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Notice of Rights: Copyright Gerard Blokdijk. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Notice of Liability: The information in this book is distributed on an As Is basis without warranty. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of the book, neither the author nor the publisher shall have any liability to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the instructions contained in this book or by the products described in it. Trademarks: Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book, and the publisher was aware of a trademark claim, the designations appear as requested by the owner of the trademark. All other product names and services identified throughout this book are used in editorial fashion only and for the benefit of such companies with no intention of infringement of the trademark. No such use, or the use of any trade name, is intended to convey endorsement or other affiliation with this book.
Foreword
There has never been a book like this. Disaster Recovery 100 Success Secrets is not about the long-winded ins and outs of Disaster Recovery. Instead, it answers the top 100 contemporary questions that we are asked and come across daily in professional forums, consultancy and education programs. The author uncovers the questions that matter, with straightforward, highly accessible tips that have never before been offered in print. This book is not about exhaustive best practice and standards details. Instead, it addresses the key strategic points you want to know to be successful in IT Business Continuity, Contingency Planning and Disaster Recovery. The Secrets are right here reach out and grasp Success with both hands.
Table of Contents
Innovation of an AS/400 Disaster Recovery System .......................................................................................13 Bank Disaster Recovery Planning Goes beyond the Usual ............................................................................15 The Disaster Recovery Journal - Providing Solutions to Ensure Business Continuity................17 Establishing Backup Disaster Recovery Sites for Business Continuity ...................................................19 Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Roles Intertwined..................................................................21 The Benefits of Having a Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plan..............................................23 Disaster Recovery Plan for Floods Protecting Computer Databases When Calamity Strikes........25 The Five Main Phases of a BCP Manual for Computer Disaster Recovery ...................................27 How to Pursue Outsourcing of Computer Disaster Plan Recovery .............................................................29 Should We Be Concerned About Computer Disaster Recovery? .....................................................31
The Value of Preparing a Computer Disaster Recovery Plan Beforehand ....................................... 33 How Do I Find a Reputable Contractor Disaster Recovery Specialist? .................................................. 35 How is Critical Disaster Information Recovery Conducted? ................................................................ 37 Disaster Recovery Measures in the Data Center .. 39 Data Disaster Recovery Restoring Information from Damaged Media............................................... 41 What Is Database Disaster Oracle Recovery? ....... 43 How to Survive Data Recovery Disaster ............... 45 Disaster Recovery Definition in Laymans Terms 47 Qualifications for Disaster Mail Print Recovery Partners to Success .................................................... 49 The Key Aspects in Creating Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity Plan ...................... 51 Disaster Recovery Plan and Business Continuity Plan What Makes the Difference? ........................ 53 Disaster Recovery Plan The Key to Surviving Disasters...................................................................... 55 Disaster Recovery Planning No More Room for Mistakes ...................................................................... 57
DRS Making a Mark on Disaster Recovery Services ........................................................................59 When Disaster Strikes Disaster Recovery Defined .......................................................................................61 How Do You Define Disaster Data Recovery? ......63 Understanding Your Disaster Emergency Procedure Recovery Plan ..........................................65 What Are the Disaster IBM Recovery Services? ....67 How to Go About a Disaster IT Plan Recovery Effort ............................................................................69 What Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning Can Do To Companies .............................71 Disaster Recovery through Disk Based Backups...73 Hiring the Services of a Disaster Recovery Company .....................................................................75 Things You Must Consider About a Disaster Recovery Planning Guide .........................................77 The Value of Disaster Recovery Planning Shareware ....................................................................79 Disaster Recovery Planning Software .....................81 What Measures Disaster Recovery Planning Templates ....................................................................83
Disaster Recovery Plan Shareware: Know Its Importance ................................................................. 85 Steps in Planning a Disaster Recovery Public Entity Business Interruption................................................ 87 Disaster Recovery Server SQL Is an Efficient Recovery Partner ....................................................... 89 The Features of Disaster Recovery Software ......... 91 Why Should I Opt for a Disaster Recovery Solution? ..................................................................... 93 The Effects of Having a Good Disaster Recovery System ......................................................................... 95 How many companies go out of business due to poor Disaster Recovery planning? .......................... 97 Assurance through Disaster Recovery Testing ..... 99 How Do You Pursue Disaster Relief and Recovery After a Disaster? ...................................................... 101 The Key Concepts in Fault Tolerance vs. Disaster Recovery Efforts ...................................................... 103 Hospital Disaster Recovery Plan Safeguarding Peoples Lives Saved on Databases ...................... 105 The Quick Fix: HP One Button Disaster Recovery .................................................................................... 107
IT Disaster Recovery Preventive Measures on How to Deal with Threats.......................................109 A Well Run Company Always Has An IT Disaster Recovery Plan ...........................................................111 What is the Value of a Network Disaster Recovery? .....................................................................................113 The Perks of Oracle Database Disaster Recovery 116 Oracle Disaster Recovery Redundancy ................118 Should We Start Outsourcing Disaster Recovery Plans? .........................................................................120 Should My Organization Opt for Outsourcing IT Disaster Recovery Efforts? ......................................122 What Are the Components of a Sample Disaster Recovery Plan? .........................................................124 The Role of the Server Administrator in the Server Disaster Recovery Process ......................................126 7 Points In Favor of the TAMP Disaster Recovery System ........................................................................128 The Importance of Any Testing Disaster Recovery Plan Efforts ................................................................130 A Positive Note On The Cost of Outsourcing IT Disaster Recovery.....................................................132
Three Points For An Effective Applications Disaster Recovery Plan ........................................... 134 Things You Need To Know About Your Backup Disaster Recovery Plan ........................................... 136 Business Continuity And Disaster Recovery Planning For Organizations................................... 138 Making Business Continuity Disaster Planning Recovery A Priority ................................................ 140 Choosing The Right Business Continuity Disaster Plan Recovery Template......................................... 142 Business Continuity Plan vs. Disaster Recovery Explained .................................................................. 144 Implementing A Business Disaster Recovery Plan .................................................................................... 146 Creating A Community Bank Disaster Recovery Software .................................................................... 148 How Do I Find a Reputable Contractor Disaster Recovery Specialist? ................................................ 150 What Is The Database Disaster Oracle Recovery? .................................................................................... 152 The Importance Of Having A Data Center Disaster Recovery Plan .......................................................... 154
ServerVault Will Secure Your Data Center Disaster Recovery Plan ...........................................................156 How Do You Define Disaster Data Recovery? ....158 Five Factors An Example Disaster Recovery Plan Must Have .................................................................160 What Are the Disaster IBM Recovery Services? ..162 IT Disasters Happen, Thus Disaster Recovery Planning Is Needed..................................................164 Implementing A Network Disaster Recovery .....166 The Difference Between Disaster Recovery And Business Continuity Plan ........................................168 Implementing A Disaster Recovery And Business Continuity Plan ........................................................170 Disaster Recovery In Florida: Debris Removal Through Contractor .................................................172 The Importance Of Insurance Policy On Disaster Recovery ....................................................................174 Disaster Recovery Jobs: A Quick View On Responsibilities Of Disaster Recovery Managers 176 Factors In Building A Disaster Recovery PlanThe DRP ............................................................................178 The Importance Of Disaster Recovery Plans .......180
Factors In Choosing A Sample Plan for Disaster Recovery ................................................................... 182 Finding The Right Disaster Recovery Plan Template ................................................................... 184 Disaster Recovery Plan Templates And Its Key Elements ................................................................... 186 Steps in Planning a Disaster Recovery Public Entity Business Interruption.............................................. 188 Getting A Disaster Recovery Server And Software .................................................................................... 190 Hiring A Good Data Recovery Service Company .................................................................................... 192 The People Within A Disaster Recovery Team ... 194 Highly Recommended: Disaster Recovery Training .................................................................... 196 How Do You Pursue Disaster Relief and Recovery After a Disaster? ...................................................... 198 Recovering From An MS Exchange Disaster ...... 200 The Key Concepts in Fault Tolerance vs. Disaster Recovery Efforts ...................................................... 202 What is the Value of a Network Disaster Recovery? .................................................................................... 204
Portfolio for Disaster RecoveryYour Key Towards the Right Choice ......................................207 Planning For Disaster Recovery.............................209 What Are the Components of a Sample Disaster Recovery Plan? .........................................................211 The Importance of Any Testing Disaster Recovery Plan Efforts ................................................................213
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In addition to all its detailed processes and cost-effective systems, the AS/400 disaster recovery system also provides its clients with their own team of technical engineers. These engineers are always ready and accessible when it comes to troubleshooting concerns. There are also online updates and full access granted to its clients so they can always be kept updated with new innovations regarding the AS/400 disaster recovery system. And to top it all off, AS/400 also boasts of a unique disaster recovery feature which allows clients to actually choose which type of disaster would they want to declare. This way, specialization of the recovery process is made possible and easily available through the AS/400 disaster recovery system.
