2013 has proven to be a year of extreme conditions with raging wildfires in Arizona to the massive earthquake in China and who knows what this winter will bring. While the news is dominated by reels of building damage, data loss can actually be more catastrophic for a business. According to a study done by HP and SCORE, 25% of businesses don’t reopen after a major natural disaster, and 70% of small companies that lose major data from a natural disaster go belly up within a year.

Fortunately, cloud-based disaster recovery options available to protect important company data. Our Chicago-based IT and tech support team can assist your business, no matter its size or industry, with establishing a reliable backup disaster recovery (BDR) plan. You never know when disaster will strike so here are three simple steps to help prepare your business for the worst:
Step 1: If you don’t have one already, a cloud-based backup disaster recovery plan for your data is an immediate priority. Our experienced IT staff can help design and execute the proper cloud-based BDR plan for your company’s size and industry. Our Networks Operations Center provides comprehensive on-site and remote support with 24/7/365 proactive monitoring.

Step 2: If your business already has a BDR plan, ensure your staff knows exactly what to do, who to call, and how to operate the appropriate systems. It’s ideal to prepare your business for a natural disaster just as you would your family.  You can’t stop the inevitable however you can certainly prepare for it.

Step 3: Check to make sure your off-site data backups and remote recovery site are operational, updated, and error-free. The ideal recovery solution utilizes the cloud, which ensures significantly faster backups than tape or disk and allows for increased customization. As Janson Hoambrecker of Network World says, “Weather can damage buildings, but the cloud can weather the storm.”

Why Cloud-Based Disaster Recovery Tools?

When using a cloud-based BDR solution, your systems will be accessible in an ironclad cloud and located far away from the primary site ensuring that it will not be impacted by the disaster. The cloud also helps ensure the unique regulations and retention requirements for data protection for each industry are met. Lastly, data and systems that are safely protected in the cloud are fully accessible and recoverable 24/7/365 from anywhere in the world allowing for a speedy recovery regardless of location.

No matter what Mother Nature throws your way, your company can survive. Preparing with a BDR plan that fits your company’s needs will ensure business continuity and peace of mind. For further information about our backup and data recovery services, visit www.chicago-it-support-services.com