How a Data Backup Solution Will Improve Your Business Continuity Planning?
Disaster recovery, data backup, business continuity, are you aware of these?
Unfortunately, most managers and business owners are not well-versed with these terminologies. These elements are specifically designed to help businesses in preserving their data and continue operating efficiently even after a disaster strike.
There are times, when businesses assume, that even after a data loss due to hacking, adverse weather or internal accidents they can still get up and start operating smoothly. However, recovery becomes difficult with lack of measures in place. With companies performing most of their commercial processes on digital platforms, terminologies like disaster recovery, data backup, and business continuity solutions have already become vital in every sector.
Data Backup
Data backup, the simplest solution designed to preserve data. This process encompasses making a copy of the data generated during commercial processes. The copy can be stored in a tape, an offsite backup location, cloud or in an external hard drive.
Disaster Recovery
Business disaster recovery is significant, as there are numerous potential dangers. The ability to restore and recover all the data, software and settings during a minor or major disaster is termed as disaster recovery.
What is Business Continuity?
Definition:
A system of proactive planning and processes in order to help your business continue to operate during data loss and network system failure is termed as business continuity. The “Continuity” part of business continuity is where you continue to do business instead of dealing with a catastrophic system failure and data loss.
People usually get confused between disaster recovery and business continuity. However, disaster recovery is just one component of continuity. In general, continuity not only handles small-scale problems but also considers the worst-case scenario that could affect your business. For instance, if you lost your premises in a major natural disaster or fire, simple disaster recovery will not save you.
Continuity helps you resume all operations quickly even without your local area network, also allows you to recover all information, processes, and settings in the network. Additionally, your employees will be able to access the customer data and company files without relying on on-premises IT infrastructure. Continuity can be achieved if your business has a cloud business solution or has synced operations with an offsite data centre.
Vital Data Loss — How much is too much?
How much amount of data does your business generate and use in a day, weeks or months? A significant amount right? Imagine, you are no longer able to access this data too. Scary!
Elements like your customer records, accounting functions and even company email all have an impact on how your business operates. If you and your staff can no longer access these bits of information, then how would you continue to operate? Any idea, how will that affect your business?
How Much Time can your Business Spare?
Indeed, most businesses run a pretty tight ship when it comes to the time it takes to do business. The profitability of the business depends on how quickly and efficiently it is being handled. When business activity comes to a halt due to a data disaster, there is a tipping point. “Recovery time” is a critical element here.
Apart from the initial downtime that comes with a data disaster, businesses need to scrutinize the long-term effects, too. How quickly will you be back up and running?
Think Beyond a Data Backup Solution
Your business continuity plan should comprise of a data backup solution that allows you to mitigate the effects of data loss and time to recovery. Surprisingly, many businesses seem to use a data backup solution that is inefficient and incomplete.
A full business continuity solution addresses the preservation of business data and provides a means for fast, full restoration during a data disaster.
An Overall Approach to Business Continuity
Business continuity is more than data backups. No matter what form disaster takes place, the quick and complete recovery of business data via your data backup solution is critical. Reducing downtime and data loss helps to protect your business.
Elements for a Complete Business Continuity Plan
For an effective business continuity plan, it must include a process for rapid and full restoration of capabilities. This also comprises the ability to restore images and files to different equipment in the event of damage or destruction of the original hardware.
Other elements:
• Image capture of applications, operating systems, and data
• Backup of all workplaces and servers
• Ability for backup and restoration from an alternate or central location
• Ability for full restoration on different hardware
• Regular testing of backups to ensure the feasibility of files and images
How to reduce the potential impact of downtime?
A complete business continuity plan is a great place to start. When a disaster strikes planning for business continuity can be the difference between business as usual and all-hands-on-deck. However, your business continuity plan may be organized, without a doubt, one of its most essential elements is your data backup solution. When you select the best data backup solution for your business, it hinges on two elements: data loss and time. If you are looking for the best data backup solution, then your ultimate destination is Zmanda! With a good business continuity plan and Zmanda as a data backup solution, your business is sure to start running up in a few hours even after a disaster.
