Planning IT Disaster Recovery is an activity which will pay for itself when your IT system comes grinding to a halt. IT disasters can impact parts of a business which you may have thought were immune. Detailing the measures required to restore technical infrastructure and services following disruption or disaster is a worthy task for business who relies on IT.

The point of Disaster Recovery planning is to minimise the impact that a disruption will have on normal business processes.

Plan for the worst

A well constructed disaster recovery plan is tailored to the core requirements of a business, as well as the potential dangers which the IT infrastructure may be exposed to. The advantages of a business having an effective disaster recovery plan are numerous, including maintaining normal business, safeguarding the organisation’s reputation or brand, reducing the downtime, preventing the loss of customers and increasing the confidence of associates, partners, suppliers, clients and investors.

Planning an effective disaster recovery strategy can be a tricky business, so here are a few tips to help you:

When designing and implementing an effective disaster recovery plan, first identify the core functions of the organisations Consider finance, business processes, human resources and information technology.

It can be helpful to assign financial values to each asset, element or function using an Annual Loss Expectancy calculation, by multiplying the potential frequency of a disaster occurring by the expected financial loss per instance.

This loss expectancy calculation should help you to prioritise the genuinely important parts of the business; those elements which have a detrimental effect on the bottom line of the company. Assign responsibilities for each of these spheres to suitable personnel.

Define the expectations of customers, partners, suppliers and stakeholders, particularly with regard to contractual obligations. Imagine disasters or emergencies and determine suitable responses and how it will impact these associaties.

The Disaster Recovery strategy should be clearly communicated throughout the firm, ensuring the necessary resources are properly prepared for the worst. The strategy should be tested and reviewed reasonably regularly, at least annually, or when significant internal changes occur.

The disaster recovery strategy should encompass every element of business planning and operation, and the entire organisation should be aware of it and its importance.

A structured and rehearsed disaster recovery plan provides organisations with the peace of mind, that if something bad happens, there are already steps in place to turn the disaster into nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

The Internet Group is a leading specialist provider of managed IT services to UK and International businesses like yours. Disaster Recovery and Prevention is just one facet of their IT services.

[tags]disaster recovery, it recovery, it disaster, it disaster recovery, disaster recovery strategy[/tags]