Disaster recovery planning and management
Planning is the number one tool a business has at its disposal to prevent a crisis. Cyber attacks and natural disasters can be unavoidable and unpredictable. If DR teams plan for the worst, they can avoid being caught off guard. Get helpful disaster recovery advice, templates and tests that will prepare your organization for almost anything.
Top Stories
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Tip
29 Oct 2024
When to use a mirrored site disaster recovery
Mirrored disaster recovery sites are a good fit for businesses that require rapid failover and have the right resources to build a duplicate data center. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Oct 2024
CrowdStrike outage explained: What caused it and what’s next
A CrowdStrike update caused a massive IT outage, crashing millions of Windows systems. Critical services and business operations were disrupted, revealing tech reliance risks. Continue Reading
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Definition
12 Jan 2023
surge suppressor (surge protector)
A surge suppressor, sometimes optimistically called a surge protector, is a device inserted in the alternating current (AC) utility line and/or telephone line to prevent damage to electronic equipment from voltage spikes, or transients. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Dec 2022
Why BCDR teams should consider EMP disaster recovery plans
An EMP event could be a major game changer depending on where it happens and who is affected. EMP disaster recovery might not seem urgent, but it never hurts to be prepared. Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Dec 2022
emergency notification system
An emergency notification system is an automated method of contacting a group of people within an organization and distributing important information during a crisis. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Dec 2022
virtual disaster recovery
Virtual disaster recovery is a type of DR that typically involves replication and enables a user to fail over to virtualized workloads. Continue Reading
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Definition
14 Dec 2022
action plan
An action plan is a document that lists what steps must be taken to achieve a specific goal. Continue Reading
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Definition
14 Dec 2022
network disaster recovery plan
A network disaster recovery plan is a set of procedures designed to prepare an organization to respond to an interruption of network services during a natural or humanmade catastrophe. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Dec 2022
Ensure network resilience in a network disaster recovery plan
A network disaster recovery plan doesn't always mean network resilience. Learn how factors like funding, identifying potential risks and constant updates make a difference. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Dec 2022
Use NFPA data center standards to help evade fire risks
A fire in a data center can damage equipment, cause data loss and put personnel in harm's way. Look to NFPA fire protection guidelines to hedge your risk against data center fires. Continue Reading
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News
23 Nov 2022
Data resiliency guarantees offer new kind of assurance
Data resiliency guarantees from Druva, Rubrik and AvePoint offer data warranties of up to $10 million, but experts caution customers to read the fine print. Continue Reading
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Opinion
21 Nov 2022
Ransomware preparedness: The long road ahead
Is your organization ready for ransomware? A recent survey shows that businesses in a variety of industries are all struggling with ransomware prevention and recovery. Continue Reading
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News
16 Nov 2022
Microsoft SQL Server 2022 bridges on-premises to cloud
Enabling hybrid deployments that span the cloud and on-premises is the key goal for Microsoft's latest update of its 33-year-old relational database. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Nov 2022
Where do business continuity plans fit in a ransomware attack?
Recovery isn't the only priority when ransomware hits. Careful planning, training and coordination among IT teams are critical to maintain business continuity during an attack. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Oct 2022
Create a flood business continuity plan to stay afloat
In the event of a flood, don't settle for watered-down action plans. Download our free flood business continuity plan template to create a flood-specific recovery strategy. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Oct 2022
How to avoid common GPO backup and restore problems
Group Policy Objects help admins maintain control of the enterprise environment, but it takes some planning to understand how to properly protect and recover GPOs to avoid trouble. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Oct 2022
What to include in a network disaster recovery plan checklist
A network disaster recovery plan should include components like documentation, emergency contacts, step-by-step procedures, provider and vendor details, backup info and more. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Sep 2022
Why a HIPAA disaster recovery plan is critical
Disaster recovery is a complex and high-stakes operation. When healthcare data is in the mix, a good DR plan is even more crucial. Do you have a HIPAA disaster plan in place? Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Sep 2022
Use ISO 22320:2018 to prepare an incident management plan
Incident management is critical to ensure that businesses can deal with unplanned disruptive events. Find out how the ISO:22320:2018 standard can help. Continue Reading
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News
22 Sep 2022
New Everbridge CEO takes over at critical time
New Everbridge CEO David Wagner details his areas of focus for the company. Investor Ancora has suggested that a private equity firm should acquire Everbridge. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Sep 2022
Tips to prepare for a network disaster recovery audit
Enterprises can audit their network disaster recovery plans to ensure thorough protection and preparation. Consider factors like documentation, management support and audit type. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Aug 2022
Use ISO/TS 22317:2021 to shape your business impact analysis
ISO/TS 22317:2021 is a useful tool for BCDR practitioners and other personnel tasked with executing a BIA, which can often be a highly complex activity. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Aug 2022
Where does AI fit into a risk assessment strategy?
