Disaster Recovery Plans
For those of us living in DC or New York (or any other metropolitan area in the US), the potential for some unexpected catastrophe seems to going up every day. So what is your organization doing about disaster recovery, especially as it relates to your data?
Do you have a formal disaster recovery plan (DRP)? It doesn't have to be fancy. It simply has to outline how you will manage your data given different disaster scenarios. For example, in a case where you are unable to gain physical access to your building, do you have a way of still gaining access to your data?
Other questions to ask: How long can you go without your data? If you are expecting employees to work from home, will the phones be forwarded to their numbers? Do you have an off-site facility available if you need to put most or all of your staff in another physical location?
If you have a DRP, congratulations! If so, make sure it has been reviewed recently and update anything that is out of date. If you don't have a DRP, start working on one now. To get you started, there are plenty of resources on the web, your library, or through consultants. An organization's most valuable asset is its data. Make sure you're protecting yours.
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