Disaster Recovery Planning

Well this surely is the most unavoidable topic of late, it seems everywhere we turn we are being inundated with statistics, updates and predictions over our IT infrastructure – proving that now, more than ever, businesses must be making disaster recovery plans and backing up their systems.

Cybercrime costs the UK more than £27billion a year, new figures show, with attacks on computer systems, industrial espionage and theft of company secrets costing businesses alone at least £21 billion.

Security minister Baroness Neville-Jones said: "I don't myself believe that the successful combating of this kind of crime is going to lie primarily through prosecutions.

"I think it's going to be through much better defences and disruption - screwing up their network. It doesn't have to be an offensive capability, but it's perfectly possible as we know, just as an intruder can screw up a company's network, the reverse can happen.

"If you look at terrorism, if we'd relied on prosecution, we would have had lots of incidents by now. We have to rely to a very significant extent on actually disrupting the activity while in course."

By externally backing up your data, and making a full and complete business continuity plan should the worst happen will guarantee your business remains to live on as you’re left picking up the pieces.

Elitetele.com can provide you with a bespoke business continuity solution, don’t let yourself become scared of cyber criminals. It’s a scary world out there, but not if you’re prepared.

We couldn’t think of a better subject to carry on from our earlier post, which revealed that one third of all Internet users caught a computer virus last year.

Well, we were a tad worried for the future health of our telecoms, but no fear– Foreign Secretary William Hague has appealed to the governments to come together and agree a set of rules to prevent ‘cyber war’ between states.

Hague stated as he addressed the Munich Security Conference, that as recently as last month the UK had come under attack from a "hostile state intelligence agency" seeking to infiltrate the Foreign Office IT system.

We urge you to seriously consider investing in a business continuity and disaster recovery plan, as Hague disclosed that increasing reliance on computer networks had created new vulnerabilities.

"It has opened up new channels for hostile governments to probe our defences and attempt to steal our confidential information or intellectual property. It has promoted fears of future 'cyber war'.”

Although we don’t mean to thrust the element of fear to far into your minds – actually, yes, yes we do – we should realise how relying so heavily on our telecoms and business broadband can leave us open to possible threats.

Although necessary for the health of our business to continue working with our broadband speeds and services, we need to cater for them should anything go wrong.

Call Elitetele.com today for a disaster recovery plan, and ensure your business stays in business should the worst happen.

Verizon, a leading provider of phone system and broadband services, has announced that it will be holding its national disaster recovery exercise this week. Verizon will be using vehicles and trailers from its disaster recovery fleet as well as its mobile communications command centre and the Major Emergency Response Incident Team. By regularly holding training exercises, say Verizon, we can hone our skills and make sure we’re always prepared.

Which is the same for Elite Telecom. As well as regular testing of our disaster recovery capabilities, we warn companies to always be ready for disaster. The faster you react, the faster we can react.

Data loss can occur for many reasons. Hardware failures are as common as they are frustrating and can happen in a number of ways from motherboards failing, to disk drives to software errors. Disasters can also wipe out all of your data whether it’s a natural disaster such as a storm or flood or an act of terrorism. Any way in which it happens, data loss can be catastrophic for your business, losing you money and reputation. Data storage and disaster recovery are the roads to travel to prevent data loss. Data storage can range from deduplication to virtualisation and can be available at all budget ranges. Disaster recovery plans are simply that – a recovery plan for your data if disaster should strike. All companies are susceptible to data loss. The smart thing to do is prepare.

After the recent typhoons, the Philippine Stock Exchange decided to stage a Disaster Recovery Planning (DRP) meeting with the heads of the largest companies in the Philippines. After the natural disasters, the Philippine Stock Exchange realised that further disaster recovery plans were needed.

The members of the DRP meeting agreed that of late the environment had been ‘merciless’ and ‘volatile.’ Despite a couple of data centres dotted around and basic disaster recovery plans, the members of the meeting have agreed to outsource their DRP to a service provider. DRP experts like elitetele.com take a look at every possible contingency before presenting companies with comprehensive disaster recovery plans that are designed to ensure business continuity no matter what the disaster is.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) are making preparations for another bout of the H1N1 virus, more commonly referred to as ‘swine flu.’ On the business side of things though, disaster recovery specialists are making their own preparations and are advising businesses to plan ahead and devise contingency plans in case of widespread outbreaks.

Most disaster recovery specialists, such as Elite, are urging businesses to look into video conferencing as a solution. And indeed, many businesses are now leaning towards that option. Not only will video conferencing negate the need for overseas travel, it will also allow workers to work from home – both preventing and isolating any infection.

Planning For The Future!

The recent recession has caused a drop in Disaster Recovery planning recent information has suggested. With belts being tightened throughout the country it seems that most IT based companies don’t want to spend more than necessary on a disaster that might never happen – and of course, that’s normally the same instant that disaster seems to strike! Planning for a disaster - be it a simple power outage or an act of God – is prudent. After all, a little now could save you a lot in the future!