AI is a helpful way to take a different look at risk assessment and disaster recovery. AI sifts through massive amounts of risk data without the typical constraints of DR teams. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Aug 2022
Free disaster recovery budget template to justify BCDR spending
Budgeting for disaster recovery does not need to be difficult. With detailed guidance from our free budget template, IT professionals can easily initiate and manage the process. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jul 2022
Use recovery level objective to fine-tune BCDR response
Recovery level objective is not a widely used metric, but it has value to business continuity and disaster recovery teams. Learn how it fits in the BCDR timeline here. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Jul 2022
Get the most out of Azure Site Recovery DRaaS
For Azure users, the Site Recovery DRaaS tool provides reliable and accessible disaster recovery. Testing and good management are critical to get the most out of the service. Continue Reading
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Answer
22 Jul 2022
Future of tape backup built on consistent advancements
Tape still plays a key role in backup, including offline protection from ransomware. What are some key improvements that will keep tape backup relevant in the future? Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Jun 2022
Tighten up work recovery time for successful disaster recovery
The best strategy for reducing work recovery time windows is done before the need arises. Proactive disaster recovery planning is key to being as prepared as possible. Continue Reading
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Definition
01 Jun 2022
operational resilience
Operational resilience is a business's ability to respond to and overcome adverse circumstances during operation that might cause financial loss or disrupt business services. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 May 2022
SaaS disaster recovery best practices for users and providers
When it comes to SaaS disaster recovery there are two main roles: the consumer and the provider. The side of the fence they're on defines their options and responsibilities. Continue Reading
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Definition
31 May 2022
contingency plan
A contingency plan is a course of action designed to help an organization respond effectively to a significant future incident, event or situation that may or may not happen. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 May 2022
12 key points a disaster recovery plan checklist must include
Having a comprehensive disaster recovery plan checklist ensures that you can get data center operations back up and running as efficiently as possible when an incident does occur. Continue Reading
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Definition
26 May 2022
organization resilience
Organizational resilience is an organization's ability to anticipate issues ahead of time and develop a plan for handling identified problems. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 May 2022
Free business impact analysis (BIA) template with instructions
If you need to perform a business impact analysis, this guide and our free, downloadable template will assist you in your business continuity planning. Continue Reading
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Answer
26 May 2022
Business resilience vs. business continuity: Key differences
Business continuity and resilience go hand in hand and play a role in an organization's disaster recovery plan. Essentially, business continuity is needed to achieve resilience. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 May 2022
ITGC audit checklist: 6 controls you need to address
Assess the risks to your IT operations and company infrastructure with an IT general controls audit. Download our checklist to help you remember what to include in the audit. Continue Reading
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Definition
23 May 2022
business resilience
Business resilience is the ability an organization has to quickly adapt to disruptions while maintaining continuous business operations and safeguarding people, assets and overall brand equity. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 May 2022
business continuity software
Business continuity software is an application or suite designed to make business continuity planning/business continuity management (BCP/BCM) processes, metrics and compliance more efficient and accurate. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 May 2022
A free business continuity plan template and guide
