Your Go-to BDR Checklist for Small Business

Sep 20, 2018 | blog

Backup and disaster recovery (BDR) is an essential planning component for small businesses.

Imagine if a hurricane struck tomorrow. Maybe an earthquake. Realistically, it could be as simple as a cyberattack or some sporadic power outage.

How long would it take you to be back up and running?

How much data could you potentially lose forever?

These are the types of questions and scenarios that you need to ask yourself. While the managed IT services we provide at Axxys include robust state of the art BDR measures, it is still a good idea to have your own complete checklist on hand of in-house procedures to follow to make sure you are prepared for major disasters when they take place.

1. Make a List of Responsibilities

Anything from the access to security systems to the authorization of making major decisions like business relocation, it is important to have a hierarchical list of responsibilities in place before a disaster strikes.

This list should specifically detail who holds which responsibility so that action can take place immediately, and without confusion or squabble, in the case of a major threat to your business.

In short, having defined roles can clear confusion and delegate roles much better.

2. Have Established Recovery Goals

Besides having an emergency chain of command and delegated roles, it is also very important to prioritize recovery steps. That includes recovering critical systems, identifying the most important data, contacting the proper teams in case of loss or damage, and more.

Related: Quality Data Backup for Business Is Now a Necessity

Be sure to ask lots of questions when planning everything out. Should files and folders be recovered before primary systems recovery, or after? What’s going to get me back up and running quickly? Questions like these should be clearly answered so that your organization can deploy resources effectively.

3. Designate a Backup Workspace

Imagine what would happen if your office or business space simply was too damaged to be used for a prolonged period of time. Many organizations keep another space in mind that they can use.

Did You Know? 54% of companies report they have experienced downtime from a single event, lasting more than 8 hours.

Depending on your business needs, a backup workspace may be the best course of action for getting things back up and running quickly. However, keep this in mind – these aren’t exactly inexpensive.

4. Have an Emergency Power Source

Power outages are one of the most common disturbances associated with natural disasters, and it’s always a good idea to be prepared for one. By installing uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems on your most important mission-critical servers and systems, you can make sure that the core and most essential elements of your business will never go down due to power outages.

5. Safeguard Your Data Sources

Besides storing your data in the cloud to keep it safe, the location of your physical data center has a lot of bearing on how much damage it will sustain in the event of a disaster.

Be sure to monitor access to mission-critical technology resources, such as your servers, to maintain adequate levels of security. After all, you wouldn’t want someone to be able to walk into your server room and do what they want.

Did You Know? Downtime costs small businesses up to $8,600 per hour.

6. Conduct Training Drills

You must test the effectiveness of your data recovery systems before a disaster takes place by conducting a training drill. Not only will this allow you to see how well your team and operation can recover, but it will familiarize you and your employees with the steps needed to take in the case of a real event.

7. Frequently Evaluate Your BDR Plan

Because circumstances change rapidly, your BDR plan should always be updated to include changes in equipment, personnel, and even location. Set a designated time (like every few months) to review your BDR plan and make sure everything is both relevant and up to date

Need more information on BDR solutions? Check out what Axxys can do.

Recent Posts

Cloud Use Cases for Small and Growing Businesses

Cloud Use Cases for Small and Growing Businesses

As you may have heard, the cloud is a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet. But for businesses the world over, the cloud represents the next step in technological evolution. The cloud unlocks speed, flexibility, scale, and cost savings that businesses of...

2023 Cybersecurity Trends for Small Business

2023 Cybersecurity Trends for Small Business

The threat of cybercrime continues to grow each year, and small businesses are particularly vulnerable. The latest cybersecurity trends indicate that organizations of all sizes must remain vigilant in order to protect their valuable data.  In this article, we'll cover...

Security in a Co-Managed IT Environment

Security in a Co-Managed IT Environment

Security in a co-managed IT environment looks a little different than in a traditional environment. Don’t be alarmed. When leveraging a partner to co-manage your environment, you’ll actually have better, more robust security in most cases than if you were to manage...

Five Signs you Need Better IT Support

Five Signs you Need Better IT Support

IT systems can make or break any business. They provide an avenue for communication and collaboration, help with organizational efficiency, and drive improved customer service. Without proper IT support, businesses are often left in despair and experience hindering...

Co-Managed IT Services for Financial Services

Co-Managed IT Services for Financial Services

Financial services companies are faced with the challenge of keeping up with technology because they cannot sacrifice data security or compliance. As a result, more organizations are turning to co-managed IT services as an option that provides a balance between cost...

Co-Managed IT Services for Oil and Gas

Co-Managed IT Services for Oil and Gas

The Oil and Gas industry is an ever-evolving sector that operates in a highly competitive global market. Companies must stay ahead of the competition to remain profitable, which means keeping up with the latest technologies and trends. One way to do this is with...