routers, you can stay connected for up to 90 minutes even if power goes out. That should provide plenty of time for you to get organized while waiting for power to be restored. It can also enable your team to remain productive and accomplish their tasks and cater to the immediate needs of your customers.

Furthermore, with a UPS system in place, you won’t be dependent on cellular data, which is both expensive and unreliable, as an alternative. You can save money by avoiding extra expenses incurred from overdependence on mobile networks.

UPS or generator: Which is better?

Generators can be a helpful backup plan in case of extended power outages, but a proper UPS system should provide ample support to keep your business functioning during an emergency.

What’s more, generators can prove to be a hazard, especially if they’re not operated correctly. In contrast, if you fail to manage your UPS unit properly or if it fails entirely, the worst that can happen is you lose a day’s worth of work.

It’s better to be prepared

There is no doubt that a power outage can cause significant disruptions to your business operations, but you can minimize disruption with a UPS. If you’re not sure what type of UPS system is right for your business, contact us and we’ll be happy to help you find a solution that meets your needs.

Myth 1: Disaster recovery is expensive and not worth the investment

Another fact: A sound disaster recovery strategy may require huge investments, but it’s’ worth it. However much you spend on DR, it will still be much less than the price you’ll pay for a data loss incident. For one, the cost of losing data is simply too steep. Per IBM, a data breach costs on average $4.35 million in 2022. This price can shut down any small- or medium-sized business (SMB).

Myth 2: All disasters are created equal and I will need the same response for all of them

Myth 3: Disasters only happen to big businesses, not to mine

The bottom line is that no business is immune to natural or human-made disasters. Whether you’re an SMB or an enterprise, it’s important to be prepared and have a comprehensive DR strategy in place. This can help you mitigate the damage caused by any type of disaster and ensure business continuity even in the face of adversity.

By learning the truth about these DR myths, we hope you’ll be encouraged to create a disaster recovery plan (DRP) for your business. There’s no longer an excuse not to have one, as DR technologies are now more affordable and easier than ever to implement.

If you’re interested in learning more about our wide range of DR solutions and how they can help safeguard your data, send us a message and we’d be happy to fill you in on all the details.

What is a hurricane disaster recovery plan?

• How to anticipate and mitigate the effects of a hurricane
• Emergency procedures to ensure everyone’s safety
• Steps for restoring vital business systems and operations
• Long-term plans for full business recovery

How to create a hurricane disaster recovery plan

1. Risk assessment Conducting a comprehensive risk assessment will help pinpoint vulnerabilities your company must address. This lets you prioritize the most critical parts of your planning and help you shape your hurricane disaster recovery policy.

2. Preventive planning While it’s impossible to stop a hurricane, anticipating and carefully planning for it can help prevent serious damage to your business. Think about how people board up their windows before a hurricane strikes. You need to take preventive steps to protect vital aspects of your business from a hurricane. This includes:

• Backing up your data Data backup is an important component of any disaster recovery strategy. Even if a hurricane does not completely destroy your IT infrastructure, the disruption caused by the loss of huge quantities of data can lead to lost productivity and revenue.Having a robust data backup system allows you to quickly restore vital business data and minimize downtime caused by a hurricane. Examples of data backup solutions include:
  • Off-site backups – Storing copies of your backups in off-site data backup centers in areas rarely hit by hurricanes is an ideal solution. This ensures that you will have secure copies of your data even if your servers and computers are destroyed during a hurricane.
  • Cloud storage – Cloud storage lets you access your data and files remotely, as long as you have a stable internet connection. This allows employees to work from home in case your offices suffer severe damage.
• Protecting physical assets During a hurricane, the biggest threat to your servers and other electronic equipment is flooding and water damage. Here are some ways you can keep them safe.
  • Avoid storing servers in the basement, as this is usually the first area that will be flooded.
  • Choose a storage room with no water pipes in the walls and ceiling to prevent water from leaking in.
  • Install flood detectors to warn you if water enters your facility.
  • Invest in turtle shells to protect electrical equipment from leaks.

