Disaster recovery planning and management
Planning is the number one tool a business has at its disposal to prevent a crisis. Cyber attacks and natural disasters can be unavoidable and unpredictable. If DR teams plan for the worst, they can avoid being caught off guard. Get helpful disaster recovery advice, templates and tests that will prepare your organization for almost anything.
Top Stories
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News
26 Mar 2024
New SIOS console enables high availability visualization
IT generalists on Linux systems can avoid the complexity of HA management for mission-critical apps or databases with a new management console in SIOS' LifeKeeper software. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Mar 2024
4 disaster recovery plan best practices for any business
Disaster recovery plans are unique, built around an organization's size, type and industry. However, there are some key best practices that all businesses can implement. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Mar 2024
4 disaster recovery plan best practices for any business
Disaster recovery plans are unique, built around an organization's size, type and industry. However, there are some key best practices that all businesses can implement. Continue Reading
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Definition
19 Mar 2024
off-site backup
Off-site backup is a method of backing up data to a remote server or to media that's transported off-site. Continue Reading
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Definition
11 Mar 2024
tabletop exercise (TTX)
A tabletop exercise (TTX) is a disaster preparedness activity that takes participants through the process of dealing with a simulated disaster scenario. Continue Reading
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Definition
11 Mar 2024
asynchronous replication
Asynchronous replication is a store-and-forward approach to data backup and protection. Continue Reading
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News
06 Mar 2024
Pure1, Evergreen expand self-service and data protection
Pure Storage continues to transition into an as-a-service model by building out more automation and data resiliency in its Pure1 data management service and Evergreen portfolio. Continue Reading
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Definition
05 Mar 2024
ghost imaging (disk imaging)
In computing, ghost imaging, also called disk imaging, is a data backup process that creates an image of a computer's hard disk drive (HDD), solid-state drive (SSD) or one of the drive's partitions. Continue Reading
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Definition
01 Mar 2024
What is BCDR? Business continuity and disaster recovery guide
Business continuity (BC) and disaster recovery (DR) are closely related practices that support an organization's ability to remain operational after an adverse event. Continue Reading
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Feature
21 Feb 2024
Free business continuity testing template for IT pros
Business continuity testing can be a major challenge for any organization. This free template offers ways to incorporate testing into the business continuity management process. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Feb 2024
4 long-term data backup options
Data backups ensure copies of critical data are available in the event of a crisis or failure. When backing up long-term data, cost and capacity are vital considerations. Continue Reading
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Definition
12 Feb 2024
crisis management plan (CMP)
A crisis management plan (CMP) outlines how an organization should respond to a critical situation that if left unaddressed, could negatively affect its profitability, reputation or ability to operate. Continue Reading
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Definition
12 Feb 2024
What is risk mitigation?
Risk mitigation is a strategy to prepare for and lessen the effects of threats faced by a business. Continue Reading
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News
06 Feb 2024
Komprise adds disaster recovery with granular restorations
The Komprise Intelligent Data Management platform gains new DR capabilities that enable granular recovery of file and object resources through the existing user console. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Feb 2024
7 top business continuity certifications to consider in 2024
Organizations can bolster and validate the expertise of their IT teams with a variety of certifications. There are several options aimed at business continuity professionals. Continue Reading
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Definition
02 Feb 2024
disk mirroring (RAID 1)
Disk mirroring, also known as RAID 1, is the replication of data across two or more disks. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jan 2024
Best practices for a strong disaster recovery testing strategy
Testing is a critical part of the disaster recovery planning process. Without proper testing, IT teams might miss crucial updates or make avoidable missteps in a recovery. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Jan 2024
Sustainability and business continuity share a common goal
At first glance, business continuity planning and sustainability efforts might seem separate. But at their core, both aim to create a resilient organization. Continue Reading
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Definition
02 Jan 2024
disaster recovery (DR)
Disaster recovery (DR) is an organization's ability to respond to and recover from an event that negatively affects business operations. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Dec 2023
The emerging role of the chief resilience officer in BCDR
Business continuity, disaster recovery and resilience are often managed by a variety of different personnel. Appointing a chief resilience officer can bring BCDR to the forefront. Continue Reading
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Definition
21 Dec 2023
disaster recovery team
A disaster recovery team is a group of individuals focused on planning, implementing, maintaining, auditing and testing an organization's business continuity and disaster recovery procedures. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Nov 2023
