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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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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Feature
02 Oct 2018
Sunkist Growers reaps the benefits of managed disaster recovery services
Sunkist Growers turned to DRaaS to make its disaster recovery options more practical for the company and its employees. But while the market is maturing, it might not work for all businesses. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Sep 2018
Malware response plan recovers data in 6 steps
Responding to and recovering from malware is a complex process that requires significant preparation. With a response plan in place, you can be ready to prevent a malware disaster. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Sep 2018
GDPR and disaster recovery: How to ensure you're covered
After all of the preparations and changes your organization has gone through to prepare for GDPR, make sure disaster recovery doesn't get swept under the rug. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Sep 2018
Highlight these 4 areas in your malware incident response plan
The malware threat is on the rise, and recovery is no simple process. When planning a malware response, it's vital to get down specifics and eliminate unknown factors. Continue Reading
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Opinion
06 Sep 2018
Preventing ransomware attacks is a top storage vendor claim
Storage vendors advance silly and not-so-silly claims about how data backup and protection technologies are the answer to ransomware prevention and growing ransomware fatalism. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Sep 2018
Backup snapshots and replication supplement standard backup
Traditional backup or data snapshot and replication technologies alone don't meet the data protection and DR needs of modern enterprises. Combine them all together and they do. Continue Reading
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Guide
28 Aug 2018
Recovering from ransomware: Defend your data with best practices
What does it take to recover from a ransomware attack? In most cases, it's planning, testing and resources. Is your organization prepared for the worst? Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Aug 2018
4 areas where compliance with GDPR and disaster recovery intersect
Your disaster recovery plans may have to change following the need for compliance with GDPR. These four elements involve backups, personal data, security and archiving. Continue Reading
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Answer
24 Aug 2018
What standards for business continuity aid in compliance?
Business continuity and disaster recovery compliance is a valuable asset and may require a deeper understanding of modern standards and changes your organization needs to make. Continue Reading
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Answer
15 Aug 2018
What does the ISO 22330 business continuity standard cover?
With ISO/TS 22330, the International Organization for Standardization covers the issues related to the people involved in BCDR incident response. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Jul 2018
With a data recovery plan, take advantage of all resources
Data security and data recovery have a lot in common, and both can cause a lot of strife if not handled properly. Are you using every disaster recovery resource available to you? Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Jul 2018
Five tips for disaster recovery insurance and funding
Having a complete disaster recovery plan is essential. So is having DR insurance and the money available to fund the recovery. These steps will help you succeed with the latter. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Jul 2018
Five data recovery planning steps to protect vital assets
Accurately restoring lost data after disaster strikes requires planning, patience and logic. If your goal is a smooth recovery process, here's what you'll need to know beforehand. Continue Reading
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Quiz
25 Jun 2018
Can you recover from ransomware? Take our quiz and find out
Ransomware recovery is a complex, often expensive process. Are you prepared in the event of an attack? It may be time to ask yourself the difficult (or perhaps easy) questions. Continue Reading
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Answer
18 Jun 2018
Is your cloud DR strategy agile enough?
As business requirements evolve, not every DR tool can keep up. In the age of agile IT, there are drawbacks to consider with a cloud-based disaster recovery strategy. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Jun 2018
3 signs you may need a business continuity service provider
Using a BC/DR service provider may give your recovery plan a much-needed boost. As new technologies and standards arise, a partner can address changing needs. Continue Reading
- 06 Jun 2018
- 06 Jun 2018
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E-Zine
06 Jun 2018
Container applications need backup: Who knew?
The concept of containers, ephemeral applications running across private and public clouds, has grown in popularity over the last few years. It has quickly become clear that the transient nature of containers and container applications isn't compatible with the enterprise, however. As a result, data persistence has arrived in the world of containers and made it necessary to back up container data, protecting it the same way as all other enterprise data.
Securing container data has its own set of processes and requirements, though, and how container backups and data protection are implemented depends largely on the design of the container ecosystem. Vendors take a variety of approaches -- including products, agents and plug-ins -- to back up container applications. This article tells you what you need to know about backing up container data and explores the options available for container backups.
Ransomware is a serious threat that's having a deleterious impact on businesses worldwide. While backing up data is an important tool in the war on ransomware, an unlikely ally has emerged in the form object storage technology, which can add an extra layer of protection beyond traditional backups. When properly implemented, object storage can reduce the chances of ransomware encrypting your data. It could even help get all or some of your data back after an infection without paying a ransom. Find out how object storage can help better protect your valuable data from ransomware.
