Disaster recovery planning - management
The planning phase is crucial to the success of any disaster recovery (DR) initiative. This topic section provides administrators with up-to-date news and how-to information about the personnel, staffing, training and documentation needs related to DR. In addition, this section discusses the best practices for mitigating risks, analyzing potential business impacts, personnel issues, documentation, change control and performing RTO and RPO assessments.
Top Stories
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Feature
17 Apr 2023
Top 14 ransomware targets in 2023 and beyond
Two in three organizations suffered ransomware attacks in a single 12-month period, according to recent research. And, while some industries are taking particularly hard hits, no one is safe. 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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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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Tip
10 May 2022
Top 10 business continuity risks to monitor
Business continuity and disaster recovery threats vary by organization, but common threads can be found across the globe. Ten worrisome trends appear to be having a big year. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Jan 2022
Decode the 4 phases of emergency management
The four-phase framework to emergency management can help organizations plan for all types of emergencies. Here's more about each phase and the steps to take within each. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Jan 2022
Critical event management software simplifies disaster recovery
Critical event management software can help reduce the chaos of disaster response, without overloading disaster recovery teams with data or complicating communications. Continue Reading
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News
19 Jan 2022
Backblaze now a target for Kasten Kubernetes backups
Kasten by Veeam can now use Backblaze's cloud storage as a backup target for Kubernetes data, a need that will continue to grow in popularity. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Jan 2022
Enterprise data storage 2021 Products of the Year finalists
The 20th anniversary of the 'Storage' magazine and SearchStorage Products of the Year contest showcases 39 finalists in backup, cloud, disk, hyper-converged and management. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Jan 2022
5 principles of the network change management process
Network change management includes five basic principles, including risk analysis and peer review. These best practices can help network teams limit failed network changes and outages. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Dec 2021
IT resilience management, planning top of mind for DR pros
Resilience is a key issue for disaster recovery pros. This year, readers sought to build up their skills and learn more about the role of resilience in DR. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Dec 2021
Where do PSIM systems fit into disaster recovery?
Organizations that use multiple security platforms can look to PSIM systems to be better prepared for an incident. Read on for more about how they work. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Nov 2021
How to use AI for disaster response
AI systems can be a dynamic method to automate disaster response, but they need to be well trained in interpreting disasters to be effective. Here are some tips to get started. Continue Reading
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Answer
16 Nov 2021
What is the role of qualitative and quantitative impact in DR?
Disaster recovery planners use several metrics to craft a plan suited to their organizations. Quantitative and qualitative impact are two helpful metrics in a recovery strategy. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Nov 2021
Prepare a supply chain disaster recovery plan
Supply chain disruptions can bring business to a halt and lead to high costs. Examine potential threats, mitigation costs and prepare to plug any gaps in the chain. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Nov 2021
How to calculate and reduce MTTR
Mean time to repair is a helpful performance metric to ensure that important systems and processes don't fail. BCDR teams should know how to calculate MTTR, as well as lower it. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Oct 2021
Backup scheduling best practices to ensure availability
For daily work files, databases and mission-critical systems and data, the more frequent the backup, the better. But how often should you back up all your data? Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Oct 2021
Prepare and conduct a ransomware tabletop exercise
Tabletop exercises help organizations practice response and recovery, but one size doesn't fit all. For ransomware attacks, use this template to create a targeted exercise. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Oct 2021
IT risk assessment template (with free download)
Risk assessments are a critical part of a disaster recovery plan. Find out how to prepare a risk assessment and then download the included free template to create one. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Sep 2021
