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The Ultimate Guide to IT Disaster Recovery Plan

Have you developed an IT disaster recovery plan, or DRP, for your business?

The DRP has become over the years a necessity for companies at a time when computer disasters multiply, in particular cybercrime. But many companies have not yet made their arrangements, in particular, because of the expense item that this represents.

However, whether you are a VSE, an SME, or a large group, the consequences of the downtime of your computer system and the loss of data can be disastrous for your business.

Convinced of the need to anticipate the disaster recovery of your business?

Thanks to this article, you will know everything about the DRP, its advantages, and the procedure to follow to set it up.

What is a Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP)?

A business recovery plan is defined as a set of procedures, the objective of which is to plan how to restart professional activity as quickly as possible in the event of an IT incident. By extension, the DRP also designates the document listing these procedures. It can be developed and owned either by the company itself or by an external service provider.

 What does the DRP include?

Each IT disaster recovery strategy is to be adapted according to your company and its specificities, there is no ideal model. Finally, the most important thing is to anticipate everything and to have the most complete overview possible to better control the unforeseen.

Broadly speaking, the disaster recovery plan should include:

•       Identification of critical activities that must be continued,
•       Identification of all risks,
•       The different maintenance solutions,
•       The procedures to be applied according to different scenarios,
•     The resources necessary for business continuity (human resources, raw materials, equipment, subcontractors, etc.),
•       The recovery deadlines to be observed.

Why put in place a disaster recovery plan?

Some entrepreneurs perceive the implementation of a DRP as a shortfall in cash flow. However, developing a back-up plan has become essential given the current challenges.

 The main advantage of the DRP? Ensure the resumption of activity as quickly as possible, to avoid significant losses in terms of business opportunities and turnover, which are sometimes fatal for companies.

Here are the various negative consequences of an interruption of systems or machines that the IT disaster recovery strategy can avoid:

•       a slowdown in practical activity, as the teams no longer have certain essential resources to carry out their missions.
•       a negative impact on turnover due to the incompetence to sign new contracts,
•       the loss of data which is dangerous for the very activity of the company, which no longer has the information necessary to ensure its normal activity,
•       a decrease in customer satisfaction who cannot benefit from the product or service for which he paid,
•       a referral of a negative image to potential partners and prospects,
•       risks of legal proceedings for breach of obligations.

Steps in developing an IT Disaster Recovery Plan

A disaster recovery plan is specific to each company since it is built according to its structure, its needs, its size, etc. However, certain mechanisms and good practices are commonly applied when it comes to setting up disaster recovery plan steps.

Step 1: identify possible risks

Not all businesses are exposed to the same incidents and disasters.

If we take the example of natural disasters, note that some companies have more exposed infrastructures (seismic zones, flood zones, etc.).

So proceed upstream with an analysis of the risks to be prevented, and consider all possible scenarios.

Step 2: assess your critical resources and activities

In a context where systems are increasingly complex and associated, it is therefore advisable to precisely define the priorities of the company concerning the necessity of certain components.

To do this, evaluate the following two data:

The RTO, or Recovery Time Objective. This is the maximum amount of downtime your business can handle before the situation becomes serious.

The RPO, or Recovery Point Objective. It corresponds to the maximum duration of data loss admissible by the company. For example, an activity constrained to a full data backup once a day has a 24 hour RPO. This can be greatly reduced for some companies which perform much more regular data backups. This is the case, for example, in the banking sector.

Ultimately, analyzing these two indicators helps you determine with precision the degree of urgency by department or by activity, and consequently the measures to be adopted for each.

Step 3: Define your disaster recovery strategy

Once the potential risks have been identified and the impacts by activity defined, it is time to consider the measures and strategies to adopt, as well as their implementation.

Which measures to choose?

The measures must be taken taking into account the needs of the company, as well as its entire information system (from hardware and software and applications, including its data).

