Why Backup and Disaster Recovery is Key for SMEs in Kenya

Data is now essential to the operation of businesses. That is the reason backup and disaster recovery is key to any organization.

A sudden data loss poses a serious risk to any organization, whether it concerns internal data that supports operations or consumer data that ensures a positive customer experience.

And while 68% of firms are aware of the threats to their cybersecurity, many of them are woefully unprepared for disaster recovery.

In light of this, let's discuss the need for backup and recovery plans.

What a Backup and Disaster Recovery Plan Is and Does

A set of practices known as backup and disaster recovery (BDR) will guarantee that your organization can continue to run even if there is data loss due to natural disasters or technical issues. A BDR can significantly minimize downtime for businesses to just a few hours or days and help them avoid losing data or productivity as a result of security breaches.

Five Reasons Why You Need Backup and Disaster Recovery Protection

Safety from natural disasters

Natural disasters like a severe storm, an earthquake, or a fire can have an impact on your company. Getting back on your feet can be more difficult if your data is also lost in the disaster because you would essentially have to start from scratch. You can make sure that the most crucial business data is safe by putting a disaster recovery plan in place.

malfunctions in the hardware

Your hardware may malfunction or fail for a variety of reasons, including unexpected power surges. Your data may still be impacted despite measures to protect your hardware, such as cooling systems and power surge protectors. You can ensure the security of both your data and your company by frequently backing it up.

Cyberattacks

According to one report, small and medium-sized firms are the target of nearly 43% of cyberattacks. Sadly, just 14% of them are equipped to repel an assault. You can take matters into your own hands, if necessary, with disaster recovery protection and a reliable backup strategy.

Human Error

Your personnel must stay up with the rapid changes in technology. Although training sessions can assist them in staying current, they can only go so far. Even with the best training, your employees might nonetheless mistakenly delete a crucial file or turn the wrong switch off since, after all, we are only human. By having a backup and recovery plan in place, you can assure that this disaster will just be a minor inconvenience for your company rather than a big catastrophe.

How to Create an IT Disaster Recovery Plan for Your Company in Kenya

Your company's continuity may be at risk if you assume your information technology systems will continue to work because you haven't had a disaster before.

Your company will be better protected with an IT disaster recovery strategy from losing data, losing customers, damaging your reputation, and losing money. Without having to worry about IT outages, you can concentrate on important business operations with the aid of the disaster recovery plan.

The following basic steps will help you create a successful IT disaster recovery plan for your company:

Identify Recovery Goals and Timelines

You should specify the acceptable periods by which systems should resume normal operation following a disaster. An ideal place to begin is by developing an RTO (Recovery Time Objective) and an RPO (Recovery Point Objective). The brief period of time your system might be down following a calamity is known as an RTO. The maximum number of files or pieces of data that can be lost following a disaster is determined by an RPO.

Create a team for IT recovery

Every company needs a team dedicated to creating and preserving the disaster recovery strategy. Members from all departments must be involved because the recovery plan affects several organizational departments.

Read: 7 Data Recovery Utility Tools for your Small business in Kenya

Network archiving

Outlining the IT assets—software, hardware, data, user profiles, and systems—used in your company's operations is crucial. The network infrastructure documentation aids in ensuring that the disaster recovery plan is executed properly with regard to IT resources. Additionally, it will aid in identifying the systems that a disaster is likely to affect.

A Disaster Recovery Plan Test

After a crisis, discovering failed restore points is the last thing you want. Therefore, testing your recovery system once or twice a year is crucial. Any gaps found during these testing should be noted and fixed.

Partner Up With the Right Person

A disaster recovery plan must be continuously maintained throughout time; it cannot just be created and then forgotten.

What Advantages Do IT Support Services Offer a Company in Kenya?

Computers and the internet maintenance are now necessary for all sizes of organizations. You are seriously disadvantaging your company if you don't have IT help. Here are a few ways that IT support services might benefit your company:

They can keep your software and computers updated.

If you're not tech savvy, updating your Serveras and computer systems and software might be a nuisance. All of that can be handled for you by IT support services, so you won't have to. They'll guarantee that your systems are always up to date, which may help avoid issues in the future.

They may enable financial savings

You can save money by using IT support services to prevent downtime caused by old hardware or software. Additionally, they can assist you in making the most of your IT budget.

They can guard against the loss or theft of your data.

For businesses, data loss is a major issue. You won't have to worry about your data being lost or stolen thanks to IT support services. They can also assist you in recovering lost or stolen data.

They can assist you when difficulties arise in troubleshooting

Your computer systems may experience issues at any time, day or night. If you have access to IT support services, they can assist you in resolving the issue so you can continue.

They could train you and your staff on how to use new software or systems.

IT support services can offer training for you and your staff if you're implementing new computer systems or software in your company. This can ensure that everyone understands how to utilize the new program or system correctly.

They can assist you in making future plans.

IT support services can assist you in evaluating your present requirements and providing recommendations for what you'll need to do to stay competitive.

They can assist you in gaining your customers' trust.

Your customers are more inclined to trust you if you offer good customer service. Using IT support services to provide your clients what they need to feel confident in your business.

Conclusion

It's essential for all business to have a business continuity plan. Your IT Infrastructure is critical towards the functioning of your business daily processes.