Emergency disaster recovery refers to the activities companies must take torestore their database operations in the aftermath of catastrophe. This calamity can be in the form of an earthquake, fire, tsunami, vandalism, or a severe cyber-attack. Any strategy the corporate enterprises formulate to deal with these unfortunate events should include the following:
1. Identifying and evaluating the probable risks they likely to face in the event of the disasters
2. Determining the impact on the vital software applications, commercial documents, and business resources
3. Selecting a site which they can use throughout the emergency
4. Choosing a separate computer system which they can utilize to recover the contents of their databases
5. Locating off-site storage facilities to keep archive database logs, table space, and backup files
6. Setting up a team of specialists responsible for implementing the strategies and restoring database operations
7. Testing the effectiveness of the disaster recovery strategies in various emergencies
Need for an emergency disaster recovery strategy?
Companies of all sizes use the latest information technology to instantly and accurately process their commercial transactions. Businesses regularly use emails or Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) communication systems to interact with customers. Electronic data interchange (EDI) software platforms enable the transmission of vital business data and disburse payments to stakeholders. They can be suppliers, service providers, investors, creditors, or corporate lenders. The network servers these corporate enterprises operate have to store vast amounts of business data. Only then can the employees use the computer systems and wireless devices when performing their duties. However, the companies find their entire commercial operations come to a standstill during human-made or natural catastrophes.
Experienced database administrators and managers state that even the companies’ business data create, process, and manage essential for their survival. The consequences they are likely to face from its loss or corruption are:
1. Significant financial losses resulting from disruptions in the flow of revenue, identity theft or misappropriation of funds
2. Employee productivity comes to a complete halt as they cannot access the information necessary to perform their duties
3. Customers start to question the credibility of companies in protecting their confidential information
4. Class-action level lawsuits and fines for failing to comply with statutory data protection guidelines
5. The inability of its top officials to make correct business decisions because of inaccurate information
In the worst-case scenario, the companies can become bankrupt and go out of business soon after the disaster strikes.
IT recovery strategies for businesses
Professionals from esteemed companies, RemoteDBA.com, says the information technology disaster recovery strategies (ITDRS) these companies devise must align with their overall business continuity plans. Their top officials need to identify priorities and relevant time recovery goals during any corporate impact analysis. The method they formulate must aim at restoring necessary hardware components and software applications in the IT infrastructure. Only then can these corporate enterprises process the data necessary to resume their commercial operations. When formulating the disaster recovery strategies, these top officials must anticipate loss or damage to the following components:
1. Air conditioner, climate-control system and back-up power supplies of the computer server room
2. Network servers, data centers, desktop computers, office laptops, wireless devices, and other hardware peripherals
3. Fiber-optic communication and wireless cables providing connectivity to third-party service providers
4. Business software applications such as enterprise resource planning (ERP), electronic data interchange (EDI) or customer relationship management (CRM)
5. Business data restoration
Protect business applications and commercial data round-the-clock
Corporate enterprises need to understand that some of their business software applications might not tolerate long downtimes. Many of these platforms run on dual-purpose data centers capable of processing all their data processing needs. However, these hardware components often synchronize the operations of two parallel centers simultaneously. If a component in one of the center’s malfunctions, the other will not function. Fortunately, these companies can acquire disaster recovery solutions that can help them overcomes these issues. Taking this step allows them to protect their business software applications and commercial data.
Internal Disaster Recovery Strategies
Most companies often maintain the entire IT infrastructure in more than one facility. The disaster recovery strategies these corporate enterprises come up with should make the following provisions:
1. Configure the hardware in one facility to run similar business software applications in another
2. Use suitable mirroring solutions off-site to resume data processing in the facilities
Recovery strategies that third-party service providers offer
The service providers companies hire generally maintain certain disaster recovery facilities, which they call ‘hot sites.’ These facilities have the necessary data centers compatible with hardware components of the companies’ IT infrastructure. These vendors can configure the centers to host software systems the companies use for their commercial operations. In doing so, they can ensure continuous data streaming to the platforms and restore the activation of necessary security measures for business continuity. Moreover, vendors take the responsibility of restoring and maintaining the companies’ computer systems in the aftermath of a catastrophe. Most of them even take necessary steps to prevent all forms of cyber-security attacks on their clients’ systems.
Custom plans for protection against data loss
Developing and implementing suitable IT disaster recovery strategies in the aftermath of a catastrophe is necessary for all companies. The plans they devise should involve complying with an inventory of their entire IT infrastructure. This list should highlight the hardware components data and software platforms essential to conducting their business operations seamlessly. The plans should even emphasize the need to take data back-ups and copies of program software systems. In doing so, the companies can opt to use suitable tapes, back-up cartridges, or high-capacity USB drives. The platforms can then be re-installed on relevant hardware devices in off-site facilities. This ensures corporate enterprises can continue their business operations without disruption.
Like large corporations, small business owners should help experienced and credible remote database management companies for emergency IT disaster recovery. Database consultants will guide them when it comes to custom solutions and strategies for disaster recovery. Business owners will be able to protect their small enterprises and mitigate data loss risks in this way.
