Natural disasters and unexpected events can cause major disruptions to businesses and their operations. That is why having a robust disaster recovery plan (DRP) is critical for any organisation that wants to minimise downtime and resume operations as quickly as possible.
This is where cloud technologies come in. By utilising the power of the cloud, businesses can build more resilient disaster recovery plans that are more cost-efficient, flexible, and reliable. In this article, we will explore why cloud technologies should be included in disaster recovery plans for the betterment of an organisation’s data security and business continuity.
Disaster recovery explained
Disaster recovery (DR) refers to the restoration of critical IT systems after an unexpected event. It involves creating a data security plan that lays out how you and your team can recover information, applications, and infrastructure. Disaster recovery plans also include backup strategies and should be tested and updated regularly.
It should also be noted that business continuity (BC) covers how companies can maintain their essential operations during a disaster, ensuring that the business can continue to operate despite the situation at hand. DR is an aspect of BC.
What are disaster recovery plans, and why are they important?
Disaster recovery plans are a set of procedures and strategies that businesses follow to recover from unexpected events that disrupt their operating systems. These plans are designed to satisfy your company’s recovery point objective (RPO) and recovery time objective (RTO).
Disaster recovery plans are important because they help businesses protect their data, applications, and infrastructure from loss. They also inform a company’s business continuity plan (BCP) to provide them with the best chance of surviving a disaster.
What is the cloud?
The cloud refers to a network of external servers that are used to store, manage, and process data. Offered in numerous models (for example, hybrid clouds), the cloud lets you access resources over the internet to perform various tasks, such as storing files and running applications.
There are various types of cloud computing services – software-as-a-service (SaaS), infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), and platform-as-a-service (PaaS) – that offer various benefits over on-premise computing tools, including enhanced agility and streamlined collaboration.
Are there any benefits of using cloud technologies for disaster recovery?
Including cloud technologies within disaster recovery plans has several benefits. The availability of the cloud makes it easier for companies to retrieve sensitive information post-disaster. This is a significant asset to your organisation’s DR initiatives as it helps to reduce the time it takes your business to recover from a disruption. Not only can this help you reconnect with your customers faster, but it can also prevent your reputation from being damaged.
As the cloud is accessible through any device that supports a strong internet connection, you can have peace of mind knowing that your business’s data is readily available for any employee, no matter their location. Maintaining and managing data on in-house storage systems can be costly and risky in the realm of business continuity.
But with cloud technologies being more affordable compared to non-cloud solutions (not to mention the scalable storage space they support), you can store your information in another location, reducing the chances of data loss.
How to create disaster recovery plans
Implementing the cloud into disaster recovery plans requires careful planning and execution.
But first, the steps to creating DRPs are as follows:
- Identify the vital data, programs, and tools that need to be protected.
- Determine the threats and risks to your business. You should also link them to your organisation's IT networks to help you prioritise the risks that pose the greatest threat.
- Establish your RTO and RPO.
- Develop a comprehensive plan that outlines the steps and resources you need to respond to disasters. This would include recovery sites, processes, etc.
- Test the plan to identify any weak points and fix them.
- Inform your team of the DRP so they know their responsibilities and roles.
- Formally roll out the DRP and update it on a routine basis.
How to implement cloud technologies into DRPs
One approach to implementing the cloud into your disaster recovery plans is to use cloud-based backup solutions. These solutions allow users to back up data to the cloud, making sure a copy of the organisation’s information is kept offsite in a secure location. This ensures that your company’s data security efforts are optimised and that the chances of you experiencing data loss are reduced.
Another approach is to enlist the services of data security and cloud experts, such as a managed services provider (MSP). MSPs leverage extensive expertise in the cloud, disaster recovery, and cyber security to provide services including backups, recovery, and testing. An MSP can work alongside you and your team to develop foolproof disaster recovery plans that are tailored to your business.
Make the most of cloud computing power, and disaster recovery plans to achieve data security success
Cloud technologies are essential for enabling robust disaster recovery plans. Without the cloud supporting their data security plans, companies may find it more difficult to recover their networks and data after a disaster.
The cloud specialists at Platform 24 can offer you all the advice and resources you need to enhance your information security initiatives with cloud technologies and cyber security practices. The team can do it all, from encrypting data to managing access controls in various cloud models, including hybrid clouds.
Contact the team today to learn how you can use the cloud to retrieve and access your data no matter the circumstances thrown your company’s way.
