In this new age of cloud computing, we see companies adopting new systems that they hadn’t previously considered to keep up with the times. IT departments, often formerly regarded as a token failsafe in case of technical disaster, are now taking the lead to overhaul outdated data infrastructure and create lasting change in their companies.
Cloud computing is spreading through the business world, and businesses both large and small are working to adopt the cloud to better leverage their data and provide an easy backup. However, companies often overlook the security and backup measures necessary to ensure that cloud systems aren’t crippled in the event of an outage.
As a result, IT disaster recovery (DR) has gained attention, with businesses needing specialized plans and contingencies to ensure that their systems can be recovered as soon as possible in the event of an issue or an outage. DR has been around for awhile now, but with cloud computing placing further emphasis on Internet integration, the practice is more important than ever.
So what does disaster recovery entail? Are offsite backup servers necessary to ensure the security of your IT systems? Fortunately, the answer is no. With the rise of disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS), paying what you need for the promise of a secure cloud service in the event of a disaster is both cost-effective and highly beneficial.
The main issue with convincing businesses to adopt a DR plan is because of skewed perceptions of the factors that can causes outages or disasters. The name itself implies some cataclysmic event, such as a natural disaster or major storm, when in reality, the majority of outages are caused by operational failure or human error. For that matter, these outages are often very short-lived, and though companies can often get their systems running again in a short time, your customers’ widespread expectation for instantaneous action can make a surprisingly negative impact on relations.
In fact, a 2016 survey discovered that 69% of respondents reported that minutes of downtime would be disruptive to their businesses.
One of the best aspects of DRaaS systems is their ability to address failover in a comparatively small number of systems. As previously mentioned, failures are often much more minor than the moniker of “Disaster Recovery” would indicate. DRaaS systems are often able to group systems into virtual protection groups, allowing for more precise control when addressing problems.
Not all DRaaS systems are created equal, however. It is up to you as a business professional to seek a solution that is largely automated and offers good technical support. There’s no sense in recommending plans or companies here; every business will have its own unique needs when it comes to implementing a DR plan.
That said, adoption is pretty much necessary in this age of technological flux. 72% of companies have reported using their DR plans at least once, and beyond the issues previously mentioned, inconsistent cybersecurity measures have lead to a string of attacks by hackers.
Often, it can be difficult to make business leaders cognizant of the benefits of more robust IT systems. However, highly outdated IT practices have led to inefficiencies in some businesses. Anticipating and overcoming these issues can be the key to optimizing business practices and easing data analytics.
