Tips

Tips

• Where does AI fit into a risk assessment strategy?

  AI is a helpful way to take a different look at risk assessment and disaster recovery. AI sifts through massive amounts of risk data without the typical constraints of DR teams.  Continue Reading

• Free disaster recovery budget template to justify BCDR spending

  Budgeting for disaster recovery does not need to be difficult. With detailed guidance from our free budget template, IT professionals can easily initiate and manage the process.  Continue Reading

• Use recovery level objective to fine-tune BCDR response

  Recovery level objective is not a widely used metric, but it has value to business continuity and disaster recovery teams. Learn how it fits in the BCDR timeline here.  Continue Reading

• Get the most out of Azure Site Recovery DRaaS

  For Azure users, the Site Recovery DRaaS tool provides reliable and accessible disaster recovery. Testing and good management are critical to get the most out of the service.  Continue Reading

• Tighten up work recovery time for successful disaster recovery

  The best strategy for reducing work recovery time windows is done before the need arises. Proactive disaster recovery planning is key to being as prepared as possible.  Continue Reading

• Business continuity in the cloud: Benefits and planning tips

  Learn the major areas of concern and the seven key steps to include when creating a cloud-based business continuity plan to protect data and workloads.  Continue Reading

• Top 8 business continuity certifications to consider in 2022

  There are many certifications available, including the Certified Business Continuity Professional and Certified Disaster Recovery Engineer.  Continue Reading

• SaaS disaster recovery best practices for users and providers

  When it comes to SaaS disaster recovery there are two main roles: the consumer and the provider. The side of the fence they're on defines their options and responsibilities.  Continue Reading

• 12 key points a disaster recovery plan checklist must include

  Having a comprehensive disaster recovery plan checklist ensures that you can get data center operations back up and running as efficiently as possible when an incident does occur.  Continue Reading

• ITGC audit checklist: 6 controls you need to address

  Assess the risks to your IT operations and company infrastructure with an IT general controls audit. Download our checklist to help you remember what to include in the audit.  Continue Reading

• Top 10 business continuity risks to monitor

  Business continuity and disaster recovery threats vary by organization, but common threads can be found across the globe. Ten worrisome trends appear to be having a big year.  Continue Reading

• Zerto tips and tricks for ransomware recovery

  Ransomware recovery is a major concern for disaster recovery teams. For businesses using Zerto, there are a variety of ransomware protection and recovery features that can help.  Continue Reading

• How AI adds value to crisis communications systems

  AI provides key enhancements to existing emergency notifications systems that can reduce the amount of time a business needs to effectively prepare for and respond to a crisis.  Continue Reading

• How to calculate maximum allowable downtime

  Determining maximum allowable downtime is more than a simple equation. Find out why it's important, how it varies and the elements that make the maximum allowable downtime metric.  Continue Reading

• Decode the 4 phases of emergency management

  The four-phase framework to emergency management can help organizations plan for all types of emergencies. Here's more about each phase and the steps to take within each.  Continue Reading

• Critical event management software simplifies disaster recovery

  Critical event management software can help reduce the chaos of disaster response, without overloading disaster recovery teams with data or complicating communications.  Continue Reading

• Where do PSIM systems fit into disaster recovery?

  Organizations that use multiple security platforms can look to PSIM systems to be better prepared for an incident. Read on for more about how they work.  Continue Reading

• Prepare a supply chain disaster recovery plan

  Supply chain disruptions can bring business to a halt and lead to high costs. Examine potential threats, mitigation costs and prepare to plug any gaps in the chain.  Continue Reading

• How to calculate and reduce MTTR

  Mean time to repair is a helpful performance metric to ensure that important systems and processes don't fail. BCDR teams should know how to calculate MTTR, as well as lower it.  Continue Reading

• Prepare and conduct a ransomware tabletop exercise

  Tabletop exercises help organizations practice response and recovery, but one size doesn't fit all. For ransomware attacks, use this template to create a targeted exercise.  Continue Reading