High availability and resiliency: A DR strategy needs both
An organization's resiliency during and after a crisis depends on many factors. High availability is one aspect of overall resiliency that DR teams can't afford to overlook. Continue Reading
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Definition
30 Nov 2023
synchronous replication
Synchronous replication is the process of copying data over a network to create multiple current copies of the data. Continue Reading
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Definition
28 Nov 2023
continuous data protection (CDP)
Continuous data protection (CDP), also known as continuous backup, is a backup and recovery storage system in which all the data in an enterprise is backed up whenever any change is made. Continue Reading
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Definition
15 Nov 2023
network load balancing (NLB)
Network load balancing (NLB) is a feature in multiple versions of the Microsoft Windows Server operating system (OS), Amazon Web Services (AWS) and other cloud service providers that distribute network traffic among multiple servers or virtual machines (VMs) within a cluster to avoid overloading any one host and improve performance. Continue Reading
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Definition
14 Nov 2023
fault tolerance
Fault tolerance is the capability of a system to deliver uninterrupted service despite one or more of its components failing. Continue Reading
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Definition
09 Nov 2023
crisis communication
Crisis communication is a strategic approach to corresponding with people and organizations during a disruptive event. Continue Reading
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Definition
09 Nov 2023
emergency communications plan (EC plan)
An emergency communications plan (EC plan) is a document that provides guidelines, contact information and procedures for how information should be shared during all phases of an unexpected occurrence that requires immediate action. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Nov 2023
Top 5 IT disaster scenarios DR teams must test
While most organizations are prepared to face small-scale interruptions, they cannot overlook a larger, more complex crisis just because it seems less likely to occur. Continue Reading
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Definition
08 Nov 2023
call tree
A call tree is a layered hierarchical communication model used to notify specific individuals of an event and coordinate recovery if necessary. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Nov 2023
Real-life business continuity failures: 4 examples to study
Business continuity failures are costly and can significantly harm a company's reputation. These four high-profile examples demonstrate what can go wrong when a plan fails. Continue Reading
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Definition
30 Oct 2023
natural disaster recovery
Natural disaster recovery is the process of recovering data and resuming business operations following a natural disaster. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Oct 2023
Risk assessment matrix: Free template and usage guide
A risk assessment matrix identifies issues that present the greatest potential for business disruption or damage. Use this free template to focus risk mitigation plans. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Oct 2023
Business continuity maturity model: An at-a-glance guide
Business continuity maturity models are effective tools to improve disaster recovery processes and define an organization's desired level of BC preparedness. Continue Reading
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News
04 Oct 2023
Nutanix adds ransomware alerts, recovery tools to HCI SaaS
Hyperconverged infrastructure specialist Nutanix preps for further hybrid cloud adoption by adding ransomware recovery tools to SaaS products. Continue Reading
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News
28 Sep 2023
Everbridge 360 emphasizes communication, preparedness
Everbridge envisions its new 360 critical event management platform as a multiyear release. Features are heavy on the ability to communicate in a disaster. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Sep 2023
How to use a SWOT analysis for IT disaster recovery planning
A disaster recovery IT SWOT analysis can identify the good and the bad aspects of a DR plan, as well as highlight potential risks and opportunities for improvement. Continue Reading
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News
26 Sep 2023
MSP shares details of Kaseya VSA ransomware attack, recovery
Progressive Computing was one of 60 victims of the Kaseya VSA ransomware attack in 2021. Now, a co-founder tells the story of discovery and recovery. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Aug 2023
What are 5 good reasons to do yearly disaster recovery testing?
Do you think yearly disaster recovery testing is overkill? You're not alone, but you are missing out on some key ways DR testing can help backup and recovery efforts. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Jul 2023
6 ways to support business resilience at your organization
Without enough support, resilience initiatives are unlikely to succeed. Here are six ways individuals and departments can support business resilience. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Jul 2023
Avoid data loss in a natural disaster with the right backups
In recent years, changing weather patterns have kept backup admins on their toes. Preparation is critical to prevent data loss and recover quickly after a natural disaster. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Jul 2023
How often should you review a business continuity plan?
Business continuity plans are not a one-and-done deal. Before a disaster strikes, ensure your organization's BC plan is up to date with regular reviews. Continue Reading
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Definition
30 Jun 2023
What is business continuity and why is it important?