A business continuity plan is critical for an organization when an unplanned event occurs. Follow this template and BC planning guidelines to get on the right path to resilience. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 May 2022
Top 10 business continuity risks to monitor
Business continuity and disaster recovery threats vary by organization, but common threads can be found across the globe. Ten worrisome trends appear to be having a big year. Continue Reading
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Definition
10 May 2022
business continuity policy
A business continuity policy is a set of standards and guidelines that an organization enforces to ensure resilience and proper risk management. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Apr 2022
Zerto tips and tricks for ransomware recovery
Ransomware recovery is a major concern for disaster recovery teams. For businesses using Zerto, there are a variety of ransomware protection and recovery features that can help. Continue Reading
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News
20 Apr 2022
Sungard files second Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Sungard Availability Services cited pricey colocation centers and COVID-19 as business challenges that led the company to file for bankruptcy in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Mar 2022
Discover disaster recovery and backup for edge networks
Proper backup and DR at the edge requires an awareness of the specific challenges edge devices present, and appropriate plans and tooling to help ease management. Continue Reading
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News
31 Mar 2022
White House: Data backups critical part of cyber strategy
Security experts and vendors support the White House's suggestions, such as offline data backups, to promote cyber resilience. Continue Reading
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News
31 Mar 2022
Rewind adds Atlassian Jira backups to supported services
Rewind's Backups for Jira expands its portfolio of supported SaaS platforms with Jira Software Cloud. New Rewind technology will add new SaaS requests faster. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Mar 2022
How AI adds value to crisis communications systems
AI provides key enhancements to existing emergency notifications systems that can reduce the amount of time a business needs to effectively prepare for and respond to a crisis. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Mar 2022
How to calculate maximum allowable downtime
Determining maximum allowable downtime is more than a simple equation. Find out why it's important, how it varies and the elements that make the maximum allowable downtime metric. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Feb 2022
How to manage disaster recovery in SQL Server
SQL Server offers a platform for hosting relational databases. Enacting a disaster recovery plan that won't disrupt mission-critical SQL Server workloads is essential. Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Feb 2022
The best enterprise storage systems and products of 2021
Thirty-nine finalists competed for top honors in the annual 'Storage' magazine and SearchStorage Products of the Year awards. Find out which won gold, silver and bronze. Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Feb 2022
The top backup and disaster recovery services of 2021
Products of the Year winners in the backup and disaster recovery services category wowed judges with their innovation, ransomware protection and scalability. Continue Reading
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Infographic
14 Feb 2022
Proactive risk mitigation should be a business priority
Every organization will likely deal with a critical event at some point, but many are still reluctant to make proactive risk mitigation a priority. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Jan 2022
Critical event management software simplifies disaster recovery
Critical event management software can help reduce the chaos of disaster response, without overloading disaster recovery teams with data or complicating communications. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Dec 2021
IT resilience management, planning top of mind for DR pros
Resilience is a key issue for disaster recovery pros. This year, readers sought to build up their skills and learn more about the role of resilience in DR. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Dec 2021
Where do PSIM systems fit into disaster recovery?
Organizations that use multiple security platforms can look to PSIM systems to be better prepared for an incident. Read on for more about how they work. Continue Reading
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Answer
16 Nov 2021
What is the role of qualitative and quantitative impact in DR?