• Decode different types of business interruption insurance

  Business interruption insurance can be difficult to navigate because not all policies are the same. Here's what to examine when exploring insurance options.  Continue Reading

• Top mass notification system vendors and how to choose one

  Mass notification systems are crucial to a business continuity and disaster recovery strategy. To choose the right system, cross-check its capabilities with your requirements.  Continue Reading

• Use ISO 22332 to improve business continuity plans

  Standards offer guidance on business continuity and disaster recovery plans. ISO 22332 is no exception, providing great detail on how to prepare and execute a BC plan.  Continue Reading

• Understand the costs of a disaster recovery failure

  A disaster recovery plan may seem like an unnecessary expense to some businesses, but a lack of preparation will cost you.  Continue Reading

• Zerto vs. Veeam: Compare 2 disaster recovery providers

  Cloud failover, automation and orchestration are just a few of the features to consider in comparisons of Veeam and Zerto. See how the two DR products compare.  Continue Reading

• Maximize the benefits of virtual disaster recovery

  Compared to physical setups, virtualization can accelerate and streamline DR processes. Automation, however, is essential to achieve those benefits.  Continue Reading

• Fortify emergency communications systems with a business plan

  Emergency communications is one of the first actions organizations should undertake during an incident. An automated system is critical but cannot stand alone without a plan.  Continue Reading

• Make a power outage business continuity plan with these tips

  Power outages can lead to business disruption and hit at any moment. Infrastructure testing and emergency protocols can help with business continuity when the lights go down.  Continue Reading

• Prepare for planned and unplanned downtime

  There are two types of IT downtime: planned and unplanned. Neither are desirable, but one is necessary and the other could strike at any moment. Here's how to prepare for both.  Continue Reading

• DRaaS vs. BaaS: Compare 2 data protection options

  While DRaaS and BaaS can simplify data protection operations, they aren't right for all IT shops. Learn the differences between the two technologies -- and the potential risks.  Continue Reading

• How to plan for the cost of unplanned downtime

  Unplanned downtime can lead to serious consequences, including reputational harm, revenue loss and extra IT costs. Use these tips to plan for the unexpected.  Continue Reading

• Crisis communications training exercises to implement

  A crisis communications team must be prepared to spring into action at a moment's notice. Here are three crisis communications training strategies to ensure a team is ready.  Continue Reading

• Build a BCDR employee training program for peak resilience

  A BCDR training program teaches employees key skills, such as how to conduct risk assessments, coordinate emergency response with first responders and restore business processes.  Continue Reading

• 12 skills business continuity managers need to succeed

  Communication, collaboration, IT expertise and project management are key skills that business continuity managers must have to efficiently lead a BCDR team. Here's why.  Continue Reading

• How to build a strong crisis communications team

  A crisis communications team works best when all members are fully aware of their responsibilities. Here are some tips on building a highly effective response team.  Continue Reading

• The tiers of disaster recovery, explained

  Organizations have used disaster recovery tiers to define the DR process for years. These key tiers can serve as a backbone to a comprehensive disaster recovery plan.  Continue Reading

• Establish a business continuity team to get the full picture

  Business continuity teams provide insight and focus that can keep an organization on its feet when disaster strikes. Don't rely on a disaster recovery team to reduce downtime.  Continue Reading

• Prepare for the unknown with an organizational resilience model

  An organizational resilience strategy is far-reaching, involving many facets of IT and the business -- from disaster recovery to supply chain management.  Continue Reading

• How to establish an operational resilience training program

  Collaboration across departments is the new normal to protect business operations. Set up and promote an operational resilience training program with our included printable guide.  Continue Reading

• Operational resilience frameworks hinge on breaking down silos

  Resilience is more than just business continuity and disaster recovery. Operational resilience depends on communication among many different business functions at an organization.  Continue Reading