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When it comes to bank disaster recovery planning, the proactive approach is of high value. Planning is definitely on the critical side. The primary objective of bank disaster recovery planning is not to salvage anything from the emergency situation but rather, to actually prevent any unwanted emergencies from hampering operations. This also brought about by the fact that when calamities occur, banks become a hot spot for people who are hit with panic and with an immediate need to check on their resources. In addition, a bank disaster recovery planning puts all people first out of danger. The customers and employees are both very important to save. Without customers, there will be no more business for these banks and without their valued employees, operations will likewise become paralyzed. And of course, recovery of data center is not only limited within the confines of the particular branch or department. The whole banks corporation takes part in the recovery process.
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The Disaster Recovery Journal is the first publication that is solely focused on disaster recovery and business continuity. Founded in 1987, its first issue contains 22 pages and was only distributed to about 3,000 readers. The man behind the journal is Richard L. Arnold, who is still acts as the president of the Disaster Recovery Journal. He also happens to be a co-founder of a non-profit organization named Disaster Recovery Institute in 1989. This institution offers certification and awareness of the importance of disaster recovery in the business industry today. To gain more knowledge and learn the different best practices in the field of disaster recovery and business continuity, the Disaster Recovery Journal also sponsors two conferences held annually since September 1989. With over 3,000 disaster recovery professionals who participated, this only goes to show how critical disaster recovery is to the business.
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But then again, a good thing to point though is that the database backup server should be kept on another site or location. This could be outside building premises or perimeters or it could also be inside the business facility but is kept on a more secure room or building. This is to ensure the safety of valuable information that would lead to business continuity as well.
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Here are certain precautionary measures that will help ease the pain of losing vital information for larger and more critical computer systems. First is to develop a well-written business continuity plan (BCP) or disaster recovery plan (DRP). These processes are essential in making sure that it will be business as usual amidst of encountering a disruptive event. Second is to properly delegate a team of individuals with specific duties and responsibilities, with an accompanying backup plan to support others in carrying out specific tasks. Highly trainable individuals with a vast understanding on how computer system works are definitely an advantage. And lastly, determine the software systems and hardware devices that are susceptible to replacements when disaster strikes. A backup location for database use should also be identified to ensure business continuity.
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In IT, maintaining its networking functions and system application are very important. Business continuity creates a way to sustain its normal operations in event of disasters. By creating an accurate plan to mitigate impact, business continuity develops guidelines and procedures to follow when applications fail or network systems are down. There are back up software and solutions to easily restore the normal functions of people and equipments. Disaster recovery plans on the other hand also helps recover all the lost data and information. This also includes data, investments and other lost physical assets that may disrupt the operations of the business. These two aspects play an important role in keeping the company from further destruction and damage.
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Disaster Recovery Plan for Floods Protecting Computer Databases When Calamity Strikes
Disaster strikes when you least expect it. Suddenly, you will just feel the earth shaking, the fire alarm ringing and heavy rains hitting the ground. When such emergency situations happen, you just cannot help but panic and feel worried of what is going to happen. Safety of the individuals should be a major priority, and so is the essential information stored on computer databases. Yes, equipment and devices can be replaced, but not critical records and files that once gone will also mean waving good-bye to your own business. One of the major threats to the facilities and infrastructures established to perform business operations is flooding. A well-organized disaster recovery plan is therefore needed as your first line of defense against this threat. Though there may be times that equipment malfunction due to flooding can still be used and functional when dried, still the hassle of getting through this whole process is indeed a waste of time and resources.
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Flooding, like any other natural calamity is not something that we can stop from happening. Nature takes its own course and the best thing to do is just accept this fact and invest time on how to carefully plan on what to do whenever such disruptive events happen. Though a very important precautionary measure that should be looked on to is data backup. Backing up files, such as storing them on another location, will definitely ensure business continuity amidst of all these hindrances. It is a good thing to note though that when flooding happens, there is one thing that everyone should be reminded of: plant trees. The result would be a cleaner air to breathe. Well, not a bad idea after all.
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The Five Main Phases of a BCP Manual for Computer Disaster Recovery
Performing computer disaster recovery may seem to have been involved with a lot of different processes to guarantee business continuity. Actually, there are only five things to think about in creating a business continuity plan (BCP) manual that will definitely aid in making it easy for many to do disaster recovery, especially those involved in complex computer systems. The BCP manual can function as your guide in ensuring business longevity. The five main phases involved in BCP manual development are: (a) Analysis, (b) Solution design, (c) Implementation, (d) Testing and organization acceptance and (e) Maintenance.
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On the analysis phases involves three subprocesses. First is impact analysis, where critical and non-critical functions within the organization are differentiated. Critical functions are more susceptible to threats so the need to distinguish functions is needed to meet certain requirements. Threat analysis, on the other hand, involves the identification of threats and their impact to the business. Lastly, impact scenarios should then be defined for proper documentation. After impact analysis, there comes solution design to recognize the most cost effective disaster recovery solution from the given scenarios. The third phase, which is implementation, takes place to execute the identified solution design elements. Testing will then be made to obtain organizational acceptance. The design element should meet certain requirements as specified by the organization. Changes have to be made after testing should the need arises. The last phase of the BCP manual is maintenance. It involves the following activities: (a) Confirm the information written in the manual and roll out to all staff and personnel to increase the level of awareness; (b) Test and verify solutions; and (c) Test and verify the documented recovery procedures.
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Some client companies may opt for the least expensive of the Computer Disaster Plan Recovery specialists they find automatically, because they intend to protect their profits. However, such a move may backfire because lower initial cost may not translate into better service for you. Since IT systems are very expensive to invest in, it only makes sense to get the best service you can to protect your investment (which is what Computer Disaster Plan Recovery is all about in the first place.) So you need to examine why your profits should be prioritized over quality service. Sometimes it is still possible to get quality Computer Disaster Plan Recovery service at reasonable prices. Another thing to take into account is the location of your preferred Computer Disaster Plan Recovery specialist. If your datacenter is located in a remote place like the Philippines, and your Computer Disaster Plan Recovery specialists are located in the US, for instance, you might find your data imperiled when your US-based Computer Disaster Plan Recovery specialists cannot make it in time to examine the disaster site. Even the fastest passenger plane will take some time before it can cross the distance over land and sea and in Computer Disaster Plan Recovery, time is always a crucial factor for saving data.
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Computer Disaster Recovery should become a more prevalent area of concern for US companies, because statistics show that US businesses suffer more than $12 billion in losses annually due to data loss at present. As much as 78% of data loss is attributed to system or hardware failure. On the other hand, 11% of data loss is believed to be caused by human error. Software corruption alone causes just 7% of total data loss nowadays.
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In the planning stage, there are some essentials points to consider. First and foremost, the plan must be approved by top management to ensure the highest level of commitment and ensure support in terms of resources and attention from management. Secondly, the plan must be based on and designed for the needs of the system in case disaster should happen. The so-called DRPs help guard against data loss with the use of backups sent off-site in regular intervals (composed of software and data information) for data recovery; microfilm copies of files with the use of remote backup facility); Storage Area Networks (SANs); surge protectors (for power control); use of an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) or backup generator; anti-virus software; and other security measures. Even fire prevention and protection may become necessary components of your Basic Disaster Recovery Plan.
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Secondly, you should jot down any necessary licenses and certifications (such as insurance certification, working license, or building permits) which may be needed if you have to report problems that cropped up later. However, you should not sign any insurance settlements with any contractor. Thirdly, ensure that your signature on a bid does not constitute as an authorization to start the work with the contractor. Next, you must secure written contracts which will cover the scope of work, materials, costs and payment schedules. In making payments to contractors, it is suggested to pay them periodically (meaning, pay a fractional percent so they will start work and also as work progresses.) In addition, purchase materials along with your contractor or pay the supplier directly. You should ensure that the repairs made follow the local building standards. You may hire a structural engineer to double-check the major repairs made before you make a final payment. Lastly, you should demand a release paper of lien from a contractor to protect yourself from any legal claims later on.