Ransomware questions to ask for optimal backup protection
Are you asking the right questions about ransomware? Here are some questions for backup admins and IT teams that can help keep backups safe in a ransomware attack. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Sep 2021
Backup admins: Watch out for these ransomware attack trends
Ransomware attacks have evolved and present a new set of challenges for backup admins. Here are some recent attack trends to prepare for to keep data and backups safe. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Sep 2021
Decode different types of business interruption insurance
Business interruption insurance can be difficult to navigate because not all policies are the same. Here's what to examine when exploring insurance options. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Aug 2021
Top mass notification system vendors and how to choose one
Mass notification systems are crucial to a business continuity and disaster recovery strategy. To choose the right system, cross-check its capabilities with your requirements. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Aug 2021
Understand the costs of a disaster recovery failure
A disaster recovery plan may seem like an unnecessary expense to some businesses, but a lack of preparation will cost you. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Aug 2021
Maximize the benefits of virtual disaster recovery
Compared to physical setups, virtualization can accelerate and streamline DR processes. Automation, however, is essential to achieve those benefits. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Aug 2021
Fortify emergency communications systems with a business plan
Emergency communications is one of the first actions organizations should undertake during an incident. An automated system is critical but cannot stand alone without a plan. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Aug 2021
Make a power outage business continuity plan with these tips
Power outages can lead to business disruption and hit at any moment. Infrastructure testing and emergency protocols can help with business continuity when the lights go down. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Aug 2021
Protect NAS device backups with these tips
NAS devices provide reliable data storage for businesses of all sizes. Backing up that data requires organizations to implement additional data protection efforts. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jul 2021
Prepare for planned and unplanned downtime
There are two types of IT downtime: planned and unplanned. Neither are desirable, but one is necessary and the other could strike at any moment. Here's how to prepare for both. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Jul 2021
How to plan for the cost of unplanned downtime
Unplanned downtime can lead to serious consequences, including reputational harm, revenue loss and extra IT costs. Use these tips to plan for the unexpected. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Jul 2021
Crisis communications training exercises to implement
A crisis communications team must be prepared to spring into action at a moment's notice. Here are three crisis communications training strategies to ensure a team is ready. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Jul 2021
Tips for backup compliance reporting and why it matters
Backup compliance reporting is crucial to keep data safe and keep organizations compliant with data regulations. Learn more about its importance and how to ensure compliance. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Jun 2021
Business continuity interview questions for aspiring managers
Business continuity managers must be ready for anything, and that includes interviewing for the role. Here are some common business continuity interview questions to prepare for. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jun 2021
Build a BCDR employee training program for peak resilience
A BCDR training program teaches employees key skills, such as how to conduct risk assessments, coordinate emergency response with first responders and restore business processes. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Jun 2021
Organizational resilience questionnaire for recovery teams
Following organizational resiliency standards such as ISO and BSI can prepare organizations for disaster. These questions provide a starting point to validate OR readiness. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Jun 2021
12 skills business continuity managers need to succeed
Communication, collaboration, IT expertise and project management are key skills that business continuity managers must have to efficiently lead a BCDR team. Here's why. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Jun 2021
How to build a strong crisis communications team
A crisis communications team works best when all members are fully aware of their responsibilities. Here are some tips on building a highly effective response team. Continue Reading
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Answer
08 Jun 2021
What are some examples of organizational resilience?
