Downtime can cost small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) up to $25,000 per hour. With data loss becoming a common issue amidst cyberattacks and natural disasters, you should have a plan in place to prevent costly downtime. Cloud disaster recovery (DR) is a solution to this problem, helping you protect your data and ensure business continuity (BC) in the face of a disaster. While this system can be very beneficial for businesses of all sizes, it’s important to have a provider implement it so you can realize its full potential.
Experts will integrate the cloud DR solution into your existing infrastructure and tailor it to your business needs. They’ll also manage and test it regularly, so you can focus on running your business. In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of cloud disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS) and how to choose the right provider.
Cloud disaster recovery works by replicating your data continuously into a cloud environment. That way, if a disruption happens, a failover process can start, switching your operations to the cloud so you don’t lose data. Essentially, cloud DR has two processes:
To use the cloud DR system, you need to integrate it with your on-premises infrastructure. A managed IT team can do this, making sure it’s compatible with your applications and functions properly in a disaster.
Cloud disaster recovery as a service can benefit your business in many ways, protecting your data and keeping operations running smoothly:
A cloud DR solution can save your business a lot of money by helping you avoid downtime and data loss. Unlike a traditional DR solution, you don’t need to invest in costly hardware or infrastructure. A Cloud DR solution uses a pay-as-you-go model, so you only pay for what you use.
With cloud DR, you can scale resources up or down depending on what your business needs and how it changes over time. The solution can also support various types of workloads and applications, making it highly versatile.
Cloud DR can provide near-instant failover capabilities, helping you reduce downtime and its associated costs. Compared to traditional DR, cloud DR usually recovers data much faster, storing it in multiple places so you can access it wherever and whenever you need it.
Reliability and redundancy are critical aspects of cloud DR. The solution replicates your data so that you can access it across multiple locations. With built-in redundancy, you can rest assured that your data is safe and accessible even in a disaster.
Cloud DR solutions mean you can access your data from anywhere with an internet connection. Work remotely with this system and ensure business continuity while on the go.
It can be challenging to implement a cloud disaster recovery plan without the help of professionals. Challenges can include:
When choosing a managed IT team, you need a partner with the expertise to design, implement and manage your solution the right way. A strong team will also test your system and handle issues before they can escalate, making sure the DR plan is successful. Here’s what to look for in a provider:
The team you choose should have the right experience with major cloud platforms like AWS, Azure and Google Cloud. They should know how each platform’s DR features work and best practices for implementing them. Your provider should also be able to recommend a platform best suited for your business, configuring it as needed.
Look for a team with a proven track record in cloud DR and business continuity planning. They should start by assessing your business needs and developing the DR plan around those. Your provider should also be able to guide you through the process, from consultation to management.
Security is a crucial part of cloud DR, so make sure that your chosen IT team understands cloud security and best practices. They’ll need to know about data encryption, for instance, as well as access controls and tools for detecting threats. A strong IT team will know how to protect your data in the cloud.
Your IT provider should be able to proactively manage your cloud DR solution, knowing how to spot issues and resolve them before they occur. Choose a provider that offers 24/7 support and has an escalation process in place so you can avoid downtime.
Compliance is crucial, especially if your business is in a regulated industry. The managed IT team you choose should have in-depth knowledge of relevant regulations for your business, like patient privacy laws, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). They can ensure that your cloud DR solution meets these requirements so you don’t run into compliance issues.
Effective communication is crucial for a successful partnership, so make sure your provider communicates clearly and regularly. You should always know about your DR environment’s status, as your team should flag potential issues and show you the results of each test. A good IT provider will also give you detailed reports on key metrics and performance indicators.
Ensure your business continuity with a robust cloud disaster recovery plan. Morefield can help with comprehensive cloud DR solutions designed for your unique business needs. Our experts understand how important data protection is and focus on regulatory and internal compliance in our cloud DR solutions. We’ll design, implement and manage your system so that it meets regulatory requirements, helping you protect your data and drive productivity at your facility.
Keep your business running smoothly with Morefield’s managed IT solutions. Contact us today for a consultation and see how our cloud disaster recovery solution can ensure business continuity in the face of any disruption.