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Be prepared to pay a hefty cost for any Critical Disaster Information Recovery. In fact, it can be said that a disaster has a double whammy to it: you first get hit by a disaster which is costly in itself, and then you have to pay to recover your data which is equally or even more expensive to pursue. But compared to the cost of lost business due to loss of trust by present and future clients, corporations may prefer to invest in good Critical Disaster Information Recovery service anyway. Critical Disaster Information Recovery will have better odds of being successful if the process is initiated in a timely manner. It also helps if your organization had a very detailed and systematic Critical Disaster Information Recovery plan in place before any threats hit the organization later on.
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Though there may be protection that you can rely on from database backups, determining this will definitely guide you on what to do when a threat present itself unexpectedly. The second step would be checking if loss of access rights to the database is still be feasible for users in carrying out their day to day duties. By knowing this, you will be able to devise a strategy that has minimal impact to the business and to its users, but still restoring valuable data lost due to threats can still be performed. This may seem challenging but getting the right information is the key to successful disaster recovery plans.
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Aside from physical damage, another common cause of data loss on storage devices is logical damage. Power outage is one of the reasons why logical damage happens, thus preventing the file system structure to overwrite or save files on the storage medium. System crashes, and problems with hardware and drivers may also cause logical damage. Because of this, most operating systems such as Microsoft Windows, Linux and Mac have their own versions of repair tool used to recover data. Taking advantage of these tools can definitely make data disaster recovery a bit easier than expected.
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There are different types of backups, namely: whole Database Backup, Consistent Whole Database Backup, Inconsistent Whole Database, Inconsistent Closed Backups, Tablespace Backups, Datafile Backups, and Control File Backups. Each backup differs the others, and knowing which backup method should be used is essential. RMAN (or recovery manager) is a component that establishes a connection with a particular server process. The RMAN automates the flow of data for recovery operations and backup. The OS (or Operating System) is another process but one where the database is backed up manually by a specific command execution to certain user specifications. The Oracle export Utility, however, makes backup logical by writing data from the Oracle database to OS files. The Oracle Enterprise Manager, on the other hand, runs with a GUI interface that brings Recovery Manager to work.
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This means you have to exert all efforts to find out the true causes of the event. For instance, if your data storage facility was hit by a fire, you should always get an investigating team that specializes in fire damage to assess what the cause was. You might be unpleasantly surprised that arson could have been a factor possibly motivated by business competition. Or, if it seems like someone downloaded a virus into the IT system accidentally, you may want to investigate the background and work records of that employee there are cases when disgruntled employees sabotage their employer and the organizational IT systems deliberately. It is not paranoia if they are really after you.
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This definition will also include the creation of a disaster recovery plan which includes plans and procedures for restoring normal business operations without or with only minimal disruptions in company resources. This plan is well maintained and constantly updated to make sure that it is still workable and applicable to the company. Data can also be lost during disasters and calamities. Network systems during these times may be initially affected due to disconnection of communication lines. Essential documents, assets and information are needed to be protected in order to quickly restore the normal operations of businesses. A thorough plan should be created by companies and especially government agencies responsible for massive disasters. A well-organized team and committee should initiate the development of plans and strategies in disaster recovery.
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Aside from this, print-to-mail operation can also act as a contingency plan, after the determination of critical documents that should be backed up for future purposes. This is the reason why there is a need to evaluate the service partner that will provide critical print and mail disaster recovery solutions. Qualifications include: (a) A well-established print-to-mail recovery facilities; (b) Well-maintained and modern equipment; (c) Software products that will meet your companys needs; (d) Diverse consumer base; (e) Enthusiastic approach to demonstrate work recovery; (f) Credibility in the industry of print-to-mail operations; and (g) Readiness in responding when urgent situations arise. Choosing the best service partner will truly be a win-win solution for both employees and the company.
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Human threats may come in various forms, which include theft, terrorism, account fraud and vandalism among other things. These are usually external factors. Human threats may also come internally such as unexpected errors that may be experienced during business operations. Running wrong commands, inadequate staffing and insufficient training are some of the common errors experienced. Natural threats are disasters that may be unexpected such as earthquakes, thunderstorms, fires and floods. Technological threats are the most common. Such issues include server latencies, power failures, tool problems, service attacks and virus infections.
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Disaster Recovery Plan and Business Continuity Plan What Makes the Difference?
Is there a difference between a disaster recovery plan (DRP) and a business continuity plan (BCP)? DRP is a carefully established step-by-step process that ensures business stability after the occurrence of a disruptive event. Such threats may come out as natural disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons or other natural calamities or as a tiny bit of computer nuisance known as virus. The BCP has almost the same definition, but focuses on a more comprehensive approach this time. This is where organizational restoration and recovery take place. Thus, the acronym BC/DR shows the connection between the two. Though at times, there are certain instances wherein a BC/DP process is in place within an organization but failure to restore all vital business operations still happen. What went wrong? Here are some of the potential reasons why such pitfalls occur.
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First is inadequate planning. It could be that all critical systems were not identified or that some systems were not included on the disaster recovery plan or business continuity plan. It is a good thing to note that every single piece of hardware device or software application is prone to change, which may lead to system disruptions if not carefully managed. Proper delegation of individuals to man business operations is also a top priority. Second would be insufficient testing. Though it could be that you have a well-written DRP or BCP, but not testing its effectiveness is like arming yourself with weapons in a battlefield without being trained on how to use each one of them. Testing will definitely improve the current plan and make room for some adjustments whenever necessary.
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(a) Prevention or pre-disaster; (b) Continuity or during a disaster; and (c) Recovery or post disaster. Prevention is the pre-planning stage wherein determination of the area within the organization that will be impacted by an anticipated disaster will take place. Continuity is the stage wherein essential systems and resources are preserved and maintained during a disaster. The recovery stage, on the other hand, is the stage wherein the restoration of impacted systems to normal operational status occurs. However, this has to be done at the soonest possible time to maintain and ensure the needs and demands of the business.
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It has been said that almost 25% of company earnings are spent on disaster recovery planning. This is because losing any vital information also means losing money for the business, or worst, this may lead to company bankruptcy. Everything will be put into waste if a carefully planned disaster recovery process does not engage when such unfortunate situations happen. Just imagine computer records that contain every bit of information concerning your business vanished out of nowhere all of a sudden. Indeed, disaster recovery planning must be present at all times. Plan now, before its too late.
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DRS has been providing solutions since 1992, extending state of the art support and business driven efforts to various industry groups. With its commitment to providing world-class service, DRS employs its three pillars of support and these include the following: (a) Partnership with customers; (b) Employees who love what they do; and (c) Excellence in execution. These are just few of the many reasons why DRS is still in operation as of today: marking its way up to lead the pack among providers of alternate site systems and facilities.
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But then again, the process of recovering valuable data and information is not that easy. There should be a disaster recovery plan in place that should be thoroughly tested to have it ready when such emergency situations occur. In addition, a designated committee, headed by a chairperson that is focused on this area alone should be formed as it is one of the important key aspects of the business. Indeed, what the brilliant scientist mentioned is a fact that for every action, there is an equal or opposite reaction. Disasters are just few of the many consequences of change in the environment and a well-established recovery plan can pacify any threat that may come along the way.
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It is possible to recover data from firedamaged drives even though plastic components may be melted, or blackened by fire. There are two main components of a hard drive: first would be the electronic board; and second, you have the head assembly. The head assembly contains the rotating platter that carries the data with read/write function. Located in the head assembly is a small pinsized hole whose purpose is to help in compensating for atmospheric changes. Even if the cause of damage is fire, water damage may also be caused by fire fighters whose main purpose is to eliminate the first risk which is fire. Water can enter through this pin hole. The time that the water remains inside is critical if we intend to save the valuable data affected. If the water dries before we can act, there is less chance of being able to recover data due to dirt and foreign materials left inside. Another risk is when melting occurs due to excessive heat once the disk experiences melting of its internal parts; there is no hope of ever recovering the data.
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One procedure you could set in place is that round-the-clock surveillance should be installed in your data storage facility. This allows your personnel to isolate any fires that do break out so that the rest of your IT systems stay safe. Maintaining people to secure your data storage facility round-the-clock may be expensive but it is better in the long run than investing in a water sprinkler system that will go off automatically if a fire is detected because your IT systems will not be damaged whole cloth.
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IBM nowadays offers disaster recovery services that include Application Continuity Services, Call Center Recovery, Continuity Options for storage area networks, Data Center Recovery, Disaster Recoverability Assessment, ERRM 30-day test drive, iSeries System Restore Test, IT recovery options for Sun Microsystems, Network Recovery, Physical Workplace Recovery, Protection Express, Recovery options for IBM technology, Recovery options for multivendor technology, Recovery Plan Development, Recovery Process and Procedure Design, Recovery Strategy Definition, System ibackup, Recovery Analysis and virtual workplace continuity. These services are offered to lessen the losses absorbed by other companies due to disastrous events, so client companies can offset losses, to keep them in business. IBM services focus on securing data and keep businesses running. Disaster planning requires harnessing of great amounts and kinds of resources the vast IBM network provides that.