In general, we distinguish two types of measures:

•       Preventive measures. For example :
•       The backup routine data,
•       The redundancy or data replication,
•       The use of backup sites, etc.
•       Curative measures. For example :
•       The trigger emergency systems,
•       data recovery or recovery,
•       The use of data backup sites,
•       The application restart, etc.

Step 4: Document in writing

As we have seen, the disaster recovery plan also relates to the document on which all the strike forces of the company will rely in the event of a disaster.

Putting your DRP in writing facilitates the general organization, the management of human resources, and the understanding of the procedures by your entire company.

Step 5: set up tests

It is difficult to make the right decisions in the face of disappointments in an emergency and stress.

Solution? Set up tests:

•       At the organizational level, to make sure everyone knows exactly what to do in the event of an IT business interruption.
•       At the technical level, and this regularly. This process allows, for example, to anticipate the behavior of your data backup system.

Step 6: upgrade your DRP

Note that the tests discussed above are also used to review your disaster recovery plan if necessary, based on detected failures.

Besides, an IT disaster recovery strategy evolves and adapts to changes in your business, whether economic, organizational, or technological.

Do you have an IT Disaster Recovery Plan?

Let’s face the truth, IT risks are increasing as data becomes an increasingly critical business to modern businesses.

Therefore, it becomes essential to limit the breakage by utilizing a disaster recovery plan. And if the establishment of a DRP depends greatly on technical implementation and the choice of efficient and suitable software, you need to be aware of the human dimension. Because the performance of the measures adopted greatly depends on the approval and understanding of all the players, from the management spheres to the practical teams.

And you, in the event of an IT disaster, what is your plan? Click here to contact our IT experts and discuss your business IT needs.  

Need IT Remote Support for your WFH Staff?

Since last year, the global pandemic has led to several changes in the work culture of many organizations. It was not a good year economically for many businesses and firms; however, most companies allow their workers or staff to work from home (WFH). It is proven as a boon for many companies as it continues their work process. In this blog post, we will cover all information you need to know if you Need IT Remote Support for your WFH Staff. 

The term remote support refers to a system that permits a technical support person to attach with and use a selected computer or network from any location to provide support. Using remote support, your IT consultants won’t need to visit your physical location. They will be able to address your concern immediately using remote access software. 

With increased dependency on technology, you must ensure that your team has access to all the essential tools and systems to bring a great business outcome. But the challenge is how to resolve your employees’ technical issues when they are WFH, which is where you should consider hiring a company that can provide dedicated remote support for your staff who will brilliantly resolve technical issues. 

The Top 5 WFH Technical Issues;

1.   WIFI Settings– While employing your staff to WFH, it’s the company’s responsibility to ensure that your employees have a reliable internet connection, which will withstand the increased traffic and workload. Their internet connection should be ready to support cloud-based services and be available throughout their working hours. 
2.   VPN- While working from home, if your office staff faces VPN issues, remote support services are available to troubleshoot the problem. 
3.   Bandwidth- Remote support services will allow and check the proper transfer of data and internet connection to you. It will make your staff work efficiently.
4.   Zoom/Teams Calls- Sometimes, meeting calls on zooms or team calls are declined or not appropriately connected due to the weak internet connection. With the assistance of the remote support services, you can resolve this problem too. 
5.   Passwords Management- Work from home is not an easy task. With the pressure of home responsibilities, a staff has to work for the office, and sometimes they caught themselves in a problem when they forgot the password for some data and site. Remote support services will effectively make you manageable to your passwords and help to get them. 

 

It’s vital to make sure you have the right remote IT support for your business so your staff can conduct their work efficiently.

Usually, small businesses have a low budget, and they cannot hire permanent employees or workers for remote IT support. A better solution in this scenario is to outsource your IT support to a remote support specialist.  It is an efficient way for users to have access to a dedicated helpdesk. It is the best way to work for the companies as it results in several advantages. Organizations equipped with remote support get proficient outcomes that resolve most issues. 

