Disaster recovery (DR) has undergone major changes for the better since cloud computing became popular. In particular, small- and medium-sized businesses have benefitted from cheaper and more reliable DR solutions. But there are still plenty of misconceptions about DR that are keeping many business owners from adopting the right DR strategies. Here are three myths that no longer ring true.
Myth 1: Disaster recovery is expensive and not worth the investment
Fact: DR solutions are not as expensive as they used to be. In the past, data recovery was a drawn-out process that could take days or even weeks and cost up to six figures. But with cloud and virtualization solutions, it’s now possible to back up data quickly and affordably. Outsourced DR providers, for instance, can now complete full backups in several hours and perform backup recovery processes in less than a day.
Another fact: A sound disaster recovery strategy may require huge investments, but it's' worth it. However much you spend on DR, it will still be much less than the price you'll pay for a data loss incident. For one, the cost of losing data is simply too steep. Per IBM, a data breach costs on average $4.35 million in 2022. This price can shut down any small- or medium-sized business (SMB).
Myth 2: All disasters are created equal and I will need the same response for all of them
Fact: Not all disasters are created equal. You will need a tailored response to the specific type of disaster that has occurred. For example, if your business is impacted by a power outage, you will need to take different steps than if you were hit by a ransomware attack. Because of this, you should have a comprehensive DR strategy that covers all potential disasters that can befall your business. Conducting a disaster risk assessment helps ensure that your organization is prepared to mitigate any catastrophe.
Myth 3: Disasters only happen to big businesses, not to mine
Fact: Disasters can happen to any business, no matter its size. Consider the 2017 California wildfires that affected all kinds of businesses, from mom-and-pop shops to large corporations. Some businesses had to stop operations for weeks or even months, while others were completely destroyed and had to close their doors for good.
The bottom line is that no business is immune to natural or human-made disasters. Whether you’re an SMB or an enterprise, it's important to be prepared and have a comprehensive DR strategy in place. This can help you mitigate the damage caused by any type of disaster and ensure business continuity even in the face of adversity.
By learning the truth about these DR myths, we hope you'll be encouraged to create a disaster recovery plan (DRP) for your business. There’s no longer an excuse not to have one, as DR technologies are now more affordable and easier than ever to implement.
If you're interested in learning more about our wide range of DR solutions and how they can help safeguard your data, send us a message and we'd be happy to fill you in on all the details.
