Did you know that downtime for the average business could cost over $100,000 per hour? For this reason, it’s essential that you implement disaster recovery planning (DRP).
However, not everybody understands how to integrate a disaster recovery plan into their business operations. Here’s how our Los Angeles IT services company prepares for the worst with everything you need to know, beginning with common threats and how you can develop the best recovery plan possible.
What Are the Most Common Threats My Company Faces?
As you may assume, every business is different and faces unique threats. However, there are a few threats that tend to be the most common. Natural disasters, power outages, cyber-attacks, equipment failure, data loss or corruption, and general human error.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these.
Natural Disasters
Disasters such as floods, fires, earthquakes, and other extreme weather conditions can wreak havoc on your business operations.
They can also cause a loss of data, property damage, and disruption in service. Depending on the location of your business, some natural disasters may be a nonissue.
Power Outages
A power outage can be caused by natural disasters or simply an unexpected technical issue from the electric company.
When this happens, it results in a complete shutdown of your company’s systems and operations. Power outages can occur at any time, and they often have severe consequences for businesses.
Cyberattacks
The cybercrime industry is projected to be worth over $10 trillion by the end of 2025. That’s why IT security in Los Angeles – and every city – is so important.
Cyberattacks can come from hackers or malicious software, and they can cause data breaches, system shutdowns, and other issues.
Data loss or corruption caused by cyberattacks can lead to financial losses as well as legal repercussions. Some of the most common cyberattacks include fishing, malware, and distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks.
Equipment Failure
Equipment failures often occur due to mechanical malfunction, power problems, environmental conditions, or software issues. Preventative maintenance and regular inspections can help reduce the threat of equipment failure.
Unfortunately, equipment is still prone to fail even with the right precautions. This makes it crucial for companies to have a disaster recovery plan in place.
Data Loss or Corruption
Data loss or corruption can happen due to a number of reasons, including power outages, cyberattacks, human error, and system crashes.
Having a reliable data backup strategy is key to avoiding this situation. Otherwise, you may find yourself struggling to manage the aftermath. In some cases, this could be an impossible situation to recover from.
Partnering with a local IT support company can also be of great benefit to be proactive to data loss rather than reactive.
Human Error
Human error is the most common cause of downtime.
This can include anything from accidental deletion of data to failure to follow procedures or instructions. Establishing clear protocols and training your staff on these processes can help reduce the chance of human error-related downtime.
In the event that something does occur, however, your DRP will help you manage the situation at hand.
How Can I Develop a Solid Disaster Recovery Plan?
Once you understand the most common threats and sources of downtime, it’s time to start developing a solid disaster recovery plan.
This should include strategies for responding quickly and efficiently to any potential disasters. If your a SoCal business, it’s easy to save time and money by hiring a Los Angeles IT services company.
Whatever path you choose, here are a few tips on how to get started.
Assess the Risks
Take the time to assess all of the potential risks that your business faces.
This includes natural disasters, cyberattacks, data loss or corruption, and any other threats you may encounter. As long as you have a strong understanding of the threats to your business, you will be able to protect against them appropriately.
Prioritize Prevention
Be sure to prioritize prevention strategies such as regular maintenance and inspections for your equipment, and data backups. Establish protocols and train your staff to follow them properly so they can be better prepared in the event of a disaster.
The best way to manage the threats your company faces is to prevent them entirely. So, don’t neglect this obligation when moving forward.
Work With a Professional
It’s always a good idea to hire a professional IT support company and disaster recovery consultant to help you develop and implement your plan. They can provide valuable insight and advice, as well as access to the necessary resources for success.
A professional has all of the tools and resources necessary to help get you started on the right track. They will also be able to discern weaknesses or shortcomings. Many companies would not be able to discover these on their own.
Put simply, working with a professional is one of the best steps that you can take. When looking for a firm, consider its past reputation. This will provide a look into what you can expect from hiring them.
It will also give you an idea of what past clients have had to say.
Test Your Plan Regularly
Once you have developed your disaster recovery plan, it’s important to test it regularly to ensure it is effective. This allows you to identify any weak spots or potential issues so that they can be addressed before disaster strikes.
The more you test your plan, the better protected you will be in the future. You will be able to eliminate strategies that do not work and emphasize those that do. Over time, you can create a comprehensive DRP that allows you to fully protect your business.
Disaster Recovery Planning Is Easier Than It Seems
Sometimes, disaster recovery planning can seem overwhelming.
The above guidelines will help ensure that you avoid problems you may have otherwise dealt with. Looking for more information on what Be Structured Technology Group can do? Reach out to us today to see how we can help.