 

Why Do Small Businesses Need Remote IT Support for WFH Staff? 

The data reveals that more than 20% of businesses globally allow their staff to WFH and are employed with remote IT support. It is an excellent evolution in technology. They handle many business operations and provide problem-free technology to the businesses and support your staff to complete the work without any stress of IT issues. 

Remote support services allow technicians to diagnose and repair the computer system through the internet or remote desktop programs. This method improves the quality of the work and provides the best software solution to the customers. 

While accompanied by a remote IT service, you will get the proper solution for your WFH staff. The IT support team technicians excellently resolve the issue and access a specific laptop, desktop or server. They update the server or software and manage the files on the server or the system. Moreover, they evaluate the problem and diagnose it to maintain the several programs. Millions of organizations worldwide use and rely on remote IT support services, and it has become a primary part of the IT sector.  

 

The Benefits of Remote IT Support for WFH Staff

Utilizing remote IT support services can be beneficial for a small firm to a multinational company. It provides support for your day to day operations and keeps your IT systems operating at their optimum.  Here we list some benefits that will help you to grow your business and support your WFH staff. 

 

1. Maintain Expected Business Growth
2. Cost-Effective Service
3. Fast Response
4. Boost Productivity
5. 24/7 Accessible
6. High-Tech IT Services

 

Maintain Expected Business Growth

For any business; whether it’s a small or multinational company, they have a goal to attain an apex position in their industry. Expanding and growing an organization is very important for business owners. Having adequate remote support will improve your potential to work and support your employees to resolve IT problems. It will make your work speedy and allow you to gain more profit in the business. 

 

Cost-Effective Service

By getting the backend of an IT service, you will get assistance to resolve your problems. You can find various remote IT support services that provide you cost-effective services and not charge any additional amount such as on-site visit fees, emergency booking assistance fees, and much more. Hence, it becomes profitable for your company’s budget, and by utilizing minimal cost on IT services, you can invest your money on the other projects. 

 

Fast Response

Remote IT services are different from traditional IT services. Now, you can get quick responses from the remote tech by messaging or on call. They are always ready to provide expeditious IT solutions to the people. By availing the remote IT services will save your business time and efforts. 

 

Boost Productivity

If you allow your staff or employees to work from home and face IT services problems. It will be a hindrance to your business profit, and it will decline the productivity level of an employee. Having excellent remote IT services throws out all the obstacles in your business and improves your employees’ productivity. However, every process or work in a company can only be completed through IT services. If it’s not working correctly, it slows down all your company’s work processes and productivity. With the support of a remote IT service, you can quickly troubleshoot your IT issues, reduce downtime, and authorize your staff to be more productive. 

 

24/7 Accessibility

Availing an IT support service not only manages your IT issues but also provides you 24/7 customer support. They not only serve the services during office hours; instead, they are always ready to help you and grant your computer to work flawlessly. 

 

High-tech IT Services

As you see, technology is continuously evolving, and remote IT support services become news and a significant trend of IT solutions in technology. Therefore, it is crucial to get high-tech and advanced services to your company. When you permit remote IT services to troubleshoot your IT issues, they will splendidly update all the measures in your system and move your company with the latest technology. 

 

Conclusion: 

With the growing technology, remote IT services become sophisticated for the businesses and will evolve much more new features. Getting solutions to your IT problems is stressful. It detains your profit; therefore, it is essential to get assistance with the best remote support services as they move your business towards success. We at Eyes everywhere are an excellent remote support service provider to sort out all the IT-related problems that your staff is facing.

Things Every Business Needs to Know About Cloud Backup

The word “Cloud Storage or Cloud Backup” has become a buzzword in today’s world of internet and digitalization. Data is considered more valuable than gold in this century. The more we have become dependent on the internet, the more our data is prone to cyber-attack like theft, viruses, etc. from your local servers, and loss of your business data can be devastating for your business.