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Opinion
06 Jun 2018
A data replication strategy for all your disaster recovery needs
Know your IT environment inside and out to choose the right data replication product for your organization's current and future disaster recovery requirements. Continue Reading
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Opinion
06 Jun 2018
Disaster avoidance requirements ensure business continuity
Include disaster recovery and avoidance requirements as design goals when creating storage and production environments to ensure business continuity during weather events. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Jun 2018
Use object storage technology to fight ransomware infection
Done right, object storage reduces the likelihood of a successful ransomware attack and, in some instances, lets you get data back without paying a ransom. Continue Reading
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Answer
30 May 2018
Which modern disaster recovery tool is often overlooked?
When crafting a DR strategy, there are a number of useful tools available. To avoid missing out on some serious benefits, make sure you take a look at all available options. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 May 2018
Best practices for social media and business resilience
Solid business continuity and resilience depend on a thorough examination and update of company social media policies. Otherwise, you may have a disaster on your hands. Continue Reading
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Feature
02 May 2018
Test your ransomware recovery plan to safeguard data
Testing your restore process prior to an attack is a major part of surviving a ransomware infection. Reduce recovery time and ensure data is secure with planning and preparation. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Apr 2018
What to do when a BC/DR plan goes awry
Insufficient testing or not knowing what to expect could result in a failed business continuity plan. Luckily, there are steps you can take if your BC/DR planning goes belly up. Continue Reading
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Answer
17 Apr 2018
How does the ISO 22316 standard cover resilience?
Definitions for business continuity and resilience sometimes clash, but both processes help an organization stay on its feet. A new ISO standard tackles the latter. Continue Reading
- 03 Apr 2018
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E-Zine
03 Apr 2018
Seven ways to unlock the power of all types of unstructured data
New storage services have emerged to help IT pros maintain and deliver access to ever-larger and more valuable data sets, particularly all types of unstructured data. These include data sets for big data analysis, DevOps, storage self-service and cost-control purposes, among other things. This data explosion is the result of several trends, including growth of files and file systems, machine-generated data streams, web-scale application exhaust, endless file versioning, finer-grained backups and rollback snapshots. If you're architecting a new approach to storage and dealing with various types of unstructured data storage at a global enterprise scale, we have seven advanced storage capabilities you should consider.
The on-demand nature of the cloud has not only changed the way enterprises consume and pay for IT resources, it has profoundly altered our understanding and expectations of IT services and infrastructure in general. More enterprises expect to obtain the features they want when they want them and to pay for those features only when and if they need them. This has been acutely felt by vendors and consumers alike in the fragmented and dynamic storage market. It has altered how storage providers deliver expected core features, such as deduplication, replication, compression and encryption, and has led to the development of niche products that meet application-specific needs and use cases. This issue clarifies the new and evolving data storage landscape to help you buy and deploy the right storage products with the features you require and more easily acquire the products you may need in the future.
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News
03 Apr 2018
TetherView desktop disaster recovery offers a way into VDI
With standby virtual desktops from TetherView, IT can forgo full-fledged backup data centers for disaster recovery. The company CEO details use cases for the technology and more. Continue Reading
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Opinion
03 Apr 2018
Want IT resiliency? Look to both security and disaster recovery
Security, protection from hackers and ransomware, disaster preparedness and disaster recovery are all means to the goal of resilient IT infrastructure and business processes. Continue Reading
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Answer
30 Mar 2018
What are vital elements of a workplace emergency response plan?
Emergency response planning needs to be specific and varied enough that it will enable an organization to recover in the event of many different kinds of incidents. Continue Reading
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Opinion
19 Mar 2018
Modern data backup technologies afford merging opportunities
Through technologies such as copy data management, vendors are merging primary and secondary storage. There's more convergence ahead, within the likes of solid-state drives. Continue Reading
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Answer
14 Mar 2018
What is a short business continuity history?
