Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity: Similar but Not the Same

Running a successful business means more than simply managing day-to-day operations. It also means being prepared to respond when the unexpected happens. From fire and flood to power loss or theft, you need a combination of hardware, software, and processes to get your business back on track when disaster strikes. You need both operational response and management plans. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, 25 percent of businesses that suffer a disaster-based failure won’t survive the next year. You may have backed-up your files… but what else can you do to prepare for the worst?

Disaster Recovery
The hardware, software, and processes that you deploy during and immediately after a disaster make up your disaster recovery plan. Disaster recovery often involves copying, storing, and recovering business data and systems, usually with the help of cloud-based or off-site digital backup. Depending on your needs, the scope may vary from a fully-mirrored website to a simple daily backup. Beyond your business technology, disaster recovery plans will also include emergency supplies, smoke alarms, and fire drills. Your employees should be trained in what emergency numbers to call and where to report in case disaster strikes. How will your company get your essential systems up and running again? With disaster recovery, you’ll have a plan to do just that, sooner rather than later.

Business Continuity
Taking a step back from operational response, business continuity plans comprise the management policies, processes, and plans for all aspects of your business—sales, service, billing, manufacturing, delivery, supplies, and more. Continuity is further-reaching than immediate recovery, and a healthy business continuity plan provides for the continuation of your business during and after a disaster. You’ll include both short-term responses and long-term strategies for stability, such as getting disaster recovery loans and locating replacement equipment. Your business continuity plan will keep your company alive.

Prioritizing is your best friend; determine where downed systems will hurt you the most, and make plans for them. Be sure to review your plans at least annually and make adjustments as your business grows and changes. If getting your company disaster-ready seems overwhelming, let Monster Technology help with our business continuity and disaster recovery services. Call us today.