The data related to your businesses are the lever which keeps your business running smoothly and you must keep your files in an organized manner for future references. Businesses are generating tons of data every day and it is becoming difficult for them to manage that information on their own. Hence there comes the term Business Cloud Backup.

We will talk about Business Cloud Backup and its benefits in detail later, however, let’s get yourself acquainted with the term first.

What is Cloud Backup?

Cloud backup can be defined as remote servers where data is stored which are known as data centers and can be accessed via the internet. Organizations can send a copy of their data to these servers located at another location so that it can be restored if data is compromised or lost from local machines. These remote servers are operated and maintained by third-party, which are termed as cloud backup services.

To meet industry standards or regulations, many organizations need to store their data on the cloud to protect data against loss or viruses. Not complying with these standards can cause penalties and fines.

Why is Cloud backup imperative?

Data can be lost in many ways. Some of them are accidental error, employee or competitor theft, or physical failure of computers or cyber-attack. Such data losses can cause a huge cost to companies. Such important data shall always be at more than one place so that if one storage is compromised, data can be restored from other locations.

Below are some most common causes:

•         Technology Fails
•         People Make Mistakes
•         Mother Nature
•         Competitive Advantage
•         Theft

Options for Cloud Backup

•         Public Cloud Backup: Microsoft Azure or Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) are options of Public Cloud Backup which comes at a lower cost than other options. Though this option is cheaper, it has greater risks such as slow tech support, ridden with errors, shared data tenancy, etc., plus offer only a basic storage service for your data on the cloud.

•         Internal Cloud Backup: Organizations with big budgets and infrastructure facilities can opt for this option. In this, data is stored and protected at your own space and gives you complete control of it. But this is considered a costly solution as one still needs to pay for Hosting, Servers, and Infrastructure & Security.

•         Disk-to-Disk-to-Cloud Backup: This option is also known as a hybrid option as in this some of the data is stored at local servers, some data can be stored at cloud and some information can be backed up in both ways. However, if a hybrid backup system is not managed well, it can be difficult to know which data is stored where and may affect the overall recovery speed and its accuracy, if data is lost.

•         Hosted, Private Cloud: It is also known as third party private clouds. Third-party private clouds give you the comprehensive protection of an on-premise, private cloud, without the additional costs for maintenance, security, or infrastructure. It also has additional benefits such as compliance with standards, data encryption, automated backup system, etc. The simplicity of a hosted private cloud makes it easy for your organization to quickly recover data at a predictable cost.

Having so many options can confuse you about which backup system is best suitable for your needs. Choosing from different available options may vary from organization to organization.  However, one must consider the many advantages of cloud backup that when you need to access your data. For example, which option is fastest, most reliable, and cost-effective. One must consider the backup frequency, its efficiency, pricing structure, and customer support while choosing Cloud Backup for Business.

Top benefits of Business Cloud Backups

Backing up your data in the cloud offers you the facility to retrieve your data and access in case of local hardware failure. This gives you confidence that your data is available 24×7 and well protected.

Once your data is stored in the cloud, it becomes a perfect place for your archives which can be accessed from everywhere with internet connectivity. You need not carry hard disks everywhere and you need not be dependent on any single computer or server. The cloud has other advantages as well and is remarkably affordable.

It has the advantage of requiring no physical location that you’ll need to handle maintaining on your own. A competent IT administrator can keep you connected and can manage your data remotely without too much hassle.

Let’s look into the top benefits of Cloud Backups:

1.     24×7 Availability, Anytime, Anywhere: In today’s world of the internet, work happens at all times in all places. Business is no more bound to happen in four walls of your office buildings or designated office working hours. Businesses are offering flexible working hours and are adapting to work from home. Cloud storage technology enables businesses to survive in today’s fast-paced world. when you connect to the internet, you can reach your files anywhere with internet connectivity.
   