From mainframes to the cloud, the business continuity profession has seen a lot over the decades. How did we get to the business continuity process of today? Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Mar 2018
Don't let your BC/DR plan get lost in the shuffle
How can you maintain consistency in your BC/DR strategy in a world of constantly evolving technology? If it's a reactive part of IT, you're already behind. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Feb 2018
Lessons in business continuity and disaster recovery planning
When crafting a business continuity and disaster recovery plan, you have to anticipate the unexpected. Here is what we can learn about BC/DR from two high-profile disasters. Continue Reading
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Podcast
26 Feb 2018
IT business continuity and disaster recovery: Past to future
From protecting mainframes to recovering from cyberattacks, the methods for business continuity and disaster recovery have changed, but the practice remains vital. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Feb 2018
Converged backup and recovery strategies offer efficiency, reliability
Are you confident in your backup and recovery strategy? Make sure you have locked down the speed, testing and security of both processes to recover data appropriately. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Feb 2018
A ransomware recovery plan for SMBs in five steps
SMBs are especially at risk of cyberattacks. Follow these steps, and even with a limited budget and staff, you could successfully recover from ransomware. Continue Reading
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News
13 Feb 2018
Zerto Virtual Replication 6.0 dives deeper into multiple clouds
Zerto has added to its bidirectional Virtual Replication software with multi-cloud protection for data and applications stored in AWS, Microsoft Azure and IBM Cloud. Continue Reading
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News
31 Jan 2018
Ransomware outbreak threat calls for backup and DR strategy
IT departments deploy a range of data restore approaches to mitigate the risk of a debilitating ransomware attack. Time is of the essence, however. Continue Reading
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Answer
29 Jan 2018
What are the top disaster recovery trends for 2018?
Expect disaster recovery market trends to include consolidation and simplification. Vendors should also note that quick failover and recovery time remain top needs for customers. Continue Reading
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News
08 Jan 2018
IT DR planning helps Frost Museum of Science weather Irma
The Frost Museum of Science in Miami braced for Hurricane Irma with a solidified DR planning, storage and data center infrastructure, and it suffered minimal damage from the storm. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Jan 2018
Don't overlook these business resilience plan essentials
Business resilience planning requires preventive and proactive protections across power supply, systems, cybersecurity and backup procedures. Staff planning is important as well. Continue Reading
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E-Zine
05 Dec 2017
The hottest data storage technology trends for 2018
For the past 15 years, Storage magazine has identified the hottest data storage technology trends you'll want to follow in the coming year. All of our selections may be "newish" tech, but they're also tried and true, having demonstrated their effectiveness and worth in the data center. You won't find anything bleeding edge on our list -- only proven and widely available technologies made the cut. Honorees for the hottest data storage technology trends of 2018 cover a wide spectrum of storage tech, from predictive analytics to ransomware protection to converged secondary storage, multi-cloud and nonvolatile memory express over fabrics.
Although we do our best to predict the hottest data storage technology trends, sometimes our crystal ball isn't as clear as we would like. Once again, we've included a report card on how last year's picks panned out. And, as a bonus, we've provided a list of storage trends that aren't quite ready for prime time and didn't make our 2018 hot tech list. There's always 2019 for those technologies!
Not all backups are created equal or even follow the traditional model of only copying files that have changed since the last backup to a storage device on a media server. Take the concept of backup-less backups, commonly called flat backups. Here, storage-level snapshots created on a server or filer are backed up and replicated to another server filer. This is different from a typical backup in a couple ways: There's no media server, and the protected copy is just that, a copy -- in the same format as the original data. Find out more about backup-less backup, the vendors that offer it and how you can best make use of the technology for your organization.
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Feature
27 Nov 2017
Data center disaster recovery plan template and guide
Read our guide on data center DR planning, and then download our free template to assess how your data center facility and its infrastructure would perform during a disaster. Continue Reading
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Feature
22 Nov 2017
Network disaster recovery plan template
If your organization doesn't have a network disaster recovery plan, download our free network DR plan template for tips on how to get started. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Nov 2017
Free business continuity policy template
A business continuity plan can help organizations of any size prepare for a disaster. Resiliency, recovery and contingency planning are key elements to get systems up and running. Continue Reading
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E-Zine
03 Nov 2017
Features disaster recovery-as-a-service providers must offer
A cost-effective disaster recovery as a service lets organizations of all sizes implement a dependable disaster recovery plan. Disaster recovery-as-a-service providers replicate or back up customer data to cloud data centers and then -- should disaster strike -- host and run applications remotely. There's a lot of room for disaster recovery-as-a-service providers to develop features specific to their DRaaS products, which can make sorting through those offerings daunting. Learn about the four key capabilities to look for when comparing DRaaS vendors to ensure the one you choose can handle the full range of potential disasters.
Data that goes into cold storage is often kept for compliance and, increasingly, for big data analysis. Such data is infrequently or never accessed. Typically cheaper and lower performing than primary or secondary storage, cold storage systems are designed for storing such data. Enterprises may need to make this data warm or hot at a moment's notice, though, complicating cold storage design and increasing costs. Initially based on automated tape libraries and optical jukeboxes, cold storage systems have evolved to encompass Linear Tape File System and object storage as the amount of unstructured data has grown in recent years. Software for managing unstructured data has changed the cold data landscape as well.
