November 27th, 2009 
Kiev C Brownlee Technology is our friend in business or personal life and whether we like it or not, we are becoming more and more reliant on the services it provides and the freedom it represents. What should happen if something were to go wrong with this technology, though? All that information that is stored or accessed could be unavailable at the drop of a hat and if you do not have a contingency available, the very existence of your business could be at risk. A computer disaster recovery plan is a core component.
The more complex your business, the more detailed your computer disaster recovery plan should be. Management ignores the upkeep of this plan at its peril. Remember that a plan is not a one time task, but must be maintained as a business grows or diversifies. The plan should not be an afterthought, it should be a core component and a critical document in itself.
There are any number of pitfalls awaiting to trip up a business, including weather-related, theft, fire or destruction, malicious action, virus or simple failure. Have you ever hear of Murphy’s Law? This age old saying ensures us that what ever could go wrong, will go wrong!
When a computer disaster recovery plan is first constructed, it should contain several critical sections. At the top of the list should be contact information for primary personnel, together with the information for backup employees should the primary be unavailable. If the company employs external security or IT consultants, their details including after hours, should be contained and all information reviewed monthly.
So that you know what you are dealing with in the event of a problem, the computer disaster recovery plan should fully categorize all the information that is stored. Locations and hierarchical levels should be referenced and backup copies, URL addresses of providers maintained. The plan must show how data can be recovered should it be lost.
Large and more complex companies will need to prioritize and thus the plan should detail criticality. It will also be important to outline the consequences of delay and the various time frames that should be adhered to if at all possible. Remember that there could be public relations consequences to address as well.
Do not underestimate the consequences of failure or loss. Management should ensure that all staff are familiar with the operation of the plan and a dry run should be practiced to highlight any discrepancies or areas that need to be corrected. Remember that there are a variety of potential scenarios and prevention should be at the top of the list. Good practices can help to virtually eliminate the threat of virus infestation for example and all employees or people who can access critical data should be thoroughly vetted to eliminate the threat of theft or industrial espionage.
As the organization becomes more complex, it is recommended that management seek professional advice to help them determine the operation of their computer disaster recovery plans and also help to provide associated services. Attention to security issues can be an investment in the very existence of the business.
Expert Kiev C Brownlee has a great deal of information about your computer disaster recovery plan solutions. Visit KBCSI for all your IT management questions.
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