Organizational resilience encompasses everything a company needs to run in times of crisis. These examples show how businesses handle tough situations. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 May 2021
Titan HST says emergency comms usage shifted during pandemic
Vic Merjanian, CEO of emergency mass communication platform vendor Titan HST, says the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the technological push toward a contactless world. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 May 2021
The tiers of disaster recovery, explained
Organizations have used disaster recovery tiers to define the DR process for years. These key tiers can serve as a backbone to a comprehensive disaster recovery plan. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Apr 2021
What's on 2021's data protection conference calendar
Curious about data protection conferences in the coming months? This roundup details dates and topic areas for 2021 events covering backup and disaster recovery. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Apr 2021
Establish a business continuity team to get the full picture
Business continuity teams provide insight and focus that can keep an organization on its feet when disaster strikes. Don't rely on a disaster recovery team to reduce downtime. Continue Reading
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Feature
02 Apr 2021
Castellan Solutions says COVID-19 forced BCDR rethink
COVID-19 caught organizations flat-footed in terms of business continuity, and new challenges will arise as vaccines are distributed, according to Castellan Solutions' CEO and COO. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Mar 2021
Create an incident response plan with this free template
Want to boost your organization's ability to fight cybersecurity threats? Uncover the essentials to creating an incident response plan and download our free, editable template. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Mar 2021
Prepare for the unknown with an organizational resilience model
An organizational resilience strategy is far-reaching, involving many facets of IT and the business -- from disaster recovery to supply chain management. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Mar 2021
How to establish an operational resilience training program
Collaboration across departments is the new normal to protect business operations. Set up and promote an operational resilience training program with our included printable guide. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Mar 2021
Operational resilience frameworks hinge on breaking down silos
Resilience is more than just business continuity and disaster recovery. Operational resilience depends on communication among many different business functions at an organization. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Feb 2021
Top 3 backup and recovery requirements for data protection
Data protection teams are responsible for some of an organization's most critical activities. The right policies, testing and technologies are key to a backup and recovery plan. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Feb 2021
The reality of Docker disaster recovery in practice
A successful Docker DR strategy must account for a range of factors, including the host infrastructure, networks and redundancy in the cloud. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Feb 2021
Combine business continuity and crisis management practices
Together, business continuity and crisis management procedures help an organization prepare for the worst. But careful planning is key. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Feb 2021
Bolster an operational resilience strategy with these tips
What's the first step to achieve operational resilience? Knowing which assets and activities are most critical to the business. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Feb 2021
Follow these standards for business continuity and resilience
Business continuity, disaster recovery and resilience professionals have numerous IT standards they can reference for nearly every aspect of planning. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jan 2021
Optimize a BCDR strategy for 2021 and beyond
COVID-19 has changed the way many organizations view BCDR. Along with an increased interest in resilience, a pandemic-proof BCDR plan is likely top of mind for 2021. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jan 2021
Top 10 tips to effectively manage the data backup process
An organization's backup process should be comprehensive -- it could save the business in a crisis. These 10 tips describe how to run the process from start to finish. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Jan 2021
Use APIs to create a custom disaster recovery report
The right set of PowerShell commands and API calls can go a long way to build and customize a disaster recovery report. Learn how with these steps. Continue Reading
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News
19 Jan 2021
Everbridge CTO details critical event management 'wake-up call'
Everbridge CTO Imad Mouline discusses how the coronavirus pandemic changed his company and businesses around the world, plus how organizations can improve crisis management. Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Jan 2021
Enterprise data storage 2020 Products of the Year finalists
The field of entrants in our 19th annual Products of the Year contest has been reduced to 47 contenders vying for gold, silver and bronze status in five data storage categories. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Dec 2020
Remote disaster recovery presents new business challenges
With more employees working remotely than ever, natural disasters and other typical DR crises present an entirely new challenge. How can businesses tackle this new set of risks? Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Dec 2020
Where disaster recovery strategy stands post-2020
Predictably, some 2019 forecasts of what disaster recovery might look like in 2020 didn't quite hit the mark. However, funding and cybersecurity were evergreen concerns. Continue Reading
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Answer
21 Dec 2020
How can a pandemic business continuity plan cover employees?