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Any Disaster Recovery guide, though, will tell you that your Discovery Recovery efforts should always start with detailed and careful planning. If nobody in your organization knows anything about Disaster Recovery and how to create a thorough and pertinent plan to protect then retrieve affected data, then invest in training real quick. Its for your own protection.
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Disaster recovery and business continuity planning basically manages and restores the important data and information. This includes appropriate tactical measures in cases of hurricanes, earthquake, sabotage and network failure. Guidelines, precautions, system backup and recovery are just some of the basic requirements of an effective planning. Aside from that it is necessary for companies to train their employees and provide them with the proper instructions when disasters happen. Regular auditing and testing are necessary to ensure the success of recovery plans and continue the normal functions of the company.
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To solve this backup problem, companies can now take advantage of disk based backups that can restore the normal operations quickly. This is more reliable than any of the traditional backup solutions that cannot guarantee fast retrieval of data. This will reduce time and cost for companies who want to save more money. This solution will prevent the company from loosing important backup time and will allow them to retrieve the data in cases of disaster. This solution can also backup data on remote offices in the company. Automated protection is the best solution to protect information of companies. It will not only help the organization during disaster recovery but it will also ease the hard work of employees in restoring lost information and data.
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To make it easier for organizations, they can hire the services of a disaster recovery company to aid them with systems and plans to mitigate the damages in times of disasters. This will surely help organizations in coming up with accurate and effective planning for their disaster recovery plans and procedures.
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Upon reviewing a proposal, the concerned team can now see how their concerns would fit in the disaster recovery planning guide. Since majority of the points found within the proposal would most likely meet the needed standards for the guide, heres some additional key point which a good disaster recovery planning guide must also have. Awareness The guide must be powerful enough to infuse awareness on all levels of the organization. Project Planning The disaster planning recovery guide must have a detailed section of project planning. This is what all the process is all about. Key Business Areas This aspect would tackle which areas of the business would be very much affected and would need close attention throughout the recovery planning process.
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You should be thinking of investing in disaster recovery planning software, rather than getting freeware or shareware. That might be a prudent decision since your business is dependent on software that could save you perhaps thousands of dollars in the future. Why should you entrust the fate of your business on shareware? Basically, a shareware program lacks quality standards that are mandatory with branded software. Usually, it is offered only as trial product. Though shareware are copyrighted products, their only purpose is to act as a trial product. It is up to you but the better choice is a brand name product. However, shareware may also come with an option to get the software licensed. And by licensing the shareware, they will offer all the features of the product for a certain price to customers. The advantage of getting shareware is that you get the chance of trying out the software first before you buy it. You can then save up for something else if you are not pleased with the product you are trying out.
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In addition to that, this software is more affordable and reliable than hiring agencies. There are several online stores that can provide this kind of software. These consulting solutions for disaster recovery can now be accessed online. Just make sure to choose disaster recovery software that will fit the goals and priorities of the company.
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Of course, a detailed instruction and procedural flow should also be presented with the disaster recovery template. Doing this ensures that there would be detailed and specialized procedures which team members would duly follow in case a disaster occurs. This also keeps people from panicking as they sense that there still is control over the situation regardless of what is currently happening. And lastly, good disaster recovery planning templates also include a detailed analysis of the disasters impact on the business. This point out what cost-effective measures must be taken in order to keep within the budget no matter what occurrences there may be.
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If you are the boss, it is time for you to make the important lifesaving decision, and create a disaster recovery plan. But if you are not the boss, then do take the step to convince the bosses. Disaster Recovery Plan Shareware might be a helpful tool for your employer. Disaster recovery plan shareware is one tool that can spell survival for the company. A program suited for the company needs must be designed. Shareware can provide you with a step by step guide - from the beginning when the groundwork of Disaster Recovery should be laid to the actual preparatory activities for the Disaster itself. It is usually equipped with a guide on how one can convince bosses of the merits of the plan. Consider this an investment for the protection of the life of your company.
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Disaster recovery planning (sometimes also called a business process contingency plan) is a process inclusive of a business vulnerability assessment, development of a disaster recovery framework, a written disaster recovery plan encompassing the recovery strategies, and an advance information system in conveying DRP. The purpose of vulnerability assessment is to determine the relative monetary and functional contribution of the business, and its business interruption, and impact analysis. Subsequently, the Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO) are used to develop a disaster recovery framework. The RTO entails how long the intervals between the disaster and post-disaster resumption of function to restore data actually take, while RPO describes how current the data has to be. On the other hand, a written disaster recovery plan should detail the strategies of response, recovery, and resumption of services. Advance information systems can make disaster recovery easier include consolidation of servers and data, perhaps inclusive of an archival storage method such as a Storage Area Network.
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The complete database system backs up the entire system of the specified business area. In this mode, all files regardless of type and size are being backed up within the server SQL. The differential backup system is in contrast with the above mentioned. This type of database backup system backs up only some specified portions of the concerned area. This system also requires lesser management since it only involves a limited amount of storage space. The transactional log back-up makes changes possible pertaining to the log information of the transaction log created for the database. However, a model which operates under a simple system cannot maximize this feature.
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DRS has six phases which are, namely: Inception, Identification, Decision, Documentation, Practice, and Maintenance. In the Inception phase, the DRS will give you the process of how to start a plan provided with practical tools. The Identification phase enables you to identify business impacts, dependence on automated processes, risks, recovery resources and goals. The third phase is Decision in which you will choose the most suitable recovery methods to restore data and/or the system. After you choose suitable recovery methods, you may proceed to the Documentation phase to outline specifically and logically your customized plan (based on the DRS Disaster Recovery Plan format.) In the Practice phase, it enables you to train your partners and to test the effectiveness of your Plan. The last phase is Maintenance - in this phase, the availability of your Disaster Recovery Plan is sustained to be utilized whenever environmental changes and disaster crop up.
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When you do a back up, you essentially protect the business as a whole, since a backup system minimizes the impact of any disaster, reduces downtime, protects your client base and keeps business continuity at its optimum best. The company will still be at its best despite the disaster since your disaster recovery solution will protect your business reputation. In turn, you gain the heightened confidence of your clients, investors, business partners and associates. Disaster preparedness means having the right disaster recovery solution in place. This also means opting for the best cost effective solution you can get. Consider the cost of your business and how much will be lost when disaster strikes you will see the value of your preferred solution then.
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In cases of bombing floods and disastrous attacks, where information and data can be totally lost, companies should prepare for disaster recovery plans. Planning to eliminate these threats is impossible. Disasters cannot be eliminated it can only be reduced and prevented to create huge impact on the company. With the proper recovery system, organizations can save possible costs and expenses. An effective disaster recovery system is vital to any organization to prevent loss of properties and lives of employees and staff.
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How many companies go out of business due to poor Disaster Recovery planning?
We've all read the reports and white papers on disaster recovery. But, how accurate are the claims? What is the actual risk? One study found claimed that 70% of the businesses that could not access their data within 3 - 5 days of the NYC WTC disaster in 2001 and 1989 SF earthquakes went out of business. How accurate is this? Is this significant? Had these disasters not occurred, what would the normal rate of business closure have been? (50%?). In other words, what is the true risk of a company not having adequate disaster recovery in place? In the consulting game, disaster recovery planning is a useful field, but does it really add value? Knowing these facts can be helpful in understanding and better articulating the ROI of Disaster Recovery Planning.
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DR planning adds value. There are too many companies that have no idea what impact would happen to their company if a disaster occurred. Those are the ones that go out of business if an event occurs. And some of these companies are not little mom and pop shops. They are well known multimillion dollar companies that have zero DR planning done.
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Disasters are hard to predict. There are disasters that result from natural causes like typhoons, floods, and earthquakes. There are also manmade disasters like sabotage, terrorism, and other attacks. Some may be intentional while others are unintentional. Companies have no way to get rid of it and that is why it is now a common practice to prepare for these disasters by doing disaster recovery planning and disaster recovery testing. Preparing for any untoward events cannot be emphasized enough because the companys preparation for any untoward events can mean the difference between its survival and its downfall. By creating a precise and efficient plan, the company can save money and time to recover lost data.
