25 Jan 4 Uncommon IT Disasters You Need to Prepare For

IT infrastructure is a vital aspect of business performance. But, if you suffer IT downtime, the entire business is affected, prohibiting your ability to execute even basic functions. Downtime has a variety of causes, but one that’s often neglected is a disaster scenario. While most businesses prepare for malware attacks or external threats, they can forget about other downtime causes too.

It’s important to be prepared for as many disaster events as possible. Therefore, identifying disaster scenarios before they happen is best for proactive solutions.

Internal IT Disaster Scenarios

You know the threats posed by threat actors, hackers, and malware. But what else endangers your IT environment?

Natural Disasters and Storms

Weather and storms pose a legitimate risk to IT infrastructure. Intense storms, for example, can cause power outages. No power, no service. However, larger storms and natural disasters can result in serious property damage, even total loss. If your business exists in a risk area, it’s critical to develop backup plans for data and facilities, just in case.

Hardware Failure

Though technology is always improving, hardware has a finite shelf life. Eventually, the systems, computers, servers, and drives you rely on will reach an endpoint. This is especially the case for legacy systems. Older hardware is likelier to fail during business operations. In those circumstances, sudden hardware failure can completely upend normal activities. Furthermore, replacing hardware is costly and challenging, depending on the specific hardware. For instance, hardware failure may require the replacement of a computer system.

Without proper data backups, you risk losing vital information and suffer extensive downtime.

Network Outages

A tech-dependent business thrives on solid bandwidth connections. But, an ISP is still a third-party provider, and they’re prone to downtime. A network outage can last from a few minutes to a few hours. In severe cases, several days. If your services rely heavily on internet providers, you’re looking at a serious downtime scenario.

The trouble with network outages is they’re out of your control. Though broadband providers work to ensure their clients always have internet connectivity, it’s an eventuality you’ll deal with network outages.

Device Loss

Similar to hardware failure, device loss is another disaster scenario you should remain aware of. Whether it’s from theft, damage, or simple human error, losing a business adjacent device creates data security and productivity risks.

For instance, if your enterprise takes advantage of a BYOD (bring your own device) policy, then device loss or damage creates several risk factors. Any business data or login is subject to exposure. Logins and security codes are also potentially exposed. Or, a staff member may lose access to critical files or information if they utilize MFA tokens.

Therefore, it’s wise to create a risk portfolio for device loss and set up recovery methods in the event hardware goes missing.

Creating strong disaster recovery methods

These days, it’s crucial to develop comprehensive BDR plans. But backup and recovery should not only apply to major risks. Uncommon disaster events can hit your business the hardest by nature of being just that: unexpected and uncommon.

Therefore, developing a BDR response that encompasses all potential disaster events is both cost-effective and necessary. Remember, downtime can disrupt services for indeterminate amount of time. Sometimes a few hours, or even several days. Even the smallest interruption in normal services can wreak havoc on your bottom line.

Some quick tips for a solid BDR foundation are as follows:

• Consider investing in affordable cloud-solutions and/or flexible virtualized infrastructure
• Develop secure backup methods for potential device-loss, such as internal token generation only accessible by approved staff
• Keep hardware backups, ranging from simple peripherals like keyboards/mice, drives, and screens to heavy duty (server racks, computer systems)
• Maintain an emergency budget for disaster scenarios
• Utilize third-party services (where available) to maintain crucial business functions, like customer support, VoIP, and data management

Still need assistance? Taking advantage of an MSP can help. For additional information, contact Bytagig today.