How to know if you're prepared for a data disaster

If disaster were to strike your data or your IT infrastructure, are you sure that your business operations could resume quickly, completely and seamlessly? How prepared is your company for possible outages caused by natural disasters, theft or human error? In other words, what's your disaster recovery plan?

All organisations should have one in place, but far too often businesses put off developing a plan until after a crisis — and at that point, it's often too late. Developing a disaster recovery plan is crucial to protect your data under even the most catastrophic events. Here are 10 basic questions you should ask to help ensure that your organisation's disaster recovery plan will work when it matters most:

1. Has your company documented the step-by-step procedures required to bring your business back to normal operations after a crisis?

2. Has your company prioritised critical business processes, determined how quickly these must be recovered after a crisis, and in what sequence?

3. Have you determined Recovery Time Objectives (acceptable downtime) and Recovery Point Objectives (acceptable data loss) for your most critical IT systems?

4. Has your organisation quantified the cost per hour of downtime?

5. Does your organisation have a pre-determined alternate location where employees can work, and is work from home an option?

6. Does your organisation have a pre-determined alternate facility where all IT systems can resume immediate operations?

7. Have you made the proper technology investments to ensure your computer systems will be functioning during a crisis?

8. Have your employees been briefed on any emergency procedures?

9. Has your organisation prepared a list of emergency contact information (vendors, customers, insurance companies, suppliers, etc.)?

10. Has your organisation made arrangements for backup communication methods (e.g. backup telephone system, alternate e-mail platform)?

Approximately 90% of companies are unable to successfully recover after a disaster. Don't put off developing your disaster recovery plan any longer. Take the time to properly plan for a disaster and avoid losing thousands of dollars in lost revenue. A gram of prevention is worth a kilogram of cure.