News in the Channel - issue #22

DISASTER RECOVERY FOR SMBS

and data,” says Andy Brown, technical services director, UK & Ireland at TD SYNNEX. Dave says that the core of an effective DR strategy revolves around two key components: Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO). “These define how quickly you can recover and how much data you can afford to lose,” he says. “To meet these objectives, a reliable, comprehensive backup solution is essential. Backup software should offer strong encryption for data security and the ability to recover systems quickly and at scale. “Every minute of downtime can mean lost revenue and damaged customer relationships. Therefore, backup software that can recover systems at scale and remotely is crucial. While the plan should include risk assessment, recovery procedures and regular testing, the foundation must be a backup solution that can deliver on your RTO and RPO goals, minimising data loss and operational disruption in any scenario.” Chris says that an effective DR plan should comprise several key elements: a thorough risk assessment, a clear recovery strategy, detailed documentation, regular testing and updates and a communication plan. “It should address various scenarios, including data breaches, hardware failures and natural disasters, ensuring that the business can quickly resume operations with minimal disruption,” he says. Karl adds that a DR plan also needs to heavily feature the Active Directory. “If that data is lost or corrupted, it may significantly disrupt your business operations,” he says. “Having a prepared backup and restore plan in place ensures that you can recover your Active Directory to a previously known good state. This is essential to minimise any potential downtime while also maintaining your business continuity.” Importance of drills The importance of DR drills, which can simulate a disaster happening and monitor how long it takes to get a business back up and running in full, should be emphasised, says Karl. “From a drill, any strengths and weaknesses can be identified, and it can be ensured that everything is working as it should,” he adds. “If any issues are identified, they can be rectified before they become an issue. “A DR drill gives businesses the confidence that they have the right plan in place that will

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Given the rise in ransomware and other cyber threats, immutability, encryption, and zero-trust security models are becoming the standard.

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AI influence Professor Andy Pardoe, an expert in AI,

notes that AI is playing a growing role in DR strategies, particularly in combating cybercrime. “AI-driven tools are now being used to detect zero-day vulnerabilities – those previously unknown threats that can cause significant damage if not identified early,” he says. “These AI systems can analyse patterns, predict potential breaches, and respond faster than traditional methods, making them an essential part of a modern disaster recovery plan. “Additionally, the advent of zero-trust security approaches is revolutionising how businesses protect their IT infrastructure. Unlike traditional security models that assume everything inside the network is safe, zero-trust requires continuous verification of all users and devices, whether inside or outside the network. This minimises risks and enhances the overall resilience of the IT environment.”

Stephen Young director

assurestor.com

Components of effective disaster recovery plans

There are many elements that should be considered in a DR plan. “A good DR plan covers the risk of events, such as a major glitch in a key application or service, extreme weather and its consequences, loss of electric power, and unforeseen events such as a physical security incident or a breakdown of the transport network that prevents staff from getting to the workplace – anything and everything that could deny access to systems

Markus Rex general manager

synaxon-services.com

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