Disaster Recovery Mistakes That Could Shut Down Your Business

Disasters can strike without warning, wreaking havoc on businesses that are unprepared to handle the fallout, such as prolonged downtime or data loss. According to Veeam’s 2022 Data Protection Report, downtime cost businesses $1,467 per minute on average. It’s therefore crucial for organizations to have a disaster response and data recovery plan ready.

Successful data recovery is a multifaceted endeavor that demands careful planning, proactive measures, and swift action. Failing to recognize the importance of a robust disaster recovery strategy could lead to dire consequences, potentially resulting in a business shutdown. Below are the most common disaster recovery mistakes that could spell disaster for your business and how to avoid them.

Neglecting Regular Backups 

Backing up your systems and data is not a mere formality; it’s a lifeline in the face of potential catastrophe. Disasters come in various forms — cyberattacks, natural calamities, human errors, hardware malfunctions, software glitches, and power outages. Not having up-to-date backups means your business is woefully unprepared to recover any data lost during a disaster.

Additionally, storing backups in a single location jeopardizes the effectiveness of your disaster recovery plan. In the unfortunate event that your primary location is compromised, such as through a fire or flood, both your main systems and backups could be lost. 

Ensure that your business adheres to the 3-2-1 backup rule: maintain three copies of your data (the original and two backup copies) on two different types of media, with at least one backup stored off site, such as in the cloud. This reduces the risk of simultaneous data loss due to a single localized incident.

Relying on Outdated Backups 

Relying on outdated backups can result in significant data loss, leading to additional work for employees who may need to rebuild files or recreate any lost data. Setting recovery point objectives (RPOs) and recovery time objectives (RTOs) is essential for keeping your backups up to date.

These objectives allow you to determine the amount of data you can tolerate to lose in the event of a disaster and how quickly systems have to be recovered afterward. You should also create a schedule that dictates when new backups are created. Regular testing of backups is advisable to ensure that your recovery strategies meet your RPOs and RTOs.

Attempting Manual Recovery Beyond Expertise

Manual recovery during a disaster can be error-prone and time-consuming. It’s unrealistic to expect non-IT employees to carry out complex recovery tasks flawlessly, especially when faced with high-stress situations.

Implement automation and leverage specialized data recovery software to simplify manual recovery and reduce the risk of errors. You should also rely on professionals to assist with complex disaster recovery tasks that require expertise.

Underestimating Data Recovery Software

While backing up data is crucial, the ability to efficiently recover that data is equally important. Your business’s RTO dictates how swiftly you must restore systems and data to resume operations without undue consequences.

Invest in disaster recovery orchestration tools that automatically manage the recovery process. These tools ensure that bringing your mission-critical systems back online is prioritized and automated, so you meet your RTO requirements.

By adhering to industry best practices and embracing modern data recovery solutions, your business can withstand the unforeseen challenges that might otherwise lead to a costly shutdown. Remember, your disaster recovery plan is the insurance policy your business needs to ensure continuity, instill stakeholders’ confidence in your company, and safeguard against worst-case scenarios.

Empower your business to proactively address data recovery challenges with AllConnected. With our comprehensive Disaster-Recovery-as-a-Service solution, you’re ensured of a dynamic and robust backup and recovery strategy. Act now to fortify your defenses against downtime, cyberthreats, compliance complexities, and data disruptions. Reach out to us today and secure your business’s continuity.

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