Disaster recovery planners use several metrics to craft a plan suited to their organizations. Quantitative and qualitative impact are two helpful metrics in a recovery strategy. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Nov 2021
Prepare a supply chain disaster recovery plan
Supply chain disruptions can bring business to a halt and lead to high costs. Examine potential threats, mitigation costs and prepare to plug any gaps in the chain. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Nov 2021
How to calculate and reduce MTTR
Mean time to repair is a helpful performance metric to ensure that important systems and processes don't fail. BCDR teams should know how to calculate MTTR, as well as lower it. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Oct 2021
Prepare and conduct a ransomware tabletop exercise
Tabletop exercises help organizations practice response and recovery, but one size doesn't fit all. For ransomware attacks, use this template to create a targeted exercise. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Oct 2021
IT risk assessment template (with free download)
Risk assessments are a critical part of a disaster recovery plan. Find out how to prepare a risk assessment and then download the included free template to create one. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Sep 2021
Decode different types of business interruption insurance
Business interruption insurance can be difficult to navigate because not all policies are the same. Here's what to examine when exploring insurance options. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Aug 2021
Top mass notification system vendors and how to choose one
Mass notification systems are crucial to a business continuity and disaster recovery strategy. To choose the right system, cross-check its capabilities with your requirements. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Aug 2021
Use ISO 22332 to improve business continuity plans
Standards offer guidance on business continuity and disaster recovery plans. ISO 22332 is no exception, providing great detail on how to prepare and execute a BC plan. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Aug 2021
Make a power outage business continuity plan with these tips
Power outages can lead to business disruption and hit at any moment. Infrastructure testing and emergency protocols can help with business continuity when the lights go down. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jul 2021
Prepare for planned and unplanned downtime
There are two types of IT downtime: planned and unplanned. Neither are desirable, but one is necessary and the other could strike at any moment. Here's how to prepare for both. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Jul 2021
DRaaS vs. BaaS: Compare 2 data protection options
While DRaaS and BaaS can simplify data protection operations, they aren't right for all IT shops. Learn the differences between the two technologies -- and the potential risks. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Jul 2021
How to plan for the cost of unplanned downtime
Unplanned downtime can lead to serious consequences, including reputational harm, revenue loss and extra IT costs. Use these tips to plan for the unexpected. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Jul 2021
Crisis communications training exercises to implement
A crisis communications team must be prepared to spring into action at a moment's notice. Here are three crisis communications training strategies to ensure a team is ready. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Jun 2021
Business continuity interview questions for aspiring managers
Business continuity managers must be ready for anything, and that includes interviewing for the role. Here are some common business continuity interview questions to prepare for. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jun 2021
Build a BCDR employee training program for peak resilience
A BCDR training program teaches employees key skills, such as how to conduct risk assessments, coordinate emergency response with first responders and restore business processes. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Jun 2021
Organizational resilience questionnaire for recovery teams
Following organizational resiliency standards such as ISO and BSI can prepare organizations for disaster. These questions provide a starting point to validate OR readiness. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Jun 2021
12 skills business continuity managers need to succeed
Communication, collaboration, IT expertise and project management are key skills that business continuity managers must have to efficiently lead a BCDR team. Here's why. Continue Reading
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Report
15 Jun 2021
Guide to business continuity and pandemic planning
This guide explains the enterprise impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and how business continuity planning keeps organizations safe and in operation. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Jun 2021
How to build a strong crisis communications team
A crisis communications team works best when all members are fully aware of their responsibilities. Here are some tips on building a highly effective response team. Continue Reading
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Answer
08 Jun 2021
What are some examples of organizational resilience?
Organizational resilience encompasses everything a company needs to run in times of crisis. These examples show how businesses handle tough situations. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 May 2021
The tiers of disaster recovery, explained
Organizations have used disaster recovery tiers to define the DR process for years. These key tiers can serve as a backbone to a comprehensive disaster recovery plan. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Apr 2021
Establish a business continuity team to get the full picture
Business continuity teams provide insight and focus that can keep an organization on its feet when disaster strikes. Don't rely on a disaster recovery team to reduce downtime. Continue Reading
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Feature
02 Apr 2021
Castellan Solutions says COVID-19 forced BCDR rethink
COVID-19 caught organizations flat-footed in terms of business continuity, and new challenges will arise as vaccines are distributed, according to Castellan Solutions' CEO and COO. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Mar 2021
Create an incident response plan with this free template