• Guidelines on how to protect oneself from strong winds
• Where to take refuge if trapped in the building
• Evacuation policies to ensure everyone’s safety

4. Restoration This contains steps on how to restore critical business operations and systems after a hurricane, and who will be responsible for the restoration process. It should include clear instructions on what needs to be restored first, such as:

• Data backups
• Power
• Network access
• Servers and other damaged equipment

5. Recovery Even if your company restores vital systems quickly, you still need a complete, long-term recovery plan. It should include details on how the company will fully restore operations to pre-hurricane levels. Here are some examples:

• Repairing of damaged structures
• Replacement of destroyed equipment
• Relocation of business if needed
• Returning the workforce to full capacity

Improved uptime

In contrast, cloud-hosted backups are always readily accessible with an internet-connected device. Cloud servers are located off-site, so they are not vulnerable to natural disasters in your immediate locale. What’s more, cloud service providers (CSPs) are obligated to keep their servers operational at all times. They make this possible by implementing top-grade cybersecurity measures and various redundancies, such as alternate servers and power supply systems.

Fast resource provisioning

Control over backup frequency

With the cloud, you no longer have to worry about the frequency of your backups. CSPs offer round-the-clock and other fixed backup frequencies, as well as custom backup schedules tailored to your business’s unique requirements. Some services can even create backups as you perform changes on your files, ensuring up-to-date information at any time.

Support for flexible work setups

Cloud storage is accessible anywhere and anytime. This means that no matter where they choose to work, your staff will be able to access the files they need and remain productive as long as they have an internet connection.

Businesses around the world are leveraging the power of the cloud not just to ensure their continued operations but also to support their growth. If you’re looking for a managed cloud backup service to protect your business data, give us a call today to see how we can help.

UPS for network equipment

Deploying UPS units for Wi-Fi routers and modems allows you to stay connected to the internet when the power goes out unexpectedly. This strategy works particularly well if your employees use laptops, as that means you only need power for your Wi-Fi gear.

UPS-supported modems or routers help you stay online for as long as 90 minutes, which should be enough time to get your bearings before power finally runs out. With a UPS, you will still have a fast, reliable Wi-Fi connection so you can perform your tasks, save important files, and keep serving customers.

Without a UPS, your staff may have to rely on cellular data to do their work, which is not only less reliable than Wi-Fi, but also more expensive. You may even incur additional telecom costs resulting from overreliance on cellular data.

UPS systems vs. generators

That said, generators can prove useful during extended blackouts, but UPS systems should be enough to keep your business running in the event of an emergency.

What’s more, misusing or mishandling generators can result in fatalities. On the other hand, if you misuse a UPS unit or if it breaks down, the worst that could happen is you lose a day’s work; it’s unlikely that you’ll experience anything life-threatening.

Plug in your network gear now

Think of a UPS as an investment that not just protects your systems from data loss, but also keeps your network equipment functioning in emergency situations.

To learn more about UPS systems and network equipment as well as backup and disaster recovery planning, give our team of IT experts a call today.

Myth 1: Tape backups are the best DR solution

It is also a common practice to store another set of tape backups outside your premises to secure them in case a natural disaster befalls your office. However, if your storage spaces themselves are unsafe from natural disasters, this could pose a problem.

Unlike tape backups, cloud-based backups are safe from deterioration. They are also stored in multiple secured locations that are protected from natural disasters, so your data backups are as safe as they can be.

What’s more, cloud-based backups save you time in many ways. Data is automatically backed up online, so you don’t need to manually copy information onto your tapes. You also won’t need to manage boxes of tapes, freeing you to focus on more valuable tasks.

Myth 2: The RTOs you want are too expensive

Cloud and virtualization solutions have made this much faster and affordable than ever before. Most DR providers can back up your critical data in an hour or two. And if you ever need to recover data, most services can do so in less than a day.

Myth 3: Disaster recovery is for big businesses, not SMBs

We hope that by dispelling these myths, you’d be convinced to implement a disaster recovery plan (DRP) for your business. Thanks to improvements in data storage technologies, it is now more affordable and efficient to implement a DRP, in turn making it easier to ensure BC. If you’d like to learn how our DR solutions can safeguard your business, send us a message and we’ll fill you in.

Determine recovery hierarchy

For example, you may find that recovering sensitive customer information and eCommerce systems take priority over recovering your email server. Whatever the case may be, prioritizing your systems ensures that the right ones are recovered quickly after a disaster.

Pay attention to location

You should also request an upper floor installation or, at the very least, keep critical IT equipment 18 inches off the ground to prevent water damage in case of floods.

Use image-based backups

Take advantage of the cloud

Back up your data frequently

Test your disaster recovery (DR) plan

As cell towers and internet connections may be affected during a hurricane, make sure your company forums are online and have your employees register with the Red Cross Safe and Well website so you can check their statuses.

It’s nearly impossible to experience disruptions during disasters like Harvey or Irma, but with the right support, you can minimize downtime. If you’re concerned about any natural disasters putting you out of business, call us today. We offer comprehensive business continuity services that every company should have.