A major element in maintaining business continuity during a pandemic is taking care of employee health. Pandemic-specific planning must be a part of the overall BCDR plan. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Nov 2020
Prepare for a business continuity audit with the FFIEC handbook
The FFIEC 'Business Continuity Management' handbook can serve as a guide to ensure that BC activities are consistent with best practices and are ready for an audit. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Nov 2020
Business continuity vendors bolster offerings during pandemic
Organizations must ensure their pandemic business continuity and technology DR plans address cybersecurity, as well as remote employees, social distancing and company shutdowns. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Nov 2020
After-action report template and guide for DR planning
Conducting an after-action report following disasters or internal DR exercises is a critical process that will help prepare an organization for future disruptive events. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Oct 2020
Updated FFIEC 'Business Continuity' handbook highlights planning
The FFIEC handbook on business continuity has been updated by the organization to place greater emphasis on planning, with more detailed information on testing and exercises. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Oct 2020
Creating a post-pandemic recovery plan is an ongoing process
There is still much to learn about post-pandemic DR at this stage of COVID-19. Organizations should keep an eye on pandemic-specific software changes and updated recovery tools. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Oct 2020
Top 5 backup and recovery challenges and their remedies
As data backup and recovery reaches new levels of capacity and complexity, learn how to gain the upper hand over common challenges in this important field. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Oct 2020
Understanding BC, resilience standards and how to comply
Follow these nine steps to first identify relevant business continuity and resilience standards and, second, launch a successful compliance program at your organization. Continue Reading
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News
01 Oct 2020
Cohesity tries to fill 'SLA gap' with backup-DR combo
Cohesity's new SiteContinuity product is an automated disaster recovery product that uses the company's backup and continuous data protection capabilities based on the data's SLA. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Sep 2020
ISO 22301:2019 vs. previous versions: What's changed?
The International Organization for Standardization is continually updating its BC standards. Older versions may still be relevant, but keep an eye out for significant changes. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Sep 2020
It's time to update your pandemic disaster recovery plan
Your DR plan may be unprepared for a pandemic, and while mid-pandemic is not the ideal time to be discovering issues, you should use this time to make changes. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Sep 2020
Common virtual disaster recovery errors and how to avoid them
Frequently testing a disaster recovery plan is one reliable way to ensure that a virtual recovery will go smoothly and not set an organization back. Continue Reading
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News
23 Sep 2020
Ransomware recovery steps important for 'constant battle'
Are you ready to recover from ransomware? Actifio Data Driven sessions detailed guidelines for your recovery plan that could save your business time and money. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 Sep 2020
5 supply chain cybersecurity risks and best practices
Threats to supply chain security have increased in the wake of COVID-19. Learn what they are and how you can defend your organization and prevent disruption and worse. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Sep 2020
Develop a backup KPI to improve performance
A KPI helps businesses measure and manage performance. Understand the importance of KPIs within the data backup and recovery processes and how you can make one. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Sep 2020
How to ensure cybersecurity and business continuity plans align
We're diving into how and why organizations should have a collection of emergency-focused plans in place that can interact with each other if a cybersecurity attack occurs. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Aug 2020
Post-pandemic data backup and recovery planning guidelines
Following the coronavirus pandemic, you might have to modify your backup and recovery strategy. Overcome the data protection challenges presented by the changes in daily life. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Aug 2020
Terms to aid your pandemic recovery planning process
When updating your organization's pandemic plan, it can help to have these terms handy. These tools, processes and standards are key to a solid recovery plan. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Aug 2020
ISO and FFIEC business continuity standards compared
Global standards aid the process of creating and updating a business continuity plan. The requirements of two popular standards can ensure that your BC team doesn't miss any steps. Continue Reading
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Infographic
21 Aug 2020
15 examples of supply chain disruptions throughout history
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruptions across the global supply chain. Here's a look at other disruptions that underscore why boosting resiliency has always been important. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Aug 2020
Exploring COVID-19 food supply chain disruptions
The food sector has been hard hit by COVID-19. Learn what some of those issues have been, how some companies have escaped the worst of it and what lessons are most important. Continue Reading
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News
10 Aug 2020
Flexible Metal bends toward Arcserve backup
Flexible Metal's IT manager was trying to do site-to-site replication for backup and DR using Veritas Backup Exec but found it too slow. Arcserve was faster and more reliable. Continue Reading
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News
06 Aug 2020
Backup and recovery Magic Quadrant shows cloud significance
Representatives from vendor leaders Rubrik, Cohesity, Veeam and Commvault give their impressions of Gartner's 2020 Magic Quadrant for backup and recovery products. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jul 2020
Steps to building a pandemic business continuity plan
Your business continuity plan may address some concerns that come along with a pandemic, but COVID-19 has emphasized the importance of having remote work as part of it. Continue Reading
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Answer
23 Jul 2020
What are 5 backup management best practices?