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Having a disaster recovery plan is an important step towards protection from data loss. However, this can only be successful if the company is also conducting a disaster recovery testing at predefined intervals. This is essential to a companys computer system because it ensures that the plan is still workable and applicable--especially in the IT industry. Disaster recovery testing makes it easier for a company to implement disaster recovery without even disrupting the production servers. Most companies have data recovery procedures and guidelines implemented in their program. It is therefore important to also implement a data recovery testing in order for the company be sure that everything should be running the way it should be. Constantly conducting data recovery testing periods will assure the company that in the event of a disaster, data recovery procedures can be implemented without having to incur losses. By performing real time testing on the recovery server, everyone is assured that everything is backed up and secured.
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On one hand, recovery projects can be in the form of building reconstruction and rehabilitation, (including housing, hospital or school), teacher training to help children to continue education, and giving free birth registration to newly born babies during or after the disaster. To further promote rehabilitation of the disaster-affected community, disaster sponsoring parties can provide vocational training (including those supplied to health workers) which can be necessary for micro-enterprise development, sanitation enhancement, health system rehabilitation, and providing psychosocial support for children and adults of the affected community. Some organizations which actively render disaster emergency relief and recovery to disasteraffected communities are NGOs, Red Cross International, Rotary International, Ends of the Erath Ministries, and Plans Organization.
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Disaster recovery is the ability to start operating again after a disaster hits and causes even the destruction of an entire data center. A successful disaster recovery effort pivots on the ability to restore or recreate such resources as business data, system, facilities, networks, and user access. There are disaster recovery methods used to resume system operations, including offsite periodic tape backups, disaster recovery site, data vaulting, and hot site. The backups of software, as well as data information, should be stored separately in a location independent from company facilities as well to facilitate recovery when disaster occurs. The considerable difference of fault tolerance from disaster recovery is that fault tolerance provides constant updates about an environment for user access. It should be a part of disaster recovery but cannot be considered a true disaster recovery effort of its own.
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Fires, earthquakes, flooding, and other natural calamities can also hit within the hospitals vicinity and bring some sort of chaos. Because of this a hospital disaster recovery plan should be in place to ensure the safety of the patients, hospital personnel and staff. Aside from keeping peoples lives safe, other very important things to save are hospital records and files. These contain patients information, as well as their medical history. Though there are still some hospitals that are doing the manual way of file storage and allocation, a huge portion of the health industry switched to computerization. This makes it easier for hospital personnel to keep track of the patients progress. Following a careful analysis of the critical portions of the hospital is a must to build a more comprehensive disaster recovery plan.
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After completing these simple steps, your HP DAT or your DAT Autoloader will immediately follow suit and restore your entire operating system. Even your most valued data files, drivers, and other software applications will be efficiently restored to how it was before. Doing these easy steps no longer require you to research about various software or look into manuals in full detail. They are very easy to follow and anybody with basic technical knowledge on disaster recovery will be able to do. In the end, not only time has been saved but overhead expenses as well. You would no longer need to hire technical assistance or install various applications before you can ensure that your entire system will be saved.
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Next is by improving the facilities within the vicinity such as the use of surge protectors, accessible fire extinguishers, alarms, back-up generators or uninterruptible power supplies. Updating the security features of the network will also help prevent hackers from accessing confidential information such as installing the most advanced firewall protection programs, anti-virus and antispyware software. One of the most important aspects of disaster recovery is delegation of the appropriate people in carrying out more challenging and stressful tasks. It is no joke to work longer hours, though compensation is indeed very impressive. Lastly, testing should be done whenever the need arises to ensure the readiness of the disaster recovery plan. Everyone should be made aware of the changes in the system so that appropriate adjustments can be done. Taking into account all these make IT disaster recovery simpler and easier to perform.
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There are now several companies that offer IT disaster recovery plan and software to aid business organizations in keeping their data safe and secure from hackers and other disasters. Companies that offer an IT disaster recovery plan can assure businesses that when a disaster strikes, recovery processes can be immediately implemented and the company can continue its operations at the soonest possible time.
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When preparing or planning your Network Recovery Plan, be sure to include details about Plan Maintenance, Plan Exercise, Plan Location, Plan Distribution, Plan Introduction (that encompasses purpose, applicability, scope, assumptions, and use of the plan), Network Profile (composed of network specifications and network requirements), Plan Activation Procedures (under which falls the plan activation team), Team Members and Responsibilities (active team members and travel to alternative location), Recovery Procedures (restore network services, restoration procedures, original or new site restorations, concurrent processing and plan deactivation), and last, the Appendix (Employee contact list, vendor contact list and network diagrams.) What are the elements of a Disaster Recovery checklist for a Network (which could either be general network, LAN and WAN)? In general network considerations, try to prepare a DR Plan (or Disaster Recovery Plan) and remember to take fractional types of disasters into account; graph and identify your network devices and current network; and do not forget your network security when you encounter a disaster you do not want your network to be brought down by a virus. For the LAN, be sure that DR LAN is in its perfect setup. Be aware of the LAN pipes and sizes, then, be sure to have backups of all the files and devices of the network configuring tools.
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For a WAN, there are some questions that you may want to ask yourself are: how do you compare DR WAN network to a Production Network? Have you run checks to test the performance of the DR network? How does the security of a DR Network differ from that of a primary network? Be sure you are ready to answer those kinds of questions. Consider also that this is not a complete list of things to remember in network disaster it would be best to research thoroughly any that have been left out.
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In detail, the Oracle database disaster recovery system makes use of different utilities as well as relevant databases to back up all of the important data specified. It also operates well under the specifics of an environment which has: A specified database which must be backed up; A client to interpret all of the commands pertaining to backing up and recovering the database; A specified disk location which can manage and store different files; and A catalog database for recovery.
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One of the best and probably the first step in a good Oracle disaster recovery process is a backup system. Backups are an essential element in the Oracle disaster recovery process because it creates a guideline on how to go about the disaster recovery process. But the plan can also be tedious work for the team because this is where all the worst case scenarios are considered and studied. Planning for the worst will help ensure companies that there are action plans, procedures and guidelines available for the Oracle disaster recovery. Remotely backing up a system should be taken into consideration when planning for an Oracle disaster recovery. If the company can afford it, making redundant dual backup systems are an even better option.
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That is the second part of the search for an outsourcing company you have to stay part of the process. This is not like outsourcing janitorial services where you can afford to not pay attention most of the time because it is fairly easy to spot when janitors are not doing their job anyway. In outsourcing Disaster Recovery Plans, you will be providing valuable information to the outsourcing company so you need to be on the ball all the time. Add the fact that the information could be about the data itself (much of which will probably belong to your clients) and you see why you should prioritize your participation in this endeavor.
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Maintaining in-house specialists is beneficial in many ways. For one thing, your organization is able to control the security and integrity of your IT system more thoroughly. When you outsource, you are putting your fate in the hands of strangers. If the leaders of your small company are cautious, they may prefer creating an in-house department just for this purpose. However, outsourcing is also advantageous because you only have to hire specialists when the need arises. If your organization is treading in deep water when it comes to business, outsourcing may be the more practical solution (though safety of your data from predatory competitors can be compromised in the process.)
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The other five parts of Disaster Recovery Planning are: Planning Scope and Plan Objectives, Project Organization and Staffing; Project Control; Schedule of Deliverables; and Resource Requirements. You can get an idea of the complexity of the process through the program description. Its complexity requires adequate information processing resources and numbers of technical staff, and of course an appropriate budget (or sufficient funds.) The Planning Scope and Plan Objectives of the Disaster Recovery Planning can be used to enable the organization to prepare to survive an alarming disaster and to continue with regular operations after a tragedy strikes. The Project Organization and Staffing parts can be utilized for full implementation of any plans in their most effective and efficient methods as possible. Project Control, on the other hand, acts as the support system of the management software itself. Schedule of Deliverables creates the necessary schedules and so that the project can be maintained by phases. And lastly, the Resource Requirements phase that is divided into three categories which are personnel, capital costs and on-going costs. This sums up the disaster recovery plan.
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The Role of the Server Administrator in the Server Disaster Recovery Process
The server is a part of a whole network of computers communicating together to do specific tasks. It manages the traffic of data transmission as it directs commands and requests to its desired destination within the network. When things go wrong with the server, every unit that is connected to the network is affected. For this reason alone, big companies such as Microsoft have developed ways on how to handle server disaster recovery issues. Described below are some of the items that Microsoft Windows Engineers and Administrators must need to consider when it comes to dealing with disaster recovery and business continuity planning. First is to plan for high availability. As a Server Administrator, it is not part of your job description to guess possible scenarios or outcomes. You must be precise on everything you do, or else, everything that you have worked for will be put into waste. Take a lot of your time to design a plan, carefully set your objectives and study hard to meet certain business expectations.