 

2.     Data Protection: In today’s competitive environment, businesses can’t survive without data and loss of which can cause huge losses to organizations. Cloud storage and backup have become important for every business. Cloud storage eliminates the risk of losing everything to natural disasters like hurricanes, fires, tornadoes. Cloud storage puts the burden of maintaining hardware on the service provider. The service provider typically has multiple forms of redundancy so that you can be confident your data is protected.

 

3.     Cost-Effectiveness: Every business whether big or small loves to save money, and cloud storage is cost-effective in comparison to physical storage. With the usage of cloud backup services eliminates buying of servers and physical hard drives. With some basic monthly charges given to Cloud Service Providers, your worry about the time and energy to maintain physical hardware. The responsibility of maintaining cloud storage lies with service providers. Secure, encrypted storage to protect your sensitive business files is going to cost more than a consumer-level solution.

 

3.     Collaborate Better: Many cloud storage services include collaboration tools that can help your business operate more efficiently. Cloud storage offers file synching which makes sure that you are always working on the most recent file. It also allows multiple users to work on the same file at the same time. Organizations with remote workforce offer real-time collaboration. It helps your team work together like they would if they were in the same room.

 

5.     Fast Recovery: Compared to old solutions like disks and tape backup, the cloud offers extremely fast recovery time if it is necessary. The process of data recovery is a speedy process – almost as fast as you can communicate with your provider. It’s important to consider and understand how much bandwidth is available to you as well. This will impact the speed, as well as the amount of data you are backing up. You should measure this step as well. The details should all be spelled out in your service level agreement (SLA).

 

Advantages associated with Cloud Backup; the business must consider moving forward with Cloud Storage option rather than relying on inferior systems. On the contrary of conventional backup systems, Cloud Storage and Backup is the trend of today’s century. You will be left behind managing your conventional systems while your competitors will be much ahead. He was able to focus his focus giving his worries of data management to Cloud Storage Service providers.

Final words

Cloud storage service is worth spending. All you need to do is pick the right service provider who best suits your needs and budget based on the scale of your business. When you pay monthly basic fees, you can rest assured of your important documents which are stored at remote servers. Now when you don’t worry about your files, you can completely focus on the growth of your business.

As always, if you have any question about Cloud Backup or any other IT issue you are experience , feel free to reach out to our team and we would be happy to help. 

What you need to know about VPNs?

You may have heard the term “VPN” banded about a lot, but what is it and what does it do? In this blog, we will cover what you need to know about VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) including when you should and shouldn’t use them, safely and efficiently use the web and the networks you need to access.

The concept of a VPN (Virtual Private Network) and how they work can be quite confusing and complex. Here we walk you through some of the pros and cons of a VPN and answer some of the common questions associated with VPN use. 

What you need to know about VPNs

A “Virtual private network” connects your device to another network over the internet safely. It works as if you were physically connected to the network you are VPN’ing into and usually gives you the same accessed and credentials as if you were directly on the network. 

When should you use one?

Some common uses for VPN’s include;

1. To connect to a central location (eg the office) from a remote location
2. To encrypt communications coming out of, or getting into, a target location (or both)
3. To encrypt the communications coming out of your device, but not targeted towards any particular location
4. To connect business networks securely on the internet or to access a business network from one location.
5. To safely browse the Internet without privacy invasion on public Wi-Fi and also it protects your data.
6. To access region-restricted websites.
7. Hides your true identity and helps you to remain somewhat anonymous.
8. To access local network resources remotely by bypassing the censorship.
9. You can also conduct your online banking transactions using its secure servers.
10. Watch Netflix or some other streaming media website content.

 

Is VPN safe for banking?

Yes, it is safe for banking as long as you are using a reputable and trusted provider. 

There are some unreliable free VPNs who keep logs and can pose a threat. Therefore, it is very important to choose a secure and reliable VPN connection. 

What are the disadvantages of a VPN?

VPN, though very useful, has few disadvantages as well.

