When running a business, it’s easy to focus on daily tasks and overlook risks. Disasters—natural, technical, or human-made—can happen anytime. That’s why you need disaster recovery and business continuity plans. While these two are often confused, they serve different functions. Let’s explore both and why a managed service provider is key to implementing them.
Disaster Recovery: Getting Back on Track
What is Disaster Recovery?
Disaster recovery is about quickly getting your business running after a disaster. It could be a server crash, cyberattack, or natural disaster. This plan helps restore data, fix systems, and return to normal operations.
What to Include in a Disaster Recovery Plan
• Data backups: How often do you back up data? Where are backups stored? Are they accessible if systems go down?
• Recovery time: How long will it take to restore technology infrastructure? This includes servers, applications, and network.
• Responsibilities: Who in the company takes charge during recovery? Establish a clear chain of command.
• Test the plan: It’s essential to test your disaster recovery plan regularly. Don’t wait for an actual disaster to see if it works.
Business Continuity: Keeping Operations Running
What is Business Continuity?
While disaster recovery focuses on restoring systems, business continuity ensures operations keep running during a disaster. A business continuity plan (BCP) outlines how your business stays operational, minimizing downtime.
What to Include in a Business Continuity Plan
• Critical business functions: Identify essential business functions. These might include customer service, production, or payment processing.
• Alternative workspaces: If your office becomes inaccessible, can employees work remotely? Do you have alternative office locations?
• Communication plans: How will you communicate with staff, clients, and suppliers during a crisis? Have a system to keep everyone informed.
• Customer access: Make sure customers can still reach you. Losing contact could lead to lost sales and damaged relationships.
The Importance of Both Plans
You might ask, “Do I need both disaster recovery and business continuity plans?” The answer is yes.
Disaster Recovery Without Business Continuity
If you only have a disaster recovery plan, you can restore systems. But what about operations while systems are down? Without a business continuity plan, customers might leave before systems are back.
Business Continuity Without Disaster Recovery
A business continuity plan alone may keep you going temporarily. But without a disaster recovery plan, your systems won’t be restored efficiently. You need both for short-term and long-term solutions.
The Risks of Not Having Plans
It’s tempting to think, “This won’t happen to me.” But the risks are real:
• Lost revenue: Downtime means lost sales. Every minute systems are down, revenue and productivity are lost.
• Damaged reputation: Customers lose trust if you can’t provide services. A damaged reputation can have lasting effects.
• Legal issues: Lack of planning could lead to legal problems, especially in industries dealing with sensitive data.
• Employee morale: Without a plan, employees feel stressed and confused during a crisis. This affects productivity and morale.
How a Managed Service Provider Can Help
Creating and maintaining disaster recovery and business continuity plans can be challenging. A managed service provider helps businesses develop and implement these plans efficiently. They ensure you’re ready for any unexpected disruptions.
Working with a managed service provider means having experts on your side. They help craft custom plans for your unique business needs. This includes everything from data backups to testing the recovery process.
A managed service provider provides continuous support. They ensure your plans are regularly updated and tested. They also train your team on what to do when disasters strike.
Don’t leave your business to chance. Partnering with a managed service provider helps you prepare, recover, and continue operations smoothly. Contact us today to create a disaster recovery and business continuity plan tailored for your business.