Also, because many of our business functions and revenue sources are derived by applications that are cloud based, even with the Network Server down, we could still continue in business without little or no impact to my customers and clients. In fact, without this blog, our customers would have no idea that our firm had such issues this past week.
With competition as keen as it is today, most businesses today would not survive long if they do not have a strong and viable data recovery plan in place.
Here is our recommendations:
Critical Backup Recovery Plan (CBRP)
- Critical computer hardware components (computer networks etc) should be changed out at least every 5 years. Computer hardware does wear out. If you are nearing the 5 year mark, budget new hardware and software. This includes external hard drives - they wear out!
- Use only quality hardware for you key computer components. The old adage is true - "you get what you pay for!" For Computer networking hardware, use a true networking computer solution - hardware and software.
- Use a reliable backup battery system for your key computer hardware
- All your sensitive computer data should be backed up regularly - in my business, we backed up our data files daily. All computer data backup software automates the backup function, it is just as easy to setup auto backup on a daily basis as it is weekly, monthly etc. Do it daily.
- Use both onsite and offsite backup. Your onsite backup can be an external hard drive. Your offsite backup can be through a reliable third-party backup service. We are using Mosy, since there focus is on business. At home, we use MY PC Backup. There are many third-parties that provide onsite backup. Offsite backup also ensures protection of your data in case of a disaster that destroys your place of business (fire, burglary etc...) I had a customer whose successful business was destroyed by a fire started in one of the neighboring businesses, because he lost all his customer, inventory, and manufacturing data, - he lost his business to competitors because of the time it took for him to try and recover data and information that he gathered over many years of being in business. He never recovered.
- Contract with a reliable IT consultant. Don't just hire anyone for IT consulting. (e.g. your neighbor, friend, family member because he/she is "good" with computers and is less expensive - Again, you get what you pay for!!. Ask around, find out who is a competent, reliable IT consultant and is in the business full time. We have several IT consultants we work with in our business and our clients, if you need a recommendation - send me an email - we can recommend some very good IT consultants.
- Use Cloud based solutions. We use Google for email, blogging, calendaring, file sharing and etc. We have a third-party host our website which provides secure file vaults, email marketing etc. We do not recommend you put you use your Network Server as your email and website server. When our office server went down, there was not effect on our email or website. If your email or website goes dark, even for a few days, you will lose current and future customers. We have even moved our financial accounting to Cloud Based solutions using Quickbooks online. Because our business financials are Cloud Based, invoicing and billing of customers went out as normal and on time. No affect on cash flow.
If you are interested in a review of your CBRP for your business and a plan to ensure your business has a strong CBRP going forward, please contact our office.