The task of managing backups can seem overwhelming. These straightforward guidelines should help, as there are procedures and technologies that can make your job easier. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Jul 2020
Small business pandemic plan should cover supply chain, staff
COVID-19 has many organizations shifting gears when it comes to pandemic planning, and SMBs are no exception. For small companies, adaptability is the key to recovery. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Jul 2020
Use disaster recovery standards to guide pandemic planning
International quality management and compliance standards can help an organization kick off a disaster recovery plan for unprecedented scenarios, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Jun 2020
Ransomware resilience starts before cyberattacks hit
Ransomware is still common, especially in the coronavirus age, so you need to be ready. Explore ransomware recovery tips from an IT manager who dealt firsthand with an attack. Continue Reading
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News
26 May 2020
2nd Watch launches cloud-based disaster recovery service
COVID-19 is accelerating interest in disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS), and 2nd Watch says it can facilitate the process and reduce cost using AWS. Continue Reading
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Feature
21 May 2020
Business continuity challenges emerge as work from home ends
As governments consider reopening, organizations must address how it affects business continuity planning, such as accounting for WFH employees returning to offices and the potential for outages. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 May 2020
Supply chain recovery post-COVID-19: Risk, disruption and tech
The coronavirus pandemic exposed the fragility of global supply chains and leaders must turn their attention to boosting resiliency. Here's how to start. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 May 2020
Strategies for kicking off your pandemic recovery plan
Before resuming business activities after a pandemic, establish a timeline and plan for recovery. Reviewing a business impact analysis and creating a recovery framework can help. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 May 2020
Data backup plan template: A free download and guide
Download our free backup planning template to help you get started or improve your current plan. It's important to have critical information laid out in a document. Continue Reading
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Feature
07 May 2020
6 ways to address COVID-19 food supply chain disruptions
The food supply chain may be broken, but there are initial steps companies must take in the near term. Learn how to bring order to the chaos COVID-19 has brought. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 May 2020
Implementing a business continuity plan in times of crisis
Forrester Research analysts discuss what we initially knew about the COVID-19 pandemic, how it's transforming business and how to devise a business continuity plan. Continue Reading
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Feature
05 May 2020
How to understand DRaaS pricing and budgeting
Learn how to get the most value out of your disaster-recovery-as-a-service investment by conducting a thorough business impact analysis and following a few simple steps. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 May 2020
The true cost of network downtime for your business
Network brownouts could be the biggest under-the-radar threat to your network. Calculate the potential costs of downtime to save your organization's productivity and money. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 May 2020
8 DRaaS risks to identify and remediate
Before signing with a specific DRaaS provider, get information on how the vendor handles data protection and recovery and restoration, among other things. Continue Reading
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Answer
01 May 2020
12 steps for a successful DRaaS implementation
Thinking of activating disaster recovery as a service? As you start this important process, consider these best practices that will help protect your organization. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Apr 2020
Iland vs. Recovery Point: Compare these DRaaS providers
Iland and Recovery Point Systems are two leading providers of managed DRaaS. Learn how each vendor's services compare and how they differentiate themselves. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Apr 2020
Cybersecurity impact analysis template for pandemic planning
This template from IANS Research can help IT and security professionals document and prioritize essential processes, staffing and systems when faced with a pandemic event. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Apr 2020
Remote business continuity techniques to implement now
Managing business continuity and disaster recovery without employees on site can be a challenge for an organization that doesn't typically function remotely. Continue Reading