Want to boost your organization's ability to fight cybersecurity threats? Uncover the essentials to creating an incident response plan and download our free, editable template. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Mar 2021
Prepare for the unknown with an organizational resilience model
An organizational resilience strategy is far-reaching, involving many facets of IT and the business -- from disaster recovery to supply chain management. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Mar 2021
How to establish an operational resilience training program
Collaboration across departments is the new normal to protect business operations. Set up and promote an operational resilience training program with our included printable guide. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Feb 2021
The reality of Docker disaster recovery in practice
A successful Docker DR strategy must account for a range of factors, including the host infrastructure, networks and redundancy in the cloud. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Feb 2021
Combine business continuity and crisis management practices
Together, business continuity and crisis management procedures help an organization prepare for the worst. But careful planning is key. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Feb 2021
Follow these standards for business continuity and resilience
Business continuity, disaster recovery and resilience professionals have numerous IT standards they can reference for nearly every aspect of planning. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jan 2021
Optimize a BCDR strategy for 2021 and beyond
COVID-19 has changed the way many organizations view BCDR. Along with an increased interest in resilience, a pandemic-proof BCDR plan is likely top of mind for 2021. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Jan 2021
Use APIs to create a custom disaster recovery report
The right set of PowerShell commands and API calls can go a long way to build and customize a disaster recovery report. Learn how with these steps. Continue Reading
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News
19 Jan 2021
Everbridge CTO details critical event management 'wake-up call'
Everbridge CTO Imad Mouline discusses how the coronavirus pandemic changed his company and businesses around the world, plus how organizations can improve crisis management. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Dec 2020
Where disaster recovery strategy stands post-2020
Predictably, some 2019 forecasts of what disaster recovery might look like in 2020 didn't quite hit the mark. However, funding and cybersecurity were evergreen concerns. Continue Reading
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Answer
21 Dec 2020
How can a pandemic business continuity plan cover employees?
A major element in maintaining business continuity during a pandemic is taking care of employee health. Pandemic-specific planning must be a part of the overall BCDR plan. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Dec 2020
Colocation in disaster recovery: Everything you need to know
Colocation is an important DR strategy and it's a vital resource for ensuring mission-critical systems and data files can be securely protected and available when needed. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Nov 2020
Prepare for a business continuity audit with the FFIEC handbook
The FFIEC 'Business Continuity Management' handbook can serve as a guide to ensure that BC activities are consistent with best practices and are ready for an audit. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Nov 2020
How to manage virtual disaster recovery setup costs
Creating a virtual disaster recovery setup shouldn't be pricey, but costs can easily add up if providers don't take all expenses into account. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Nov 2020
Business continuity vendors bolster offerings during pandemic
Organizations must ensure their pandemic business continuity and technology DR plans address cybersecurity, as well as remote employees, social distancing and company shutdowns. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Nov 2020
After-action report template and guide for DR planning
Conducting an after-action report following disasters or internal DR exercises is a critical process that will help prepare an organization for future disruptive events. Continue Reading
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News
12 Nov 2020
Castellan Solutions launches with business continuity suite
Newly rebranded Castellan's offerings include risk management, business continuity and disaster recovery management, and emergency notification and incident management. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Oct 2020
Updated FFIEC 'Business Continuity' handbook highlights planning
The FFIEC handbook on business continuity has been updated by the organization to place greater emphasis on planning, with more detailed information on testing and exercises. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Oct 2020
Understanding BC, resilience standards and how to comply
Follow these nine steps to first identify relevant business continuity and resilience standards and, second, launch a successful compliance program at your organization. Continue Reading
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Feature
02 Oct 2020
CCPA compliance still unclear long past deadline
Despite the July 1 CCPA compliance deadline having long past, many executives are still unclear how the law applies to their business. Privacy experts weigh in on the latest enforcements. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Sep 2020
ISO 22301:2019 vs. previous versions: What's changed?
The International Organization for Standardization is continually updating its BC standards. Older versions may still be relevant, but keep an eye out for significant changes. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Sep 2020
It's time to update your pandemic disaster recovery plan
Your DR plan may be unprepared for a pandemic, and while mid-pandemic is not the ideal time to be discovering issues, you should use this time to make changes. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Sep 2020
Common virtual disaster recovery errors and how to avoid them
Frequently testing a disaster recovery plan is one reliable way to ensure that a virtual recovery will go smoothly and not set an organization back. Continue Reading
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News
23 Sep 2020
Ransomware recovery steps important for 'constant battle'
Are you ready to recover from ransomware? Actifio Data Driven sessions detailed guidelines for your recovery plan that could save your business time and money. Continue Reading