Business continuity is an organization's ability to maintain critical business functions during a disaster and after it has occurred. Continue Reading
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Definition
22 Jun 2023
uptime and downtime
In computing, uptime is a measure of how long a computer or service is on and available. Downtime is the measure of how long it is not available. Continue Reading
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News
12 Jun 2023
Veeam execs examine backup and security blend, other trends
Veeam leaders break down how cybersecurity issues have changed the data protection conversation. The discussion also details future plans, such as in SaaS backup and potential IPO. Continue Reading
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Definition
05 Jun 2023
data replication
Data replication is the process of copying data from one location to another. Continue Reading
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News
25 May 2023
Users dish on ransomware protection, recovery at VeeamON
To help protect against and recover from ransomware attacks, IT professionals at VeeamON 2023 recommended planning, testing and other key security measures. Continue Reading
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News
23 May 2023
Veeam ransomware protection highlighted in Kasten, detection
Veeam unveiled security updates to its Kubernetes backup product at VeeamON. In addition, IDrive released an object storage appliance for users of Veeam and other backup vendors. Continue Reading
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Definition
10 May 2023
network drive
A network drive is a shared storage device on a local area network (LAN) within a business or home. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 May 2023
10 game-changing disaster recovery trends
Recent trends in AI, ransomware and data regulations have a major impact on disaster recovery teams. Don't let the rapidly changing IT landscape hurt your DR initiatives. Continue Reading
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News
08 May 2023
20-year evolution of Everbridge critical event management
Everbridge critical event management has reached Ukraine and work-from-anywhere users. CEO David Wagner explains how he's guided the company through difficult times. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Apr 2023
10 disaster recovery questions to ask in 2023 and beyond
There are many factors to getting a disaster recovery plan to run smoothly. Here are 10 questions disaster recovery teams should ask themselves, their vendors and their leadership. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Apr 2023
12 business continuity trends to keep an eye on
As technology rapidly evolves, IT pros are bound to see countless trends come and go. In business continuity, there are some significant trends shaping up to change the field. Continue Reading
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Definition
28 Apr 2023
cloud disaster recovery (cloud DR)
Cloud disaster recovery (cloud DR) is a combination of strategies and services intended to back up data, applications and other resources to public cloud or dedicated service providers. Continue Reading
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Definition
24 Apr 2023
disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS)
Disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS) is a cloud computing service model offered by third-party vendors that provides failover in the event of a natural catastrophe, power outage or other type of business disruption. Continue Reading
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Definition
11 Apr 2023
operational-level agreement (OLA)
An operational-level agreement (OLA) is a contract that defines how various IT groups within a company plan to deliver a service or set of services. Continue Reading
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Opinion
04 Apr 2023
Technology decisions and technical debt in data protection
In this video, two expert analysts discuss digital transformation, IT spending and technical debt, as well as how these topics fit into a data protection strategy. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Mar 2023
Network documentation best practices for DR teams
In the event of a disaster, IT teams often think of servers and storage, but forget about networks. Find out what you should document as part of your network DR plan. Continue Reading
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Definition
27 Mar 2023
triage in IT
Triage is a term referring to the assignment of priority levels to tasks or individuals to determine the most effective order in which to deal with them. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Feb 2023
How to maintain network continuity in a DR strategy
Disaster doesn't just come in the form of fire, flood and ransomware. Loss of network continuity is a real issue and must be appropriately addressed in disaster recovery planning. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Feb 2023
Prevent different types of network attacks with DR planning
Disaster recovery and IT security teams must protect the network on several fronts to keep data safe from potential attackers. A dedicated disaster recovery plan can help. Continue Reading
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News
14 Feb 2023
Veeam launches Data Platform, ransomware warranty
Veeam Data Platform features Backup & Replication v12 and other management capabilities. In addition, Object First released its appliance focused on storage for Veeam users. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Jan 2023
Fine-tune a social media emergency plan with ISO 22329:2021
Social media and its effective management are major interests for emergency management professionals. Find out how ISO's recent standard can help guide a social media strategy. Continue Reading
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News
23 Jan 2023
FAA outage highlights importance of high availability
An outage of a critical FAA system highlights a need for enterprises to ensure availability and recovery of critical systems, even if industry best practices aren't attainable. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
20 Jan 2023
Effective business continuity requires evolution and a plan
Investment in business continuity is one of the best ways to get an organization back on its feet during and after an incident. Updated plans are critical to avoid a crisis. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 Jan 2023
Developing an emergency communications plan: A template for business continuity professionals
Communicating details in a crisis is a vital part of BC and resilience planning. Follow the steps below and the associated template to prepare an emergency communication plan. Continue Reading
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Definition
12 Jan 2023
surge suppressor (surge protector)
A surge suppressor, sometimes optimistically called a surge protector, is a device inserted in the alternating current (AC) utility line and/or telephone line to prevent damage to electronic equipment from voltage spikes, or transients. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Dec 2022
Why BCDR teams should consider EMP disaster recovery plans
An EMP event could be a major game changer depending on where it happens and who is affected. EMP disaster recovery might not seem urgent, but it never hurts to be prepared. Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Dec 2022
emergency notification system
An emergency notification system is an automated method of contacting a group of people within an organization and distributing important information during a crisis. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Dec 2022
virtual disaster recovery
Virtual disaster recovery is a type of DR that typically involves replication and enables a user to fail over to virtualized workloads. Continue Reading
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Definition
14 Dec 2022
action plan
An action plan is a document that lists what steps must be taken to achieve a specific goal. Continue Reading
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Definition
14 Dec 2022
network disaster recovery plan
A network disaster recovery plan is a set of procedures designed to prepare an organization to respond to an interruption of network services during a natural or humanmade catastrophe. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Dec 2022
Ensure network resilience in a network disaster recovery plan
A network disaster recovery plan doesn't always mean network resilience. Learn how factors like funding, identifying potential risks and constant updates make a difference. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Dec 2022
Use NFPA data center standards to help evade fire risks
A fire in a data center can damage equipment, cause data loss and put personnel in harm's way. Look to NFPA fire protection guidelines to hedge your risk against data center fires. Continue Reading
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News
23 Nov 2022
Data resiliency guarantees offer new kind of assurance
Data resiliency guarantees from Druva, Rubrik and AvePoint offer data warranties of up to $10 million, but experts caution customers to read the fine print. Continue Reading
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Opinion
21 Nov 2022
Ransomware preparedness: The long road ahead
Is your organization ready for ransomware? A recent survey shows that businesses in a variety of industries are all struggling with ransomware prevention and recovery. Continue Reading
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News
16 Nov 2022
Microsoft SQL Server 2022 bridges on-premises to cloud
Enabling hybrid deployments that span the cloud and on-premises is the key goal for Microsoft's latest update of its 33-year-old relational database. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Nov 2022
Where do business continuity plans fit in a ransomware attack?
