Disaster Recovery

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Introduction

Disaster recovery (DR) entails a set of policies, regulations and procedures that warrants efficient recovery or continuity of critical and important technological systems and data after a human- induced or natural disaster (Blokdijk, 2008). The aspect focuses on the ability of technological systems’ ability to support critical commercial functions. Disasters can be classified into two classes. Natural disasters entail incidences such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes or even tornadoes. Miami and Los Angeles are prone to such natural disasters (Phillips, 2009). Man-made disasters are the disasters that result from human activities. They include infrastructural failure, disastrous technological viruses and bugs as well as bio-terrorism. Natural disasters are difficult to prevent but proper risk planning and management can limit the damages that result from natural disasters.

Disaster recovery could entail a variety of technologies that would ensure that data is archived in the best way possible. Security of the data is very critical in ensuring the continuity of the company. Hot and cold sites are critical in data storage (Rommel, 2008). The two have a variety of pros and cons and therefore the company has to decide on the best choice that will not only be cost effective but also efficient. Hot sites are much cheaper to implement and maintain via outsourcing. The limiting factor about warm sites is that it utilizes sharing of storage. In the event of a serious natural disaster, the possibility of data recovery could be on question because of the sharing of storage (Blokdijk, 2008). From an analytical analysis, cold sites would be fit because the technology requires rented space as well as power, cooling as well as connectivity. The length of a disaster could be unpredictable. The cold sites are preferred over hot/ warm sites because they lack the shared infrastructural base and therefore offers cushion against the uncertain period a disaster may last. Hot sites although cheap, are only effective for data recovery when the disaster last a short time (Phillips, 2009).

Data mirroring refers to the duplication of logical disk volumes to separate hard disk to ensure continuous availability of data. Mirroring has a better alternative for storage of data and ensuring the data is perfectly stored in the event of a disaster. The mirroring technology increases data protection. The technology offers complete redundancy of data. The technique uses the SQL servers to carry out its data storage. Storage replication can be done asynchronously, point in time and synchronously. The replication is done by a microcode that is located on the disk array (Rommel, 2008). In the event of a disaster, the different disks can be accessed on separate basis. It is therefore essential to install such technology because in the event of a disaster, not all the data is lost because the disks are not interlinked and depend on each other. In this circumstance, mirrored disks can be separated, split and used to back up the data.

Tape recovery backup and archiving technique is a technology designed to recover data even when hard drives have been damaged after a disaster. Considering the company is located in Miami and Los Angeles, locations that are prone to natural disasters, the possibility destruction of the data storage and archiving facility could lead to destruction of the data storage center (Snedaker, 2007). Contracting companies such as Kroll Ontracks could help in the recovery of the destroyed critical data (Phillips, 2009). Tape recovery offers a variety of other services such as tape replication, data deduplication, consolidation of the data that has been backed up as well as tape indexing besides cataloguing (Blokdijk, 2008).

Companies work extremely hard to build their business empire over a long period of time. The prediction of natural disaster is extremely hard and therefore in the event a natural catastrophe occurs, the firm suffers from destruction of its physical structures and the data that acted are the basic background on which the company operated is destroyed. Such incidences introduce the issue of offsite data recovery centers (Rommel, 2008). The centers are located far from the company and the past occurrences of natural disaster trends can be used as a baseline to determine the areas that have experienced minimal cases of natural disasters as the best centers for offsite data storage. Most offsite data storage companies apart from storing data in large date storage devices, they utilize the cloud computing technology. The cost of backing up data with offsite data storage facilities but the company is guaranteed of the safety of the achieved data (Phillips, 2009). Offsite online storage of data is the best solution of storing the company’s data. Loss of data could have serious implications on the survival of the company after natural disaster because rebuilding the existing structures and models designed to shape the company’s present and future is extremely hard.

Conclusion

Preparedness for natural and anthropogenic disasters is essential for the survival of any firm. The disasters do not sound an alarm before they occur and therefore there is a necessity for the company to timely prepare itself before such catastrophes happen. Proper vetting should be conducted to ensure the best companies are awarded the tender to archive and store the company’s data.

References

Blokdijk, G. (2008). Disaster recovery 100 success secrets IT business continuity, disaster recovery planning and services.. S.l.: Emereo.

Phillips, B. (2009). Disaster recovery. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

Rommel, F. (2008). Active Directory disaster recovery expert guidance on planning and implementing active directory disaster recovery plans. Birmingham, UK: Packt Pub..

Snedaker, S. (2007). Business continuity & disaster recovery for IT professionals. Burlington, MA: Syngress.