Disaster Recovery 100 Success Secrets - IT Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery planning and Services. Gerard Blokdijk

service. Sometimes it is still possible to get quality Computer Disaster Plan Recovery service at reasonable prices.

      Another thing to take into account is the location of your preferred Computer Disaster Plan Recovery specialist. If your datacenter is located in a remote place like the Philippines, and your Computer Disaster Plan Recovery specialists are located in

      27

      the US, for instance, you might find your data imperiled when your US-based Computer Disaster Plan Recovery specialists cannot make it in time to examine the disaster site.

      Even the fastest passenger plane will take some time before it can cross the distance over land and sea D and in Computer Disaster Plan Recovery, time is always a crucial factor for saving data.

      28

      Should We Be Concerned About

      Computer Disaster Recovery?

      Computer Disaster Recovery may seem like a relatively new area of concern among PC users but it is by no means a new phenomenon.

      Actually, many PC users have unfortunately suffered a

      degree of data loss every year in the past. When you compute for it, in 1998 alone, US companies lost as much as $11.8 billion due to data loss. If many IT professionals had already been experienced in Computer Disaster Recovery at that time, most likely the losses would not have been as severe.

      Computer Disaster Recovery can either be practiced (or outsourced) to an independent consultancy firm or assigned to your

      inhouse IT staff. Either way, someone has to be on-site 24/7 so that Computer Disaster Recovery can be addressed as soon as a disaster strikes. The problem is that many IT professionals may be acquainted only with simple drive recovery efforts and think that

      that already constitutes Computer Disaster Recovery. Simple drive recovery alone is already very expensive (it will cost a business $7,500 to implement) and is not automatically a sure-fire solution to resort to.

      Computer Disaster Recovery should become a more prevalent area of concern for US companies, because statistics show that US businesses suffer more than $12 billion in losses annually due to data loss at present. As much as 78% of data loss is attributed to system or hardware failure. On the other hand, 11% of data loss is believed to be caused by human error. Software corruption alone causes just 7% of total data loss nowadays.

      29

      The Value of Preparing a Computer

      Disaster Recovery Plan Beforehand

      One of the worst things you may ever face is being caught in a disaster without any weapon to fight with. However, it is a fact of life that disaster may happen when we least expect it. The best weapon against these disasters is preparedness. This is true even when it comes to computers. Computer professionals have made great strides - from being simply prepared to creating a system which allows for disaster recovery even when the unexpected occurs.

      Your disaster recovery plan should focus on data protection.

      This data protection is the process, procedures and policies for regaining access to data, records, hardware and software that are essential to business operations and have been subjected to a natural or man-made disaster. No business is immune from experiencing such a serious incident, called a disaster, which may hamper normal business operations. A disaster could be caused by floods, accidents, computer malfunctions, explosions, earthquakes, and many more other factors.

      This is why development of a Basic Disaster Recovery Plan is a fundamental responsibility of every organization.

      In the planning stage, there are some essentials points to consider. First and foremost, the plan must be approved by top management to ensure the highest level of commitment and ensure support in terms of resources and attention from management.

      Secondly, the plan must be based on and designed for the needs of the system in case disaster should happen. The so-called DRPs help guard against data loss with the use of backups sent offsite in regular intervals (compsed of software and data information) for data recovery; microfilm copies of files with the use of remote

      30

      backup facility); Storage Area Networks (SANs); surge protectors (for power control); use of an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) or back up generator; anti-virus software; and other security measures.

      Even fire prevention and protection may become necessary components of your Basic Disaster Recovery Plan.

      31

      How Do I Find a Reputable Contractor

      Disaster Recovery Specialist?

      Business and organizations that have undergone both or either man-made or natural adverse circumstances such as terrorism attacks, windstorms, bomb explosions and earthquakes should hire a reliable disaster recovery contractor. However, make sure to consult first any involved agency about the possibility of getting state aid so that an assessment of the damaged property can be done before any repairs are done on it.

      FHiorswt, cyaonu y hoauv fei ntdo as crreepeunt athbele ccoonnttrraaccttoorr,? w hether he is licensed or not. You can ask any of your neighbors who may have

      previously hired a disaster recovery contractor to repair damages like yours. You should ask for at least three references to see if the contractor has been able to commit to good job performance and charged a fair price from previous clients.

      You can call your local Better Business Bureau to check out their list of contractors acknowledged by the bureau to be reputable.

      Secondly, you should jot down any necessary licenses and certifications (such as insurance certification, working license, or building permits) which may be needed if you have to report problems that cropped up later. However, you should not sign any insurance settlements with any contractor.

      Thirdly, ensure that your signature on a bid does not constitute as an authorization to start the work with the contractor. Next, you must secure written contracts which will cover the scope of work, materials, costs and payment schedules. In making payments to contractors, it is suggested to pay them periodically (meaning, pay a fractional percent so they will start work and also as work progresses.)

      32

      In addition, purchase materials along with your contractor or pay the supplier directly. You should ensure that the repairs made follow the local building standards. You may hire a structural engineer to double-check the major repairs made before you make a final payment. Lastly, you should demand a release paper of lien from a contractor to protect yourself from any legal claims later on.

      33

      How is Critical Disaster Information

      Recovery Conducted?

      Okay, so disaster struck your data storage facility and now you need Critical Disaster Information Recovery to be conducted so that no further damage will be done to your data storage medium and your business continuity is not jeopardized. How does Critical Disaster Information Recovery proceed then?

      The Critical Disaster Information Recovery specialists will first ask you to hand over the affected medium to them for inspection.

      They will also create a copy of the medium and its contents to prevent wreaking further damage to that storage medium.

      Before you do this, it is important to have a legal agreement in place to protect the integrity of your data (especially if it is sensitive data, like personal information about clients and their financial transactions.)

      Only upon inspection will the Critical Disaster Information Recovery team be able to find out if the data can indeed be retrieved, how much of the data can be retrieved safely, how long the process will take, and how much to charge you for their services.

      Be prepared to pay a hefty cost for any Critical Disaster Information Recovery. In fact, it can be said that a disaster has a double whammy to it: you first get hit by a disaster which is