Employees often access and synchronize corporate data from a variety of consumer-grade sync-and-share services, putting the organization at risk. Enterprise-grade file sync-and-share -- available via the cloud, on premises or in hybrid modes -- includes enhancements to ensure security and compliance. Such features vary among vendors, but there are certain ones you should always look for to maintain data integrity and security.
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Feature
25 Oct 2017
Business continuity and disaster recovery testing templates
BC and DR testing can be major challenges for any organization. Our free templates offer ways to incorporate testing into your overall management process. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 May 2017
Protection against ransomware takes flight with canary files
As ransomware attackers get smarter, it's important for data protection systems to step up their game. Canary files and infection detection are a good start. Continue Reading
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Answer
02 Mar 2017
How do I design and initiate a call tree procedure?
A call tree can be an important piece of disaster recovery planning. Follow these steps for call tree design and execution to ensure your company is ready for unplanned events. Continue Reading
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Opinion
10 Feb 2017
The data storage industry will turn upside down in 2017, or will it?
Rich Castagna reviews the prognostications offered by data storage vendors on the future of data storage technology in 2017. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Jun 2016
Tape archive remains the recording medium of choice
Tape archiving offers low-cost, long-term data protection in a variety of industries, keeping it atop the list of data center backup technologies. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 May 2016
Risk assessment analysis and BIA data in BC plans
Examine how BIA and RA data are used to formulate business continuity strategies. It's common to bypass these steps, but the data can result in more precise and focused BC plans. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Mar 2016
A look at data backup techniques: Recovery-in-place
Explore recovery-in-place technology to see if it is the right fit for your organization. But be aware that this data backup method requires some up-front planning. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Sep 2015
Data backup and disaster recovery made simple
Many backup products include DR, enabling users to manage both tasks from the same platform. Learn how to streamline data backup and disaster recovery. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Apr 2015
Use business continuity to boost your corporate governance process
Business continuity planning can round out a corporate governance plan by identifying potential areas of failure and how to survive them. Continue Reading
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Answer
19 Dec 2014
What are the top five ways to train personnel in disaster response?
What are the five best ways to ensure personnel are trained in disaster response and ready to respond to a disaster event? Continue Reading
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Answer
24 Oct 2014
What are some common VMware High Availability configuration errors?
What are the most common mistakes people make when configuring VMware High Availability? Continue Reading
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Answer
10 Jun 2014
Why the change management process is important for DR
Paul Kirvan discusses the importance of the change management process for disaster recovery in this Expert Answer. Continue Reading
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Answer
10 Jun 2014
Include the VoIP system in your disaster recovery planning process
Independent disaster recovery planning expert Paul Kirvan discusses why your VoIP system must be part of the disaster recovery planning process. Continue Reading
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Answer
10 Jun 2014
Your disaster recovery planning process must include your phone system
Independent disaster recovery planning expert Paul Kirvan discusses why your disaster recovery planning process must include your phone system. Continue Reading
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Feature
03 Feb 2014
10 mistakes to avoid in your disaster recovery planning process
Don't make your DR planning process harder than it is by trying to do too much or cutting corners. Careful planning is key to a successful recovery. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Aug 2013
Essential guide to BC and DR
Every year, many readers report that they are not confident in their organization's DR plans. This collection of our best BC/DR content can help. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Aug 2013
Security incident response procedures: When to do a system shutdown
At times, security incident response procedures require drastic measures. Expert Nick Lewis explains when and how to perform a system shutdown. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Jun 2013
Building an incident response plan
Learn how incident response plans offer a starting point for responding to a situation and then deciding how to proceed in this tip from Paul Kirvan. Continue Reading
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Podcast
02 Apr 2012
Building a DR site vs. outsourcing disaster recovery
Paul Kirvan explains some of the pros and cons of using a third-party vendor to provide a backup DR site versus building your own site. Continue Reading
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News
15 Feb 2012
Video conferencing essential to disaster recovery communications
Video conferencing and telepresence have become essential parts of a disaster recovery communications plan for both government agencies and enterprises. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Jan 2012
Removing a bad patch using Microsoft Windows Server Update Service
This tip offers information about how to remove a bad software patch using Microsoft Microsoft Windows Server Update Service. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
27 Jun 2011
Business impact analysis questionnaire template
Download our free business impact analysis questionnaire template we've created to help you jumpstart your BIA process. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Apr 2011
Getting started with outsourcing disaster recovery sites
Disaster recovery outsourcing can save you money, but follow these tips before you sign on the dotted line. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Mar 2011
