| It's safe to say that most modern businesses are | | | | representatives of a disaster recovery service |
| highly dependent on the technology that facilitates | | | | provider, principles must feel confident that the |
| their processes. In most cases, losing or | | | | vendor not only understands their business' needs, |
| accidentally erasing data can be extremely | | | | but that the vendor has the resources necessary |
| detrimental to a company's operations. In some | | | | to support the customer's core technologies. |
| cases, business will come to a complete standstill | | | | Data Center Location & Layout |
| if data is lost. For this reason, data recovery | | | | When choosing a data recovery site, a company |
| strategies have become a necessity. Some | | | | must consider the location of the data center |
| businesses choose to create a disaster recovery | | | | carefully. Choosing a site that is too close to it's |
| site in-house. With this strategy, IT executives | | | | own data center can mean that the data |
| can choose to outsource disaster recovery or to | | | | recovery site is also affected by whatever storm |
| train in-house staff to perform it. Case studies | | | | or power outage is causing problems. A site that |
| have shown that outsourced recovery service | | | | is too distant can be difficult to get to in a timely |
| (whether with an in-house site or an off-site | | | | way (or it may take more time for a |
| facility) is less likely to fail than outsourced | | | | representative from the data recovery service to |
| disaster recovery service. | | | | arrive at your location). Layout of the data center |
| Your Company's Needs | | | | is also important. Consider where the equipment is |
| There are several different factors to take into | | | | located in relation to windows, doors, and possible |
| consideration when evaluating potential disaster | | | | sources of moisture or heat. The best-case |
| recovery vendors. First, an introspective approach | | | | scenario is a hardened data center with excellent |
| should be taken. Companies seeking disaster | | | | security, backup power, and communication links. |
| recovery services should review their business | | | | Experience and Continuity |
| functions and their reliance on technology and | | | | When choosing any type of vendor, experience |
| data. This step will help define the organization's | | | | and general customer satisfaction must be taken |
| needs, especially in terms of timing and | | | | into account. How long has the data recovery |
| opportunity cost. In other words, a company | | | | service provider been providing such services? |
| must determine how much downtime they can | | | | How would present and past customers who |
| afford and how much that downtime will cost. | | | | have purchased this service from them rate the |
| Since larger amounts will be paid to an outsourced | | | | service? Is the company financially stable enough |
| provider for faster recovery, you must weigh the | | | | to have the resources necessary to support |
| cost of downtime in relation to the cost of more | | | | every type of emergency? What successes and |
| expedient recovery. | | | | failures has the service provider been through |
| Your Vendor's Capabilities | | | | over the past few years? |
| Another consideration for IT executives | | | | Choosing a data recovery service and site is not |
| considering disaster recovery options is the | | | | to be taken lightly. In the event of an emergency |
| breadth and depth of the services provided by | | | | that causes data loss, your company needs the |
| any given vendor. Companies must determine | | | | peace of mind that business functions and |
| whether they need a fuller range of services, | | | | processes can be restored quickly and fully. In |
| such as data center space or workspace for | | | | order to achieve that peace of mind, IT |
| employees. Businesses must also evaluate | | | | managers need to have complete confidence in |
| vendors' technical strengths in relation to the | | | | their disaster recovery plan. Choosing the right |
| specific functions and processes that their | | | | provider and facility can provide that confidence. |
| business operations rely on. In speaking with | | | | |