Disaster Planning really doesn't need to be expensive unless you ignore it until you need it! Most computer users have at one time lost a hard drive or lost files and are somewhat familiar with the need to with back up their data. But there are several more areas where a little attention now can save a lot of money later; particularly with summer storms right around the corner.
* Redundancy - a term used to have immediate failover if a critical hardware part, such as a hard drive fails. Unlike data backup, the new hardware piece takes over immediately which is crucial to ensure a business doesn't suffer unnecessary and costly interruptions during repair. Machines responsible for shared functions for a business should have, at a minimum, hard drive redundancy.
* Power Protection - especially during the summer months, "brown outs" and "black outs" can wreak havoc on a computer's electrical system and cause permanent damage. Desktops and Servers should be equipped with excellent and inexpensive battery backup solutions to smooth out these fluctuations.
* Data Backup - we'd be remiss in not mentioning this area until you're sick of hearing it! With readily available services such as Carbonite for off-site backup storage and inexpensive external hard-drives, your backup solution should be something easily automated so that when you need it, you can count on it. You shouldn't lose sleep over wondering if your backup is working or that it's been "a while" since you made a backup. Preferably, you should have two backup methods depending on how important your data is, because it's JUST THAT inexpensive compared to recovery!!
* Envionment Backup - Businesses should have backup domain controllers if they're running a domain, and backup servers for important network services. Unfortunately MANY businesses have focused exclusively on backing up their data but failed to adequately back up their environment (software licenses, user names, logins, profiles, active directory, mailboxes, permissions, software applications etc.). Note: sometimes just a basic print out of software licenses and compiling ALL software and driver disks that came with your computer or Server in a central location is a start toward disaster recovery that all businesses can do on their own. Be forewarned though -- as operating systems and server software continue to be upgraded, older critical applications, database software and even QuickBooks become obsolete and can't be installed on replacement machines because of compatibility issues. Ironically enough, planned software obsolescence can EVEN extend to backup software used to create the data backup in the first place!
All computer systems can be rebuilt, but having some attention on "what ifs" can save weeks of lost productivity and expensive repair costs. If you would like a FREE assessment of your businesses vulnerability areas, please contact us. We can also help with solutings ranging from creating a formal security and disaster recovery plan to a discount on a Carbonite license for offsite data backup.