Disaster Recovery Plan Checklist - 10 Tips For It Support Services

Every business should be sure that their IT support services department has developed a disaster recovery plan checklist. Having a checklist of what to do during a crisis will help ensure that the business can regain movement as quickly as possible.

Every checklist should include these 10 items:

1. Develop a Recovery Plan:
What are the essential business functions that need to be running as soon as possible? Begin with those. Establish a list of everything that will need to happen, and prioritize it. Consider hiring someone outside of the business, an external IT resource, to help develop the plan. Often an external resource can look at your business with fresh eyes and identify items that may be overlooked.

2. Begin Implementation:
Take the steps necessary to make sure the tools and resources are in place for when they may be needed. make sure all necessary staff is aware of the plan, and provide training so that they understand it. Update as needed and keep it flexible.

3. Run a Test:
Test the process to ensure the recovery plan will work. This will support an opportunity to work out anything that posed a challenge during testing.

4. Ensure Proper Backup and Storage:
Off-site storage facilities are good for security, and in case there is a physical disaster that prevents troubleshooting on site. Back up all files at least once every day.

5. Test Data Restoration Ability:
Verify your backups - make sure that the process is being done properly and correctly. Do this every day.

6. Back Up Laptop and Desktop Computers:
It is possible that your users are not saving in the proper network drives. Enforce company policy and make sure all work is backed up.

7. Use Redundant Servers:
All critical data should be on an easily-accessible redundant server to prevent or reduce downtime.

8. Use Theft Recovery and Data Delete Services for Laptops:
Information theft is increasing. It is essential to invest in security to protect information on traveling employees' laptops.

9. Monitor Virus Patterns:
Install virus pattern updates regularly to protect email and data.

10. Consider Outsourcing:
For best security results, it may be more cost-effective for small companies without dedicated IT departments to hire a managed services provider. You get to leverage the IT spend of lots of other smaller businesses at a fraction of the cost of a dedicated on-site resource.

Conducting business without a disaster recovery plan checklist is a recipe for disaster. Make a list and implement the steps to keep business up and functioning even in the worst of times.

By: Nick Adams

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Nick Adams is the Service Manager at ReachTEL, an Australian based direct marketing company. ReachTEL specializes in modern marketing strategies including SMS Marketing, Voice Blasts and Email Marketing plans.