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Disaster Recovery Planning

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Introduction "Common natural disasters area a leading cause of data loss…" says Bud Stoddard, AmeriVault President and CEO. Events such as the 8.3 earthquake that struck Hokkaido Japan September 25, 2003, and the firestorm in San Diego just weeks ago are just two examples of how natural disasters are devastating millions of unprepared businesses around the world. These are not the only events that must be considered, however. The terrorist attacks against the US on 9/11/01 and the biggest blackout in North American history in August 2003 are examples of man-made disasters. A 2002 U.S. Bureau of Labor study showed that 93 percent of companies that lose a significant amount of data fold within 5 years. Another survey found that only 60% …show more content…

The "hot site" must be equipped with servers, networking capabilities, tape and disk storage. This steering committee must be held responsible for the follow through of the DR plan. Frequent tests must be performed to ensure the integrity of the data, software, and hardware. Lastly, document the plan and maintain a copy onsite and offsite the organization. How much would a plan cost to be implemented? There are several different types of products that can be purchased such as firewalls and external tapes recorders which all vary in cost. Equipment may also need to be purchased to activate the secondary site. In addition to the hardware and software, communications such as cellular phones, satellite phones, and fax, must be taken into account. A secondary power source, such as a diesel generator, is necessary considering the purpose of the structure. There will be several on-going costs like rental space and consulting. Maintenance is crucial in a successful implementation of a DR plan. Updating software and hardware, periodic testing of the system, procedures, and constant training of employees must continually be visited. No one can predict what may happen but it is always safe of an organization to be prepared for the worst case scenario. Implementation Strategy Specific disaster recovery strategies vary by company; the primary reasons are the differences in reliance upon I.T. and the time required to recover in

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