Does VPN slow down your internet? 

Yes, it does cause a bit decrease of a few MBPS here and there and so you can expect your browsing to be speed lagged. However, if you have a strong CPU and high-speed internet connection, then decreased speed might not even be noticeable.

Privacy can be endangered by using the wrong VPN. 

This often happens with inexperienced providers and especially free service providers as they do not offer properly configured encryption or can expose you to malware. Also, some providers keep logs about your online activities and can endanger your privacy.

 Good quality VPNs can be expensive. 

As free VPN providers are not that reliable, the only option left is a paid one which can cost you a bit more, especially in the long run. Though there are some good “virtual private network” providers with an affordable cost like  which can serve your purpose.

VPNs are not always supported by the device. 

While most of the operating systems do support VPNs, some of them don’t like Chromebook, Boxee Box etc. In such conditions, a VPN has to be manually setup on the device or operating system that requires to be used. Sometimes you have to set up a VPN on your router as well.

When should you not use a VPN?

 If you prefer Targeted Advertising

If you like targeted advertising depending on your browsing history, then “Virtual private network” might not be the best option for you, as it doesn’t track your activities. 

You don’t care much about security

If you are unaware or not so concerned about your privacy leaking out then yes there is no need to take extra effort to set up a VPN. 

You want to live like local when visiting another country

For instance, when visiting in a country like China and Russia where there is marked restriction in using the internet, and you seriously don’t want access to your social media or any other app then, also setting up a VPN is not necessary, unless you plan to do otherwise. 

You are not interested in watching foreign shows

In such a case, a VPN is not required. Because a VPN can give you access to watch the geographically restricted shows easily. 

Does my ISP know I use a virtual private network?

YES, it is quite likely that your ISP knows you are using a VPN. Even if you are using a secure VPN it will be routed through your ISP.

Mostly the connection between your device and the VPN server is encrypted therefore the “virtual private network” company can see your IP address. Therefore, they can assess how much data is flowing by in the form of Bytes, but the encryption will make sure that everything seems to be in a coded gibberish.

It is important to note that the VPN company themselves will know what you are connecting to, hence it is important to make sure to pick the ones that keep no logs. 

Is VPN safe for iPhone?

iPhones Support the setup for a VPN connection and it is completely safe to use it.

They have incorporated a VPN setup section in their interface. Hence, they want you to be able to access all kinds of online functions. 

Should I use a it all the time?

At present, the VPN is recommended only when you are using public Wi-Fi, or for privacy.

It is not recommended to use a it all the time. Use it when you need it for the tasks that are appropriate but not when you access Netflix for example.

It is also useful in securing online banking and shopping activities if you want to keep your data secured or prevent them from getting sold to 3rd party marketers who intend to track your browsing activity for their agenda. 

What is a VPN app?

For making your life easier and to set up a “virtual private network” connection on your Android or iOS devices, there are many free as well as paid apps that provide VPN connection.

You just need to install one and get started.

It provides a connection on demand and doesn’t suck up your battery life as well as running in the background. And for countries like China, a VPN connection can be very helpful as cellular networks do not always provide the best connections. 

Is a VPN legal?

It can be associated with illegal activities which tends to raise questions over its legality. In most countries including Canada, and the USA it is legal to use VPN. 

Note that there are some countries that it is illegal to use a VPN and anything that hides your IP address and encrypts your data. 

It is illegal to use Virtual private network is some of the following countries; 

• North Korea
• Iraq
• Belarus
• China
• Turkey
• Russia
• UAE.

Though some VPNs keep logs and are not quite as secure, whereas others can be secured by clearing off all the log activity.

Conclusion: There might be many points which can be added to understand the working of VPN, the above should provide a good starting point to understanding VPN. We hope this blog post helped you with what you need to know about VPN. As always, if you have any question about VPN or any other IT support you are experience , feel free to reach out to our team and we would be happy to help.