Disaster Recovery- Managing the Risk

Helping your business survive in the event of an unforeseen disaster: Most business failures are not from bad business but from bad business practices.

Most companies that fail are the ones that have not planned how their business will continue to function in the event of a disaster.

We put in the conventional safeguards such as alarming the premises, locking up vital areas and information, putting in fire prevention systems.

But what thought is given to make sure that the vital data that is needed for a business to continue is in a safe place- can be accessed and is current information.

Sales/purchases ledgers.

Do you know what the company is owed?

Can you prove to your insurers what is owed and what your replacement costs are?

Business processes.

Where are your procedures manuals, technical drawings, and patents?

Insurances.

Where are your policies kept?

Back up tapes- they are off site but what do we load them on to.

How often do we back up our information? Where is it kept? On site-in your briefcase? How do we restore it.

Cheque books-paying in books-writing paper-invoice paper. Have they gone up in smoke?

There are a few safeguards that we can put in place so that the business can continue to function in the event of a disaster. These processes do not have to be expensive or costly.

They require common sense, a little professional help and a place that is risk free where you can store the information vital for your survival.

We spend millions each year with insurance companies, insuring for the eventuality of the business having a disaster- surely the small amount of time cost & effort in making sure that you have the wherewithal to continue trading as soon as possible is the prime objective.

"BattleBoxes?? containing essential items for business continuation can be created for your company with a minimum of effort and will give you the peace of mind, so that you can continue the business in the event of a disaster.

Oh! And by the way ask your insurers for a reduction in your premiums. Lowering the risk limits their exposure- why should they reap all the rewards.

Terry Cohen is a director of Archival Record Management PLC, who specialise in looking after the data that companies create - in all formats. They offer a full records management service that includes scanning services. Contact him on 020 7703 3915 or email:tc@londonweb.net

More Data Recovery Articles

Backup Schmackup: Im Afraid, Very Afraid!
"Why should you be afraid?", I can hear you ask.I just got an email from my friend Miche who said,"My laptop is sick at the hospital.

The Importance Of Email Backup
Viruses, software failures, power failures, human errors, hard drive failures are only a few examples of what could destroy the data on a hard drive, including all documents, pictures, emails and other files!Most home computer users don't need an expensive backup solution; as they only need to burn the folders with important documents and pictures to a CD-RW from time to time; this ensuring that in case of a disaster they can easily get them back. Togeder with documents and pictures, it's a critical operation to save the emails, attachments, address book and other important data from within the email client; otherwise in case of a computer problem the user will find himself in the impossibility to get them back, and this can be a really unwanted situation especially for webmasters or people who rely on their emails.

Data Backup Solution: Why You Need a Backup Plan in Place ? Part 2
In the first part of this article series, I talked about the three main threats to the data on your computer. I talked about the need for a data backup solution that protects your data properly.

Backup Your Data Or Lose Your Life!
Oh the perils of collecting those precious photos on your PC for years, only to have your hard drive crash one day, and not have made a SINGLE BACKUP COPY of any of your priceless pictures. Well, now is the time to backup your hard drive.

Data Backup Solution: Why You Need a Backup Plan in Place ? Part 1
Is a data backup solution part of your computer plans? Do you have a way to protect yourself if something goes wrong with your computer or data? Computers are a useful part of our lives but we don't always protect ourselves from their loss be it fire, theft or hardware failure.We often don't consider how fragile our computer data really is.

HasYour Computer Hard Drive Ever Crashed? Are You Challenged by Backups?
The following scenario?s have probably been repeated thousands of times, on computer systems of all kinds and sizes, operated by all levels of users from complete novice, to expert user.· You log on and your computer will not boot to your operating system.

Did You Loose Your Windows XP Password? What Should You Have Done Before it Happened?
There is a common problem that happens with lot of computer users. This problem is the loss of a password.

I Lost It! Simple Guide To Recovering Corrupted Images And Files
WinUndelete http://www.deprice.

Backup 101 - How To Pick The Right Backup Software
Vision Backup http://www.deprice.

How to Survive an Operating System Crash
"We apologize for the inconvenience, but Windows could not be accessed or located."It happens to the best of us.