• The reality of Docker disaster recovery in practice

  A successful Docker DR strategy must account for a range of factors, including the host infrastructure, networks and redundancy in the cloud.  Continue Reading

• Combine business continuity and crisis management practices

  Together, business continuity and crisis management procedures help an organization prepare for the worst. But careful planning is key.  Continue Reading

• Bolster an operational resilience strategy with these tips

  What's the first step to achieve operational resilience? Knowing which assets and activities are most critical to the business.  Continue Reading

• Follow these standards for business continuity and resilience

  Business continuity, disaster recovery and resilience professionals have numerous IT standards they can reference for nearly every aspect of planning.  Continue Reading

• Optimize a BCDR strategy for 2021 and beyond

  COVID-19 has changed the way many organizations view BCDR. Along with an increased interest in resilience, a pandemic-proof BCDR plan is likely top of mind for 2021.  Continue Reading

• Use APIs to create a custom disaster recovery report

  The right set of PowerShell commands and API calls can go a long way to build and customize a disaster recovery report. Learn how with these steps.  Continue Reading

• Remote disaster recovery presents new business challenges

  With more employees working remotely than ever, natural disasters and other typical DR crises present an entirely new challenge. How can businesses tackle this new set of risks?  Continue Reading

• Prepare for a business continuity audit with the FFIEC handbook

  The FFIEC 'Business Continuity Management' handbook can serve as a guide to ensure that BC activities are consistent with best practices and are ready for an audit.  Continue Reading

• How to manage virtual disaster recovery setup costs

  Creating a virtual disaster recovery setup shouldn't be pricey, but costs can easily add up if providers don't take all expenses into account.  Continue Reading

• After-action report template and guide for DR planning

  Conducting an after-action report following disasters or internal DR exercises is a critical process that will help prepare an organization for future disruptive events.  Continue Reading

• It's a new age for hot site disaster recovery

  Hot sites are a viable disaster recovery strategy, but high costs and changing DR risks have made alternatives like disaster recovery as a service a more appealing option.  Continue Reading

• Updated FFIEC 'Business Continuity' handbook highlights planning

  The FFIEC handbook on business continuity has been updated by the organization to place greater emphasis on planning, with more detailed information on testing and exercises.  Continue Reading

• Creating a post-pandemic recovery plan is an ongoing process

  There is still much to learn about post-pandemic DR at this stage of COVID-19. Organizations should keep an eye on pandemic-specific software changes and updated recovery tools.  Continue Reading

• Understanding BC, resilience standards and how to comply

  Follow these nine steps to first identify relevant business continuity and resilience standards and, second, launch a successful compliance program at your organization.  Continue Reading

• ISO 22301:2019 vs. previous versions: What's changed?

  The International Organization for Standardization is continually updating its BC standards. Older versions may still be relevant, but keep an eye out for significant changes.  Continue Reading

• It's time to update your pandemic disaster recovery plan

  Your DR plan may be unprepared for a pandemic, and while mid-pandemic is not the ideal time to be discovering issues, you should use this time to make changes.  Continue Reading

• Common virtual disaster recovery errors and how to avoid them

  Frequently testing a disaster recovery plan is one reliable way to ensure that a virtual recovery will go smoothly and not set an organization back.  Continue Reading

• ISO and FFIEC business continuity standards compared

  Global standards aid the process of creating and updating a business continuity plan. The requirements of two popular standards can ensure that your BC team doesn't miss any steps.  Continue Reading

• Steps to building a pandemic business continuity plan

  Your business continuity plan may address some concerns that come along with a pandemic, but COVID-19 has emphasized the importance of having remote work as part of it.  Continue Reading

• Small business pandemic plan should cover supply chain, staff

  COVID-19 has many organizations shifting gears when it comes to pandemic planning, and SMBs are no exception. For small companies, adaptability is the key to recovery.  Continue Reading

