Maybe you didn’t know, but in Romania there were more than 43,234 fires in 2022, according to the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, of which a significant percentage in commercial premises, offices and industrial buildings. How many of these companies invested in data backup solutions and were able to get back up and running quickly? While premises, furniture and IT equipment can be easily rented, data loss is the biggest loss in a natural disaster.
As more and more information are stored digitally and reliance on IT systems increases, it becomes essential to have a solid data loss prevention strategy in place in the event of a natural disaster.
Major natural disasters and their impact on business
Natural disasters can take many forms, from earthquakes and floods to fires and violent storms. These events can affect a company’s physical infrastructure and IT systems, resulting in the loss of valuable data and business interruption. Earthquakes, floods, fires, violent storms – such incidents can seriously damage an organization’s IT equipment and lead to business interruption. The impact can be direct, through the total or partial destruction of a data room, or indirect, through the interruption of electricity supply or the destruction of communication networks.
A study by the Gartner Group found that 43% of businesses that experienced a “major” loss of data due to natural events and other disasters went out of business. If this figure seems high, you have to bear in mind that in 2020 a study carried out by the consulting company Frames showed that 58% of Romanian SMEs only had funds available to last 1-2 months, and ONRC data shows that 19,809 companies had financial difficulties and reached bankruptcy, insolvency or deletion after pandemic. Since many Romanian companies are constantly fighting for survival, data loss can be a fatal blow.
Data loss prevention strategies
To prevent data loss in the event of a natural disaster, companies can adopt the following strategies:
- Data backup: Making backup copies of data is an essential practice for reducing the risk of data loss following a disaster or a ransomware attack for example. These backups should be stored in a secure location away from the company’s main location to minimize the risk of loss in the event of a disaster. A professional data center is the most suitable location, having both physical and cyber security ensured.
- Cloud Data Replication: Cloud data storage is an effective solution to prevent data loss in the event of a natural disaster. By replicating data in the cloud, it is saved in a secure and redundant environment, thus ensuring the accessibility and quick recovery of information in case of need. Cloud backup solutions offer flexibility and scalability, allowing businesses to tailor their storage needs to their requirements.
- Attention to RTO and RPO : RTO (Recovery Time Objective) and RPO (Recovery Point Objective) are two key elements in disaster recovery planning. RTO refers to the amount of time a business must be back up and running after a disaster occurs, while RPO indicates how much data is acceptable to lose in the recovery process. Companies should set clear RTO and RPO goals and configure their data backup and recovery solutions accordingly.
- Virtualization of IT systems for a faster backup: Virtualization of IT systems can speed up the process of data backup and recovery. Through virtualization, virtual copies of systems and applications are created, enabling fast and efficient data recovery in case of need. This method reduces downtime and minimizes the impact on the company’s business.
- Redundancy at the IT infrastructure level: Redundancy is an essential measure to ensure operational continuity. Companies should implement redundant IT infrastructure, including servers, networks and storage systems, so that there are backups and alternatives available in case one of these components is affected by a natural disaster.
- Disaster Recovery Plan effectively thought out: A disaster recovery plan is essential to respond promptly and efficiently in critical situations. This plan should include a detailed risk analysis, clear data backup and recovery procedures, well-defined responsibilities and periodic testing.
Conclusion
Preventing data loss in the event of a natural disaster is critical to ensuring business continuity and protecting a company’s valuable information. Adopting solid strategies such as data backup operations, cloud backup solutions, attention to RTO and RPO , virtualization of IT systems, redundancy at the level of IT infrastructure and the implementation of a recovery plan in case of a disaster, are critical steps in this regard. However, managing and implementing all these strategies can be difficult for companies that do not have sufficient experience or internal resources.
The smartest approach to preventing data loss in the event of a natural disaster is to contract hosting and colocation services in a professional data center. These specialized data centers are equipped with robust infrastructure, advanced security solutions and qualified technical staff to ensure operational continuity (https://m247.com/ro-ro/solutii/continuitate-business/) and overcome any disastrous situation.
Through the data center in Romania, M247 offers high-performance solutions for data backup, as well as cloud backup and disaster recovery services. Moreover, M247 consultants can develop a customized business continuity plan tailored to the specific needs of your company and provide you with constant technical support for its implementation.