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Anticipating and planning server down times is your second priority. Yes, it is a fact that the company expects a 100% uptime, but this only happens in the perfect world. Server breakdowns are most likely to occur due to power or UPS failure, hardware and software system malfunctions, and disk errors. To deal with such issue, assign a specific time for server maintenance to ensure that everything is in order. Keeping the balance between server uptime and downtime is a must to ensure business continuity when presented with such server issues.
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4. Credit Unions can also be targeted with the use the TAMP disaster recovery system. 5. TAMP can create and organize all of your documents and forms into one easily accessible system. You can access these immediately whenever you need them. In case of a disaster, these documents and forms would also remain intact and definitely unharmed. 6. The recovery plan offered by TAMP is preformatted so everything is done and started with ease. 7. The TAMP disaster recovery system can cater to all the specific requirements of each department within an organization or business. It also provides department-relevant troubleshooting answers to address specific needs.
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The benefits of testing a disaster recovery plan include: determination of the feasibility of any recovery process, verification of backup facilities compatibility, ensuring adequacy of procedures from recovery planners, and identification of deficiencies in existing procedures. Testing also serves as a training ground for recovery managers and members as far as providing a mechanism for updating and maintenance of the recovery plan. As a fractional process of a recovery plan, training in special and critical skills that may be required during a disaster is significant to assure the sufficient implementation of the plan. This training is inclusive of fire extinguishing efforts, use of emergency breathing equipment, evacuation of people and sensitive resources, proper access to emergency communication systems, and usage of shutdown procedures for gas, water, equipment and electricity. There are several types of testing which an organization can perform, including a structured walk-through testing, a checklist testing, a simulation testing, a parallel testing, and also full interruption testing. Also, the legitimacy of any test will vary upon the factors such as the physical size of the installation, level of service required by users, number of locations involved, organizational sensitivity to data processing, acceptable time for contingency processing and recovery, and cost of testing.
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3. Business security and Continuity An outsourced IT disaster recovery ensures the client that their safety needs are well taken care of. After all, they have a credible track record as point reference. No matter how long it takes and how often disaster strikes, they will provide security and safety for the core parts of their clients business. 4. Reduces Accountabilities The cost of outsourcing IT disaster recovery also includes the fact that the contractor becomes liable for all database issues in case of a disaster. If the DRP fails, they would be solely held accountable for any additional threats produced.
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Reliability So the backup system is big, it is also very easy to access, but can it last for a long time? Disaster recovery plans for applications must also consider how durable the backup is. After all, the restoration process would not always be finished within a snap. So before you go about designing an applications disaster recovery plan for your system, keep these points in check. After all, plans all come from templates. And these three main points are necessary frameworks for your templates. If your plans cannot answer any of these, then it would do you good to go ahead and make further reviews and revisions.
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Things You Need To Know About Your Backup Disaster Recovery Plan
Your data center is considerably the brainchild of your operations. This is where every bit of important information is stored and opened up for easy access within the business members. In addition, this is also where operations do their work. The data center carries out the important tasks necessary for you to meet customer needs. This is why a backup for disaster recovery must be setup in each data center. They are among the most important part of any disaster recovery plan. A backup disaster recovery plan ensures that the business can still function when the emergency is over. A backup disaster recovery plan must first and foremost have a good storage system which can house all pertinent data with ease. It should be big enough to accommodate all sections, regardless of the file size. Also, it should be able to be user-friendly. Remember that when a disaster occurs, people would always be concerned in doing quick fixes to make everything safe. Thus, a backup disaster recovery plan should not be too technical too manipulate or understand.
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A good backup disaster recovery plan should also be always reliable. It should be able to withstand anything that might happen. A good backup disaster recovery plan can be used throughout a longer period of time and not just within one emergency. This also helps save the business some additional expenses. So you must choose a backup system which can definitely be called an investment rather than just a plain additional expense for your business.
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Business continuity and disaster planning should contain appropriate emergency measures for natural disasters like floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc. It should also contain action plans on manmade disasters like terrorism, sabotage, power loss, etc. This is no menial task and will require the dedication and support of the whole organization in order for it to be successfully implemented. Once a proper business continuity and disaster recovery planning process has been created, it should constantly be maintained and updated through regular testing and auditing to ensure that it remains relevant to specific emergencies and to the needs of the organization.
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But even though businesses understand its importance, they are still faced with the challenge of formulating a plan for their organization. Business continuity and disaster planning recovery development can be a challenging task for every team because it involves a lot of planning, testing, modifying and approving. It takes time to create an acceptable business continuity and disaster planning recovery manual for an organization and it is even harder to maintain and keep it updated with the ever-changing times and situations. It is therefore important that when an organization is planning for a business continuity and disaster recovery, their team should be properly equipped and trained for the process.
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There are, however templates available online which can help a business in planning for business continuity and disaster recovery. Because the preparation and planning can be a long and tedious process, these templates can somehow speed things up because they contain interactive, simple, and easy-to-follow steps that will help any organization in the preparation and planning of their business continuity and disaster recovery. It should be noted that a comprehensive template that contains internationally recognized and certified standard like the ISO17799 be considered in choosing the right template. It should also contain a checklist for maintenance and updates to make sure that an appropriate action is ready for any emergency situation.
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These system failures can range from virus attacks, total power failures, failed disk, database loss, server shutdown to extreme cases like flooded buildings, earthquake and fire damages that could disrupt an entire business operation. Disaster recovery plans will attempt to restore normal operations in the least possible time. Basically, business continuity plan vs. disaster recovery plan differs in that the business continuity plan defines what it needs in the disaster recovery plan. Similar and yet different. But both are essential for the business survival.
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A business disaster recovery plan in an important investment especially for small and medium businesses because creating a strategic recovery plan to mitigate the effects of disasters and emergencies will be the key to a companys success or failure. Different people have different reactions to disasters and having a business disaster recovery plan can help the company control the impact of disasters to employees, clients and the company itself. Over dependency to automated systems can also create risks on the security of companys data and information. Business industries must take initiative on finding alternatives to safely store their data to remote locations in order to protect it in times of disaster. This is the reason why it is also recommended that companies hire the assistance of disaster recovery services companies to make sure that all of their operations are being duplicated offshore for backup.
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Having a community bank disaster recovery software helps ensure employees, clients, and the organization that they have the necessary tools, plans, procedures and guidelines to follow in the unfortunate event of a disaster or calamity. A good community bank disaster recovery software program will have the necessary step-by-step guidelines to follow in order for the bank to initiate the right plan of action in a given situation. It will have templates and interactive guides so that the team can easily prepare their work and implement the project. So in order for a community bank to continue to function even in emergency situations, it is important that they implement and develop a community bank disaster recovery software in their organization.
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Secondly, you should jot down any necessary licenses and certifications (such as insurance certification, working license, or building permits) which may be needed if you have to report problems that cropped up later. However, you should not sign any insurance settlements with any contractor. Thirdly, ensure that your signature on a bid does not constitute as an authorization to start the work with the contractor. Next, you must secure written contracts which will cover the scope of work, materials, costs and payment schedules. In making payments to contractors, it is suggested to pay them periodically (meaning, pay a fractional percent so they will start work and also as work progresses.) In addition, purchase materials along with your contractor or pay the supplier directly. You should ensure that the repairs made follow the local building standards. You may hire a structural engineer to double-check the major repairs made before you make a final payment. Lastly, you should demand a release paper of lien from a contractor to protect yourself from any legal claims later on.
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There are different types of backups, namely: whole Database Backup, Consistent Whole Database Backup, Inconsistent Whole Database, Inconsistent Closed Backups, Tablespace Backups, Datafile Backups, and Control File Backups. Each backup differs the others, and knowing which backup method should be used is essential. RMAN (or recovery manager) is a component that establishes a connection with a particular server process. The RMAN automates the flow of data for recovery operations and backup. The OS (or Operating System) is another process but one where the database is backed up manually by a specific command execution to certain user specifications. The Oracle export Utility, however, makes backup logical by writing data from the Oracle database to OS files. The Oracle Enterprise Manager, on the other hand, runs with a GUI interface that brings Recovery Manager to work.
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Hiring the services of data center disaster recovery can provide companies an access to the backup system and recover lost infrastructure. Part of the data center disaster recovery plan is to help companies create convenient sites to store important data and information. And in the unfortunate event of an attack, adverse effects like delays and shutdowns are kept to a minimum because they also give out backup and support recovery options for the company.
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ServerVault also configures and periodically tests its device within the entire environment it covers to successfully ensure that everything works well. A tailored mode of operations is also made to fit each data center disaster recovery plan so people on the recovery team would find it easy to manipulate and navigate through it. ServerVault also has a reliable customer and technical support system especially during times of data canter disaster recovery. Therefore, you are always secured that no matter what happens, you can rely on ServerVault as a part of your disaster recovery plan for your data center.
