One of the things businesses fear the most is a loss of important information. If the office building suffers structural damage during a storm or infrastructure is ruined because of a flood, those problems can be resolved. They are not pleasant and aren't necessarily easy to fix, but ultimately infrastructure, carpeting or office furniture can be replaced. Business data, on the other hand, may never be replaced.
So, when companies consider disaster recovery plans pertaining to their data, the first thing they think about is backing it up. Storing information in a secure, off-site location can keep all that valuable data safe in the event of a disaster on the company's premises. However, one mistake companies often make is backing up their data and walking away assuming their work is done.
If you simply back up your information and consider that the only component of your disaster recovery plan, you are in for some troubling news.
In reality, there is much more companies need to consider as part of their comprehensive disaster recovery program. Recently, an article in Forbes detailed this very point.
"Data backup and disaster recovery are not the same," wrote JP Blaho, the article's author. "For one thing, the backup software can fail, or the person responsible for backing up can fail. Also, backing up without recovery in mind is tantamount to not backing up at all. And finally, there are other steps you have to take in order to successfully restore your data in the event you need your backup."
Ultimately, it's important for companies to understand all of the areas that go into a disaster recovery plan. Moreover, part of preparing for a disaster is covering all possible angles. Backing up information without considering that something could happen to that backup system or the environment where the data is stored could lead to serious problems down the line.
For example, what if a storm hits in the area where your remote servers are located, causing the information stored on them to be compromised? There are a myriad of possibilities that could impact the effectiveness of your backup and storage system, so understanding those possibilities and planning accordingly is crucial. Obtaining the right technology insurance will help businesses prepare and better utilize their backup strategies as part of a solid disaster recovery plan.