Free disaster recovery planning templates
Download our free templates today to help create the best disaster recovery plan for your business. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
07 Mar 2011
Bulletproof your disaster recovery planning process
Learn how to bulletproof your disaster recovery planning process with this free guide. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Jan 2011
Disaster recovery planning for your help desk: A help desk template
The help desk is a vital part of IT operations, but it's often not included in disaster recovery plans. Download our help desk template for DR planning. Continue Reading
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News
20 Dec 2010
Hot IT disaster recovery trends for 2011
Here's a look at our predictions for the hottest disaster recovery trends for the year ahead: cloud disaster recovery, data center outsourcing, and more. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Dec 2010
Top 10 IT disaster recovery tips of 2010
To help alleviate the problems that often arise with disaster recovery (DR) planning and testing, we've compiled our top 10 DR tips from 2010. Learn about cloud disaster recovery, DR maturity levels and more. Continue Reading
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Answer
06 Dec 2010
Maximum tolerable period of disruption (MTPOD) vs. RTO and RPO
Learn what maximum tolerable period of disruption (MTPOD) means for disaster recovery planners vs. the terms RTO and RPO. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
24 Aug 2010
Virtualization disaster recovery planning tutorial
Virtualization disaster recovery (DR) differs from physical server DR in many ways. Learn the different technologies for virtual server backup and recovery, including VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM), and how VMware environments differ from Microsoft Hyper-V and Citrix XenServer environments. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Aug 2010
Disaster recovery site requirements: Building your own DR site
Take these physical, operational and functional concerns into consideration before you build your own recovery site. Continue Reading
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Quiz
05 Jul 2010
Business continuity planning methodology quiz
Test your knowledge of business continuity with our business continuity planning methodology quiz. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Jun 2010
Selecting a managed business continuity service provider
In this tip, determine whether or not you need a managed BC service provider for BC/DR planning purposes and the steps to take to get the best results. Continue Reading
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Answer
02 Jun 2010
What is a business impact analysis questionnaire and what types of questions should be included?
Harvey Betan explains that a BIA questionnaire is used to gather valuable and important data about a company, the industry and other background information in this expert response. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
24 Feb 2010
Local area network disaster recovery tutorial: Redundant power systems and planning key for LAN DR
Avoid or mitigate common local area network (LAN) disasters by identifying likely failure points, building redundant systems, and stocking replacement equipment. Here's what you need in a LAN disaster recovery plan. Continue Reading
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News
12 Feb 2010
The importance of WAN optimization technology in disaster recovery programs
Listen to this podcast to find out the benefits of WAN optimization, how WAN optimization can help with DR and the future of WAN optimization in DR. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Jan 2010
Using data deduplication products as part of an IT disaster recovery strategy
Data deduplication has gained a lot of traction in the data backup and recovery world over the past few years. When integrating data deduplication products into your IT disaster recovery strategy, there are a number of things you need to consider. Should you use source dedupe or target dedupe? Which one is better for disaster recovery? If you are backing up your data to tape and disk, are there other issues to keep in mind? W. Curtis Preston, independent backup expert and executive editor, discusses source and target deduplication, how these approaches differ, what that means from a disaster recovery perspective and more in this Q&A. Continue Reading
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Answer
02 Nov 2009
What's the difference between a disaster recovery plan and a business continuity plan?
Kevin Beaver describes the difference between disaster recovery and business continuity planning in this ask the expert response. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Jun 2009
Change management in disaster recovery and business continuity planning
Change management is an important process for business continuity and disaster recovery planning for several reasons. Learn about change management best practices and its role in BC/DR planning. Continue Reading
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Feature
07 May 2009
Data center emergency power strategies in disaster recovery planning
Despite all the precautions you can take to provide uninterrupted power to your data center, situations can occur that threaten your center's continued operations. Learn about emergency power strategies in disaster recovery planning. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Apr 2009
Risk management for disaster recovery planning
Disaster recovery (DR) planning is typically driven by risk management. This tip focuses on mitigating some of the risks associated with data and storage. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Mar 2009
Including employees in your disaster recovery plan
To really ensure business continuity, organizations need to protect and support employees while continuing to manage the business. This tip examines key issues that are affecting employees in business continuity and disaster recovery situations. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
05 Mar 2009
Business continuity and disaster recovery outsourcing tutorial
Outsourcing disaster recovery (DR) and business continuity (BC) services can save you money and increase productivity. Learn about vendors in the DR/BC space and how to choose the best one for your enterprise. Continue Reading
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News
30 Mar 2006
Chapter 1 -- DR planning and design
It's easy to see the potential devastation involved in data loss. The first chapter of this guide starts off with sound DR planning, strategy and product advice. Continue Reading