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It is possible to recover data from firedamaged drives even though plastic components may be melted, or blackened by fire. There are two main components of a hard drive: first would be the electronic board; and second, you have the head assembly. The head assembly contains the rotating platter that carries the data with read/write function. Located in the head assembly is a small pinsized hole whose purpose is to help in compensating for atmospheric changes. Even if the cause of damage is fire, water damage may also be caused by fire fighters whose main purpose is to eliminate the first risk which is fire. Water can enter through this pin hole. The time that the water remains inside is critical if we intend to save the valuable data affected. If the water dries before we can act, there is less chance of being able to recover data due to dirt and foreign materials left inside. Another risk is when melting occurs due to excessive heat once the disk experiences melting of its internal parts, there is no hope of ever recovering the data.
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All of these must be proceeded to without sacrificing each members own safety and security. 5. Restoration As the disaster eventually subdues and further threats have already been sealed and settled down, another important part and perhaps critical especially in the eyes of those who are keeping a watchful eye is the restoration process. This is what actually tests a teams ability. A disaster example recovery plan must have feasible yet ingenuous ways of restoring what has been lost and completely eradicate other potential damages.
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IBM nowadays offers disaster recovery services that include Application Continuity Services, Call Center Recovery, Continuity Options for storage area networks, Data Center Recovery, Disaster Recoverability Assessment, ERRM 30-day test drive, iSeries System Restore Test, IT recovery options for Sun Microsystems, Network Recovery, Physical Workplace Recovery, Protection Express, Recovery options for IBM technology, Recovery options for multivendor technology, Recovery Plan Development, Recovery Process and Procedure Design, Recovery Strategy Definition, System ibackup, Recovery Analysis and virtual workplace continuity. These services are offered to lessen the losses absorbed by other companies due to disastrous events, so client companies can offset losses, to keep them in business. IBM services focus on securing data and keep businesses running. Disaster planning requires harnessing of great amounts and kinds of resources the vast IBM network provides that.
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In the event that it crashes down, an IT disaster recovery planning would help save it from total blackout. Hence, data would not vanish just like that. When undergoing an IT disaster recovery planning, it is important to note every specifics of the systems hard disk. IT disaster recovery planning may tend to be on a very technical side since it involved all aspects of the computer. So in beginning to do one, the point person who would be in charge is among the most important primary things to consider. Whoever would be appointed as head of the It disaster recovery planning team must be someone with powerful credentials and reliable expertise within the IT field.
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Network Disaster Recovery plan makes it less difficult to restore and repair communications service. Automated tools play a great part in the success of these recovery plans. In recoveries, they usually use applications such as Real Time Network Routing and Fast Automatic Restoration. Advanced technology is needed to aid the Network Disaster Recovery team. Disaster hits unexpectedly and getting the network up and running is most critical during these situations. Without the recovery strategies it is impossible to assist in emergency procedures or in a business standpoint, continue doing business. That is why it is very important to implement a network disaster recovery plan in every business organization.
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Business continuity plan is different from disaster recovery plan in that the business continuity plan contain different business procedures and guidelines to follow in times of emergencies and disasters so that the business will still continue to operate even during emergency situations. While its ultimate goal is to avoid the disaster, it will still have the proper course of actions for disaster control and management. But both the disaster recovery and business continuity plan are essential in the continued existence of the business because is assures employees, business partners and clients that the company is ready for emergencies and disasters and that it has the proper skills and knowledge to implement it.
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But although many businesses nowadays recognize the importance of implementing a disaster recovery and business continuity plan in their system, some are still satisfied with implementing an outdated plan and unworkable procedures for their company because they think that maintaining and updating a disaster recovery and business continuity plan is an expensive undertaking. The good news is that there are now several disaster recovery and business continuity plan templates available on the web today. They are affordable and comprehensive enough to contain guidelines for the team to immediately start planning for and implementing a disaster recovery and business continuity plan for their company. It is essential that companies understand the importance of having a disaster recovery and business continuity plan for their organization because without it, their organization would simply fall victim to the disaster and shut down its operations completely.
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The hurricane Katrina left the state of Florida with massive damages, leaving people homeless and buildings destroyed. This extensive damage includes blown out trees, windows, broken glasses, and knocked down power lines. Debris removal is one of the first steps undertaken by many contractors to recover the state of Florida. These contractors were called into service to pull away trees and other debris on the road. Rebuilding the damaged city is hard work. Recovering from the trauma brought about by the disaster is even harder. That is why during this time, contractors, volunteers and disaster recovery experts worked hand in hand to help the city regain its normal functions and restore normal operations as soon as possible. A disaster recovery plan is needed to develop an effective way to mitigate the damages and help the people reconstruct their houses and start a new life. The state of Florida took the responsibility to help its people and businesses in repairing condominiums, houses and businesses.
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In disasters like this, every state should be prepared in having a definite disaster recovery plan. Without proper planning, it will be difficult for residents of Florida to ask for support and get back to their properties. Business continuity plan should also be implemented even in private institutions as well as government agencies. In cases of a disaster such as this, it is important for both the private sector and the government to provide strategic plans that will help avoid the delays and difficulties brought about by improper disaster recovery planning.
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With an insurance policy for disaster recovery, loss of business continuity is covered because business downtime incurred losses will be included in the coverage. While some damages may exceed the expectations, most insurance policies will include them as part of their coverage. A good insurance policy for disaster recovery will also include coverage on telecommunications losses especially equipment. It is important that the in a disaster recovery plan, a sufficient insurance policy should be considered in the planning and implementation.1
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This position is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for any emergency situation. A Disaster Recovery Manager should know how to identify the time-critical business procedures. They do recommendations for recovery plans and help in the execution of retrieval solutions. This job is also in charge of developing awareness among the people concerned, especially employees and staff that are closely working in the organization. Disaster Recovery is a very important task in ensuring a strategic plan for the company and its client in times of system failures and natural disasters. And having the right people for the job will surely help the company in successfully preparing and developing plans for emergencies.
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After being able to do this, the next best thing to do in establishing a DRP is to establish the committee who will plan the whole thing. As all heads already agreed with making a DRP, this part would no longer be difficult. Usually, the committee will also be composed of different heads from different concerned areas. Then, a risk assessment must begin. This is the first task which the committee would need to accomplish as it gives them an overview of just how much might be at stake in case something unfortunate happens. After being able to do this, everything else will follow and fall into its right DRP segment.
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In designing disaster recovery plans it is very important that it is feasible and workable enough to avoid delays and further damages. Quality plans and preparation are needed to successfully accomplish the goals of disaster recovery. Creating shortcuts will definitely not help at this time. Some companies have disaster recovery plans but they are not quite sure if these plans are feasible, workable or updated. Sometimes due to its complexity, companies tend to overlook if it can be implemented once an emergency has occurred. All disaster recovery plans have to be continually maintained to make sure that their procedures and guidelines are still updated.
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Next, a disaster recovery sample plan must immediately have all the related emergency numbers systematically printed on the next page. As soon as an emergency occurs, people would naturally be concerned about the necessary help to contact. No more time for fumbling must be wasted. And of course, the sample plan must also have a clear description of the concerned unit. This would enable the user to keep a tab of the important exits and places which can prove to be helpful especially upon evacuating the area.
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Businesses are facing the challenges of being global. Threats to operations are coming in left and right. Threats from natural and man-made disasters, from intentional to unintentional threats all show the importance of having a disaster recovery plan in the organization.
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3. Duration This part of a disaster recovery template gives people an insight on how long would the plan take before it gets fully accomplished. This part also gives the recovery team a way to be able to plan their responsibilities efficiently. 4. Writers and Managers This part would give the plan readers the ability to evaluate if credible people are behind the recovery plan. This part also gives the details regarding the plans recovery team. So if you want to have a good template for your disaster recovery plan, make sure that all of these important elements would be included in the template you choose.
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Disaster recovery planning (sometimes also called a business process contingency plan) is a process inclusive of a business vulnerability assessment, development of a disaster recovery framework, a written disaster recovery plan encompassing the recovery strategies, and an advance information system in conveying DRP. The purpose of vulnerability assessment is to determine the relative monetary and functional contribution of the business, and its business interruption, and impact analysis. Subsequently, the Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO) are used to develop a disaster recovery framework. The RTO entails how long the intervals between the disaster and post-disaster resumption of function to restore data actually take, while RPO describes how current the data has to be. On the other hand, a written disaster recovery plan should detail the strategies of response, recovery, and resumption of services. Advance information systems can make disaster recovery easier include consolidation of servers and data, perhaps inclusive of an archival storage method such as a Storage Area Network.
