Important business continuity advice from your local IT services expert - 3/3/2010

Areas of your business plan you cannot ignore:


1. Internet connectivity

How important is your internet connection, what would happen if it went down for a whole week? This is very possible if you are just using a standard ADSL connection without any service level agreements. Speak with your account manager for more details about upgrading your line or putting in a back up connection.


2. Backup tapes

Your tapes can deteriorate with age, when was the last time you bought new tapes? Orchid recommends that you change your tapes every six months. Did you know the lifecycle on DDS tapes is 12 months if they are used daily?


3. Backup

It is very easy to assume that just because your back up report says your back up has worked that all of your data is backed up. Have you ever checked to see exactly what you are backing up? It is your responsibility to make sure you are backing up the right data. If you are unsure about this speak with your account manager.


Do you take your tapes off site daily? Even if you lock your tapes up in a safe they are still vulnerable, the only safe place is off site.


4. Warranties

Do you keep a record of when your server warranties expire? Without an adequate warranty should a hardware failure occur you could be left waiting for some time for replacement parts.


5. Server room

Is your server in a well ventilated area? Overheating often causes serious system crashes, make sure it is not kept in a small cupboard or in a room with no ventilation. Cool air conditioning is key to keeping your servers running at the right temperature. Did you know that if the server temperature runs too high it invalidates your server warranty?


6. Disaster recovery strategy

Do you have a DR plan? How quick could you be up and running if the unthinkable happened? Did you know that some business insurance companies insist on seeing an up to date DR plan? Speak with your account manager about working with you to put in an adequate disaster recovery plan.