• Use disaster recovery standards to guide pandemic planning

  International quality management and compliance standards can help an organization kick off a disaster recovery plan for unprecedented scenarios, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.  Continue Reading

• Remote data protection and DR in the work-from-home boom

  Building a data protection strategy around remote working requires companies to enable employee access to data while ensuring that it is protected from threats such as shadow IT.  Continue Reading

• Strategies for kicking off your pandemic recovery plan

  Before resuming business activities after a pandemic, establish a timeline and plan for recovery. Reviewing a business impact analysis and creating a recovery framework can help.  Continue Reading

• 8 DRaaS risks to identify and remediate

  Before signing with a specific DRaaS provider, get information on how the vendor handles data protection and recovery and restoration, among other things.  Continue Reading

• Iland vs. Recovery Point: Compare these DRaaS providers

  Iland and Recovery Point Systems are two leading providers of managed DRaaS. Learn how each vendor's services compare and how they differentiate themselves.  Continue Reading

• Remote business continuity techniques to implement now

  Managing business continuity and disaster recovery without employees on site can be a challenge for an organization that doesn't typically function remotely.  Continue Reading

• Prepare for serious health threats with a pandemic recovery plan

  COVID-19 has become a serious global threat and is rapidly becoming an issue for business continuity. Pandemic planning can help mitigate disruptive effects of disastrous events.  Continue Reading

• 5 tips for building a crisis communication plan

  A crisis communication plan is a set of steps and procedures that outlines how a company should communicate with its employees, stakeholders and the public during an emergency.  Continue Reading

• 12 key elements of a crisis management plan

  Starting or revising your crisis management planning? Include these elements in a plan to make sure you don't leave anything out and your organization can run effectively.  Continue Reading

• Roles and responsibilities of a crisis management team

  The formation of a crisis management team that includes members with diverse skills can help organizations respond quickly and decisively to a crisis.  Continue Reading

• Don't cut corners with disaster recovery and backup

  A well-thought-out BCDR plan is just half of the resilience equation. A solid data protection strategy relies on thorough backup and disaster recovery planning.  Continue Reading

• What to look for in DR orchestration

  Disaster recovery orchestration is a must-have in the modern data center. However, that doesn't mean choosing the right tools for your organization is an easy process.  Continue Reading

• The future of DR orchestration goes beyond recovery

  What's next for disaster recovery orchestration? As tools grow and change, orchestration may soon go beyond disaster recovery, as well as aid in planning.  Continue Reading

• Tips for updating your corporate pandemic response plan

  To ensure your workplace pandemic response plan is up-to-date and sufficient, check it against other business continuity procedures, and consult important sources for further guidance.  Continue Reading

• Disaster recovery regulations complicate data compliance

  Many organizations struggle when it comes to compliance with recent data regulations. Modern disaster recovery adds an extra layer of difficulty for meeting these requirements.  Continue Reading

• Use this disaster recovery plan checklist to improve your plan

  Our comprehensive disaster recovery plan audit checklist can help you thoroughly evaluate your organization's DR plan to find and address potential weaknesses.  Continue Reading

• Obtaining professional business continuity certifications

  Professional resilience certifications recognize those working in business continuity and disaster recovery, and the education that comes with them is a valuable resource.  Continue Reading

• Updating your old business continuance plan for the new year

  Has your business continuity plan kept up with data center changes of the past year? If not, it may be time to revisit your plan's capabilities and existing recovery objectives.  Continue Reading

• How to build and train organizational resilience teams

  Well-trained resilience and emergency response teams are a key element of maintaining business continuity and recovering your organization when disaster strikes.  Continue Reading

• Tips for outsourcing business resilience services

  Outsourcing IT resilience is more feasible than ever, thanks to a rise in cloud-based options. If you plan on outsourcing resilience to a third party, be sure to do your homework.  Continue Reading

