If we’ve learned anything from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that we don’t have it all figured out. Not only are we vulnerable as a species, but so are the systems, processes and devices we’ve built. Natural and human-made disasters as well as other contingencies can still cause significant damage—and bring businesses to a grinding halt.
Now is the time for companies big and small to take steps to ensure business continuity in any scenario. Because while data loss disasters are inevitable, having a solid backup and disaster recovery (BCDR) plan can help you weather any storm, literally or figuratively.
In this blog, we will break down different types of data loss disasters, how to prepare for them and how to leverage BCDR to meet and maintain regulatory compliance obligations.
The Many Forms Data Loss Can Take
Natural Disasters
This covers everything from storms and hurricanes to fires and volcano eruptions. Generally, you can expect infrastructural damage, power failure, and mechanical failure, which could lead to data loss.
Hardware and Software Malfunctioning
Here are just a few scenarios that can cause data loss: bugs, glitches, configuration errors, programmatic errors, component failures, and outdated software.
Unforeseen Circumstances
Data loss can happen due to random, unexpected scenarios: a portable hard disk held by one of the employees could get stolen, your server room may have a water leak because of a plumbing issue, or there could be a pest infestation in one of your data centers.
Human Error
Aberdeen Research found that everyday human errors cause nearly 64% of data loss incidents. These errors range from accidental file deletions and overwriting of existing files, to naming convention errors, forgetting to save or backup data, or spilling liquid on a storage device.
Cyberthreats
Your business may fall prey to malware, ransomware, or virus attacks, which could leave your data and backups corrupt and irrecoverable. Additionally, data loss could be caused by malicious insiders with unauthorized access, which often goes under the radar. A recent study shows that employee action is involved in up to 23% of all electronic crime events.
How to Plan and Prepare for Data Loss Disasters
As you can see, data loss disasters can manifest in a wide variety of ways. The key is to be proactive and make a plan before disaster strikes. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
- Perform a business impact analysis and draft a plan on how to recover key functions in the event of a disaster
- Define an acceptable Recovery Point Objective and Recovery Time Objective
- Set up a business continuity team that will take charge during a disaster
- Train your staff in backup management and data recovery
- Back up critical business data off-site and on the cloud
- Conduct threat analysis and define recovery steps for each threat
- Perform frequent security audits and mock drills to review the efficiency of your disaster response
- Keep the plan up-to-date and make sure everyone on the team knows their role
- Store banking information so it can be accessed quickly and securely in the event of a disaster
- Invest in a robust backup and disaster management solution that is frictionless, secure, offers SaaS data backup and doesn’t require extra hardware or network bandwidth
- Make sure you have a remote monitoring tool
- Use waterless fire protection systems, moisture sensors, surge protectors, and backup battery systems
Leverage BCDR to Achieve and Maintain Regulatory Compliance Obligations
Data loss prevention is not the only advantage of taking backup and disaster recovery seriously. A robust BCDR solution that offers constant monitoring of backup activity, advanced threat detection, immutable audit logs, access control requirements, data retention rules, and infrastructure or storage controls will make it much easier for you to meet compliance obligations applicable to your business.
Not sure how to get started? We can help. Our expert team can help you develop a disaster recovery plan to protect sensitive data and your bottom line.