Recovery isn't the only priority when ransomware hits. Careful planning, training and coordination among IT teams are critical to maintain business continuity during an attack. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Oct 2022
Create a flood business continuity plan to stay afloat
In the event of a flood, don't settle for watered-down action plans. Download our free flood business continuity plan template to create a flood-specific recovery strategy. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Oct 2022
How to avoid common GPO backup and restore problems
Group Policy Objects help admins maintain control of the enterprise environment, but it takes some planning to understand how to properly protect and recover GPOs to avoid trouble. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Oct 2022
What to include in a network disaster recovery plan checklist
A network disaster recovery plan should include components like documentation, emergency contacts, step-by-step procedures, provider and vendor details, backup info and more. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Sep 2022
Why a HIPAA disaster recovery plan is critical
Disaster recovery is a complex and high-stakes operation. When healthcare data is in the mix, a good DR plan is even more crucial. Do you have a HIPAA disaster plan in place? Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Sep 2022
Use ISO 22320:2018 to prepare an incident management plan
Incident management is critical to ensure that businesses can deal with unplanned disruptive events. Find out how the ISO:22320:2018 standard can help. Continue Reading
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News
22 Sep 2022
New Everbridge CEO takes over at critical time
New Everbridge CEO David Wagner details his areas of focus for the company. Investor Ancora has suggested that a private equity firm should acquire Everbridge. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Sep 2022
Tips to prepare for a network disaster recovery audit
Enterprises can audit their network disaster recovery plans to ensure thorough protection and preparation. Consider factors like documentation, management support and audit type. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Aug 2022
Use ISO/TS 22317:2021 to shape your business impact analysis
ISO/TS 22317:2021 is a useful tool for BCDR practitioners and other personnel tasked with executing a BIA, which can often be a highly complex activity. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Aug 2022
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
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Tip
15 Aug 2022
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
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Tip
29 Jul 2022
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
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Tip
22 Jul 2022
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
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Answer
22 Jul 2022
Future of tape backup built on consistent advancements
Tape still plays a key role in backup, including offline protection from ransomware. What are some key improvements that will keep tape backup relevant in the future? Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Jun 2022
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
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Definition
01 Jun 2022
operational resilience
Operational resilience is a business's ability to respond to and overcome adverse circumstances during operation that might cause financial loss or disrupt business services. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 May 2022
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
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Definition
31 May 2022
contingency plan
A contingency plan is a course of action designed to help an organization respond effectively to a significant future incident, event or situation that may or may not happen. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 May 2022
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
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Definition
26 May 2022
organization resilience
Organizational resilience is an organization's ability to anticipate issues ahead of time and develop a plan for handling identified problems. Continue Reading
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Answer
26 May 2022
Business resilience vs. business continuity: Key differences
Business continuity and resilience go hand in hand and play a role in an organization's disaster recovery plan. Essentially, business continuity is needed to achieve resilience. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 May 2022
Free business impact analysis (BIA) template with instructions
If you need to perform a business impact analysis, this guide and our free, downloadable template will assist you in your business continuity planning. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 May 2022
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
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Definition
23 May 2022
business resilience
Business resilience is the ability an organization has to quickly adapt to disruptions while maintaining continuous business operations and safeguarding people, assets and overall brand equity. Continue Reading
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Definition
23 May 2022
business impact analysis (BIA)
A business impact analysis (BIA) is a systematic process to determine and evaluate the potential effects of an interruption to critical business operations as a result of a disaster, accident or emergency. Continue Reading