When a friend’s PC crashes you ask them if their data was backed up. If your unlucky pal had backed up their files, that’s probably all that’s needed to restore a personal computer to working order. However, only having just a data backup for a company will often be inadequate to maintain business continuity.

When a business suffers damage to their infrastructure or loses data, a complete disaster recovery operation must be performed to restore critical operations and prevent disruptions. A solid disaster recovery (DR) plan will require more tasks than backing up files to ensure business continuity. The following will discuss the differences between backup and disaster recovery.

Backup vs. Data Recovery

Referring to the data copying process, backup allows data to be retrieved in case there is an unforeseen event leading to the loss of data. Taking numerous forms, backups range from data duplication in an on-premises data center, a backup performed at a remote data center, or data transmitted to the cloud.

Intended to be a thorough process, disaster recovery is needed for safeguarding data and operations and restoring them in case of a catastrophic failure. DR is much more complicated than the data backup process. Backup is just one component of disaster recovery.

DR solutions are required to protect data, rapidly find the needed information, and expedite its restoration. The objective of cloud disaster recovery is to minimize downtime for business and mitigate its impact in terms of service disruption.

Selecting the Solutions Needed

There are instances when just a backup is needed for protecting particular aspects of your business against disruptions. This is certainly applicable for files or systems that are not components of core business operations. An example are the mobile devices distributed to employees, which would typically not disrupt business operations if one were lost.

In contrast, DR is very important for the protection of infrastructure and services, which your company relies on to carry out day-to-day operations. If your organization depends on a centralized database and server for business operations, there will be a systemwide disruption if either fails because employees will be unable to use their workstations and do their jobs. Thus, a disaster recovery solution that protects both is needed.

Part 2 will discuss Importance of Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning.

Alpha Business Support

Choosing an expert computer technology-support provider is an important decision for your business. Alpha has been a trusted partner of many companies in the Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Annapolis areas since 1990. For affordable client-focused network consulting services and solutions, please call Alpha today at (410) 295-9500.