• Where cloud-based disaster recovery is headed in 2020

  To understand how the cloud will be used for disaster recovery in 2020, it will help to look at its recent trajectory. While growth is inevitable, there are bumps along the way.  Continue Reading

• Post-disaster recovery, don't overlook user connectivity

  After you've successfully recovered your environment, the job isn't quite over. Ensuring user connectivity following a recovery is the final vital step of a complete DR plan.  Continue Reading

• A disaster recovery testing strategy is key to successful DR

  The only way to know for sure that your disaster recovery plan will work is to test it. When disaster strikes, ensure that your plan isn't a dud with frequent testing.  Continue Reading

• Tips for obtaining BC/DR plan and resilience funding

  Creating a comprehensive business continuity and disaster recovery plan is no joke, and funding those services can add another hurdle to your company's IT resilience strategy.  Continue Reading

• Organizational vs. operational resilience: What's the difference?

  Achieving both operational and organizational resilience is key to ensuring that a company can protect and adapt its processes and bounce back in the event of a disaster.  Continue Reading

• Disaster recovery and backup: To converge or not to converge?

  While it makes sense to some degree to have overlap between backup and disaster recovery systems, there may be even more sense behind keeping them discrete.  Continue Reading

• Cybersecurity and business continuity integration boosts resilience

  Are you doing all you can to make your organization resilient? You might be hampering your company's efforts by keeping business continuity and cybersecurity planning separate.  Continue Reading

• Using multiple cloud providers can benefit your DR plan

  Incorporating a cloud-to-cloud strategy using multiple providers may not simplify your DR plan, but it can offer peace of mind in the event of a disaster.  Continue Reading

• Fortify your business resilience with consequence management

  Is there something lacking in your incident response strategy? Consequence management could be the missing piece in your organization's IT resilience plan.  Continue Reading

• Underscore preparation in your natural disaster recovery plan

  When it comes to recovering after a natural disaster, you'll need more than just basic business continuity and recovery planning. Being informed about severe weather events is key.  Continue Reading

• 3 types of DRaaS: Which approach is best?

  Your disaster recovery-as-a-service strategy needs to consider not only business needs but your IT staff's capabilities. Options range from full-on help to do-it-yourself DRaaS.  Continue Reading

• A good business disaster recovery plan considers IT, staffing

  Not sure if your disaster recovery plan takes business needs into account? A good plan should cover business operations, as well as technology and staffing requirements.  Continue Reading

• Successful disaster recovery approaches set priorities

  By taking a tiered approach, similar to cybersecurity, disaster recovery planners can structure their recovery to cut downtime and protect high-priority data.  Continue Reading

• How to plan for the worst possible disaster recovery scenarios

  Your worst-case DR scenario today might be vastly different than it was just a few years ago. What's the worst that could happen to your data center in the event of a disaster?  Continue Reading

• How to evaluate DRaaS providers

  DR-as-a-service providers need to be vetted properly to ensure that the services you have purchased are deliverable and meet expectations during a disaster.  Continue Reading

• Conduct a business impact analysis with these tips and tools

  A business impact analysis is a fairly standard part of disaster recovery planning, but nuances within your organization may affect your approach to conducting and using a BIA.  Continue Reading

• Secure disaster recovery will be a priority in 2019

  Along with weather events and IT outages, data security has become a major concern in DR. With cyberattacks on the rise, strategists are placing higher importance on resilience.  Continue Reading

• What to do if an internal notification system fails

  Having an emergency notification system in place can help maintain contact with staff during a crisis, but make sure that your company has a plan in place in case it malfunctions.  Continue Reading

• How to determine your disaster recovery objectives

  Ideal recovery objectives are different for every business. Luckily, there are four basic steps you can follow to ensure you set the right RTO and RPO.  Continue Reading

• DRaaS benefits that make ditching traditional DR worth it

  The benefits of disaster recovery as a service include lower cost, enhanced reliability and streamlined administration. It's no wonder that more organizations are being drawn to it.  Continue Reading