Network Disaster Recovery Planning

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Network Disaster Recovery Planning Services

Today’s modern businesses must optimize their operations for minimal downtime and recovery time. This recovery implies preparing for unexpected situations such as network outages and hardware failures by having an effective network disaster recovery plan in place.

Disaster recovery plans targeted at IT services and resources can be data center disaster recovery, network disaster recovery, and virtualization recovery plans. At DC Encompass, we provide network disaster recovery planning services among others. Read on to find out all you need to know about our network disaster recovery services. 

What is a Network Disaster Recovery Plan? 

A Network disaster recovery plan is designed to ensure the most minimal downtimes in IT services. The plans are created to protect all the important data and resources and ensure a minimal recovery time so services are restored within the shortest period. 

Although it aims to ensure the most minimal downtime of IT services, we should mention that the network disaster recovery plan is just a subset of IT Disaster recovery plan. 

The best network disaster recovery plans are targeted at worst-case scenarios. Whether network failures arising from malicious parties or unintended consequences and allow for business operations to continue with the lowest downtime. 

Elements of a Network Disaster Recovery Plan

These plans focus on keeping activities running even when network connectivity is negatively impacted. As such, a network disaster recovery plan covers the functionality, accessibility, and security of networks.  

An effective network disaster recovery plan ensures that access to the network is constant and secure. The major elements of network disaster recovery plans are as follow: 

Highlighting the clear steps to be effective when there is a failure in network connectivity. 

Identifying the most effective strategies for mitigating network failures and reducing the vulnerability of networks to attacks. 

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Noting the challenges and consequences that could be associated with network attacks. 

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Identifying the personnel in charge of executing network disaster recovery plans. 

Since a network disaster recovery plan is targeted at worst-case scenarios, all plans should cover a range of possible consequences, from the minimal changes that could be overlooked to those that could ground the company’s activities. 

Overall, network disaster recovery plans should be designed to detect the consequences of network failures within the shortest period. The plans should also be optimized to swiftly get the required personnel onboard, repair the affected systems and resources, and contain the consequences of the disaster to the affected systems.   

Benefits of Network Disaster Recovery Plans

Leaders of organizations tend to wonder why network recovery plans are important and whether resources are not better dedicated to other activities. 

Every resource dedicated to the creation and maintenance of network disaster recovery plans is well spent because it directly influences the organization’s productivity. Even the rarest network failures cannot be completely ruled off and are best prepared for with network disaster recovery plans. 

Running an organization without the different disaster recovery plans, including network disaster recovery plans, could be likened to having a car without insurance. Research has indicated that a notable proportion of businesses do not survive major network failures. 

Thus, the risk of the grave consequences of network failures outweighs the costs of creating and maintaining measures for preventing downtimes. 

Network disaster recovery plans are also important as part of compliance requirements across the different industries and sectors. Organizations in industries where these plans are required need to establish them not only to meet regulatory requirements but also to indicate professionalism. 

 A Network disaster recovery plan could be obligatory for organizations based on their customer agreements, apart from regulatory requirements. Network disaster recovery planning being part of the customer agreement, is based on the organization’s product and service. 

If an organization offers products and services that require uninterrupted network connectivity, network disaster recovery planning becomes non-negotiable due to its recovery process. 

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Tips for achieving effective Network Disaster Recovery Planning 

IT disaster recovery plans are designed against worst-case scenarios. As such, they should be expertly and deliberately planned. 

Every aspect of a network disaster recovery plan should be properly considered so that the process doesn’t defeat its purpose. We highlighted the core elements of a DR plan earlier. We now highlight the process of creating a recovery plan with the proper incorporation of the core elements.   

Here are clear steps and tips for achieving the most effective network disaster recovery planning. 

Identification of Objectives
A proper network disaster recovery planning process should begin with identifying disaster recovery and business continuity objectives. This step is important for highlighting the clear objectives of the DR plan so that the most suitable plan can be created and executed. 
Assessment of Risks & Threats
This is the step where the possible risks and threats are highlighted. This process aims to understand the possible sources of network failures and optimize operations to minimize the exposure to the risks and possible threats. 
Development of Response Team
The development of a response team that executes important aspects of the recovery plan should follow the identification of objectives and assessment of risks and threats. The response team should be made of personnel that can handle possible threats and risks expertly and works towards achieving the recovery plan’s objectives. Clear responsibilities should be assigned to team members to ensure that the most appropriate response is mounted whenever needed. In the development of the response team, it is critical that the skillset of every member is identified and their responsibilities matched accordingly. 
Identification of Critical Components
Network infrastructure is made up of components with varying levels of importance and impact on the organization’s productivity. Thus, in creating a recovery plan for infrastructure, the entire infrastructure should be decompartmentalized, and the critical components and their influence on productivity identified. Identifying the critical components of network infrastructure and their overall influence on the operation of the organization will guide the assessment of the cost of downtime. In addition, the length of maximum downtime and data loss an organization can maximally survive should be identified in this step. 
Evaluation of Recovery Plans
The evaluation of recovery plans should follow the development of the plans. The plans should be tested and updated to give all the necessary parties an idea of the clear steps that should be taken. Recovery plans should never be designed on paper and executed for the first time when the organization faces an actual threat. Instead, the plan should be developed and its effectiveness assessed. The importance of the regular testing and updating process is to ensure that plan works realistically and not just theoretically. 
Reconfiguration of Network Infrastructure
If indicated, the reconfiguration of network infrastructure is a necessary part of network disaster recovery planning. The reconfiguration of the parts of the infrastructure is typically indicated when vulnerabilities are indicated during the development, testing, and updating of the plan. 
Plan Optimization
 This is more of a tip for the actualization of dependable network recovery plans. Plans should be optimized for the different networks available for the organization. During the step where the critical components of the network infrastructure are identified, the different types of networks should be noted. This is so that the plan encompasses the core requirements. Always identify the requirements and peculiarities of at least the core networks to ensure excellent plan optimization. A plan that does not cover the core networks cannot be effective. 
Backup of Critical Files
This is another tip for the development and execution of recovery plans. Back up critical files such as the configuration files as part of every disaster recovery plan. Recovery plans are aimed at achieving the most minimal levels of interruptions. When configuration files are backed up regularly, extended downtimes are avoided since the required components of the network infrastructure can be restored within a short period. 
Clear Documentation
Clear documentation is not emphasized enough as part of the essentials for achieving proper network disaster recovery. Every step and process of the recovery plan should be communicated, and proper documentation is needed. The steps and processes should be documented in the simplest terms to avoid any form of ambiguity. Network failures have very real consequences on the success and survival of a business. Therefore, when network failures occur, all involved parties should know the necessary steps and processes. 

Why Choose DC Encompass?

 At DC Encompass, we understand that network disaster recovery plans are critical to the success of businesses of different scales in today’s society. Therefore, we create actionable, clear, and reliable plans to solve any problems that might arise. Our team of expert technicians are available to discuss with you and understand your business need before creating a plan that is tailored for the best results for minimal downtime and recovery to ensure business continuity.    

Contact our team today to protect your business through our network disaster recovery services.
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