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To protect essential data and productivity of the company in times of disasters, there are now disaster recovery server and software available that can help optimize business operations and protect business interests. During emergencies like power outages, floods, network failure and other malicious attacks, companies are assured that their day to day operations are secured in an offshore location and they have an exact duplicate copy of their system in the event of data loss due to attacks their system. While these attacks may slow down or temporarily close a companys normal operations, having a disaster recovery server and software will ensure that system interruptions are kept at a minimum--even during complete system failures!
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Implementing Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning can drain companys finances. These traditional planning is expensive and too complicated for those small and medium enterprises. But the bigger problem, not to mention the bigger expense, is when there is no disaster recovery service available for the company. So to save on costs from implementing a business continuity and disaster recovery plan, companies are taking advantage of disaster recovery service in getting a real time remote data center. In this way, company data are secured and when a disaster hits, not a single data and information will be lost and any slowdown in the business will be kept to a minimum.
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Usually, disaster recovery teams also have managers as members. This is because they initially are the ones responsible for their particular area of designation. In addition, a disaster recovery team member must always be accessible. No matter happens, he or she must be able to perform his or her duty. This is the most important of all factors, since no matter how expert a person is yet he cannot respond to an emergency, then his designation within the recovery team is nothing but useless.
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A strategic recovery plan is essential to prevent further damages of assets and safety of people involved. Without an accurate approach to prevent these things from happening, the companys future will be at stake and they wont be able recover from disastrous threats. Disaster recovery training in companies is very important in the sense that it helps everyone prepare for and take proper action for any given emergency situation. Constant trainings on concepts, proper structures and activities are also necessary for recovery teams. With a good disaster recovery training, businesses are able to continue its operations and if ever there are temporary shutdowns, they will be able to speed up their recovery process. It is therefore recommended that every company, big or small, have a disaster recovery training program.
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On one hand, recovery projects can be in the form of building reconstruction and rehabilitation, (including housing, hospital or school), teacher training to help children to continue education, and giving free birth registration to newly born babies during or after the disaster. To further promote rehabilitation of the disaster-affected community, disaster sponsoring parties can provide vocational training (including those supplied to health workers) which can be necessary for micro-enterprise development, sanitation enhancement, health system rehabilitation, and providing psychosocial support for children and adults of the affected community. Some organizations which actively render disaster emergency relief and recovery to disasteraffected communities are NGOs, Red Cross International, Rotary International, Ends of the Erath Ministries, and Plans Organization.
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There are two programs that will be used extensively in the Exchange disaster recovery. These are the ESEUTIL and the ISINTEG which come with the Exchange program. These two powerful programs will enable any system administrator to recover the most recent backup of the system. But it should be worth noting that because they are so powerful, these programs can also destroy everything the Exchange server has if no proper precautions are made during the Exchange disaster recovery. A good search on the internet will give anyone the basic command lines and procedures on how to properly initiate an Exchange disaster recovery project. But even with these powerful Exchange tools, a good backup of the system is still the best strategy to use.
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Disaster recovery is the ability to start operating again after a disaster hits and causes even the destruction of an entire data center. A successful disaster recovery effort pivots on the ability to restore or recreate such resources as business data, system, facilities, networks, and user access. There are disaster recovery methods used to resume system operations, including offsite periodic tape backups, disaster recovery site, data vaulting, and hot site. The backups of software, as well as data information, should be stored separately in a location independent from company facilities as well to facilitate recovery when disaster occurs. The considerable difference of fault tolerance from disaster recovery is that fault tolerance provides constant updates about an environment for user access. It should be a part of disaster recovery but cannot be considered a true disaster recovery effort of its own.
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When preparing or planning your Network Recovery Plan, be sure to include details about Plan Maintenance, Plan Exercise, Plan Location, Plan Distribution, Plan Introduction (that encompasses purpose, applicability, scope, assumptions, and use of the plan), Network Profile (composed of network specifications and network requirements), Plan Activation Procedures (under which falls the plan activation team), Team Members and Responsibilities (active team members and travel to alternative location), Recovery Procedures (restore network services, restoration procedures, original or new site restorations, concurrent processing and plan deactivation), and last, the Appendix (Employee contact list, vendor contact list and network diagrams.) What are the elements of a Disaster Recovery checklist for a Network (which could either be general network, LAN and WAN)? In general network considerations, try to prepare a DR Plan (or Disaster Recovery Plan) and remember to take fractional types of disasters into account; graph and identify your network devices and current network; and do not forget your network security when you encounter a disaster you do not want your network to be brought down by a virus. For the LAN, be sure that DR LAN is in its perfect setup. Be aware of the LAN pipes and sizes, then, be sure to have backups of all the files and devices of the network configuring tools.
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For a WAN, there are some questions that you may want to ask yourself are: how do you compare DR WAN network to a Production Network? Have you run checks to test the performance of the DR network? How does the security of a DR Network differ from that of a primary network? Be sure you are ready to answer those kinds of questions. Consider also that this is not a complete list of things to remember in network disaster it would be best to research thoroughly any that have been left out.
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Portfolio for Disaster Recovery Your Key Towards the Right Choice
Businesses have now become more conscious when it comes to protecting their data and their whole organization. Hence, the need for making a disaster recovery plan has become inevitable. Likewise, various systems have developed their own brand of disaster recovery procedures which of course they offer at a price. However, most of them boast of these processes as a reliable investment, promising that the results which will be seen in the face of disasters would definitely make every expense worth it. Still, we all know how it is when something is being sold. This is the reason why more than anything else, we need to look at the systems portfolio for disaster recovery. The portfolio for disaster recovery gives you the following information: 1. The systems focus on Disaster Recovery. The portfolio lets you in on how old or how young is the system when it comes to disaster recovery. It also lets you in on how dedicated the system is when it comes to attaining quality disaster recovery.
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2. Infrastructure Quality A portfolio gives a detailed description of the infrastructure utilized by the system in disaster recovery. It gives you an idea if the price you are going to pay for will be worth the perceived standards of quality. 3. Accreditation A portfolio which boasts of accreditation is also a key consideration. In addition, you can also verify the accreditation with its corresponding department or organization to make sure that it is not just an eye candy within the portfolio. 4. Client Testimonials and References This is very important as this gives the portfolio its crowning glory. A portfolio for disaster recovery must have its own pride of satisfied and well-known customers if it wants to bring in more clients for its systems.
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There are just so many threats out there that year after year, recovery plans are becoming more difficult to develop and sustain. The threats to security develop quickly and needs more advanced technology to prevent system damages. But in the unlikely event of a security breach, having the right plan and putting it into action will save the company millions of dollars in disaster recovery. But the ball does not stop with just planning for security threats, protecting the organization from other threats like natural disasters and man-made disasters (both intentional and unintentional) should also be part of the disaster recovery procedures. They should continually be updated, tested and maintained to ensure that they are still applicable and workable.
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The other five parts of Disaster Recovery Planning are: Planning Scope and Plan Objectives, Project Organization and Staffing; Project Control; Schedule of Deliverables; and Resource Requirements. You can get an idea of the complexity of the process through the program description. Its complexity requires adequate information processing resources and numbers of technical staff, and of course an appropriate budget (or sufficient funds.) The Planning Scope and Plan Objectives of the Disaster Recovery Planning can be used to enable the organization to prepare to survive an alarming disaster and to continue with regular operations after a tragedy strikes. The Project Organization and Staffing parts can be utilized for full implementation of any plans in their most effective and efficient methods as possible. Project Control, on the other hand, acts as the support system of the management software itself. Schedule of Deliverables creates the necessary schedules and so that the project can be maintained by phases. And lastly, the Resource Requirements phase that is divided into three categories which are personnel, capital costs and on-going costs. This sums up the disaster recovery plan.
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As a fractional process of a recovery plan, training in special and critical skills that may be required during a disaster is significant to assure the sufficient implementation of the plan. This training is inclusive of fire extinguishing efforts, use of emergency breathing equipment, evacuation of people and sensitive resources, proper access to emergency communication systems, and usage of shutdown procedures for gas, water, equipment and electricity. There are several types of testing which an organization can perform, including a structured walk-through testing, a checklist testing, a simulation testing, a parallel testing, and also full interruption testing. Also, the legitimacy of any test will vary upon the factors such as the physical size of the installation, level of service required by users, number of locations involved, organizational sensitivity to data processing, acceptable time for contingency processing and recovery, and cost of testing.