Disasters, whether natural or man-made, can strike at any time, causing significant disruption to your aerospace or manufacturing business. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, it's crucial to have a robust disaster recovery plan in place to protect your data and ensure business continuity. This guide outlines ten essential steps to create and maintain an effective disaster recovery plan.
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Have a Written Plan
A disaster recovery plan is essential for detailing what could go wrong and providing a step-by-step process for recovery. This plan should outline the specific actions to take, who is responsible for each task, and how to execute these actions effectively. Attempting to recover data without professional help can be disastrous. One wrong move could result in permanent data loss or extended downtime. Work with someone experienced in setting up business contingency plans and data recovery to ensure you have a reliable framework in place.
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Hire a Trusted Professional
If a disaster prevents employees from accessing your office, email, or phones, how will they communicate? Your plan should include multiple communication methods to ensure everyone stays connected. Hiring a trusted professional to help develop and manage your disaster recovery plan ensures you have the expertise needed to navigate complex recovery scenarios and maintain clear lines of communication.
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Have a Communications Plan
Your communications plan should include instructions on how employees should communicate during a disaster, including alternative methods if traditional systems fail. This could involve using mobile phones, personal emails, or messaging apps to keep everyone informed and coordinated.
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Automate Your Backups
Manual backups are flawed because they depend on human intervention, which is prone to error. The number one cause of data loss is human error, such as improper tape swapping or incorrect backup setup. Automate your backups to ensure they run consistently and reliably, reducing the risk of data loss.
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Have an Offsite Backup of Your Data
Maintaining recent data copies offsite is crucial. Onsite backups are vulnerable to theft, floods, fires, and hacking. Ensure your data is also backed up to a different server or storage device offsite. This protects your data even if your primary site is compromised.
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Have Remote Access and Management of Your Network
Remote access allows you and your staff to work from anywhere if you can't access your office. It also enables your IT staff or consultants to manage and maintain your network remotely during emergencies or for routine maintenance. Ensure your IT professionals have the necessary remote access capabilities.
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Image Your Server
Offsite backups are essential, but you need to restore your data to make it useful. Without all the necessary software disks and licenses, restoring applications like Microsoft Office, databases, and accounting software can take days. Imaging your server creates an exact replica that can be quickly copied to another server, saving time and money. This process ensures your preferences, configurations, and favorites are preserved. Consult your IT professional about implementing server imaging.
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Network Documentation
Network documentation is a blueprint of your company's software, data, systems, and hardware. Your IT manager or consultant should create this documentation, which will expedite network restoration and everyday repairs. Proper documentation also supports insurance claims by detailing exactly what was lost in a disaster. Ensure your IT professional maintains up-to-date documentation and keeps a printed copy with your disaster recovery plan.
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Maintain Your System
Security is vital for disaster prevention. While natural disasters pose a threat, you're more likely to experience downtime and data loss from viruses, worms, or hacker attacks. Keeping your network patched, secure, and up-to-date is critical. Monitor your hardware for deterioration and your software for corruption. Regularly replace or repair aging components to avoid unexpected failures.
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Test, Test, Test!
A disaster recovery plan is only as good as its execution. Regular testing ensures your plan works when needed. A 2007 study by Forrester Research and the Disaster Recovery Journal found that 50% of companies test their disaster recovery plan only once a year, and 14% never test. Conducting regular tests, preferably once a month, helps verify that your backups are functioning correctly and your system remains secure. The worst time to test your parachute is after you’ve jumped out of the plane.
Implementing a comprehensive disaster recovery plan is essential for aerospace and manufacturing businesses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. By following these ten steps, you can protect your data, ensure business continuity, and minimize the impact of any disaster. Regular maintenance, testing, and professional assistance are key to a successful disaster recovery strategy.
