Disaster Recovery Mistakes to Avoid

It is good to have a disaster recovery plan but it is far better to have a reliable one. A lot of organizations spend time and resources to set up a disaster recovery plan. Once the plan is set up, you may feel pretty confident in its safety. Unfortunately, your enthusiasm may be misplaced if your plan isn’t created the right way.

Have you asked yourself, will your business survive a disaster should one happen?

To help you put in place a solid disaster recovery plan, below we discuss a few mistakes you must avoid.

1. Shutting off External Inputs

Many businesses defer everything about disaster recovery to their IT department because well, it is an IT job. This can cause a big problem later. IT disasters can affect businesses in ways that an IT department or a business owner cannot anticipate. An effective recovery plan must get information from every sector of your organization. In addition, an external disaster recovery expert may be needed to take a fresh look at your plan. For example, a managed service provider may suggest improvements that will ensure your business data remains secure.

2. Inadequate Disaster Recovery Testing

Once you have your disaster recovery plan up and running, you may feel as if you’re ready to close that chapter. But DON’T close it! There is only one way to know if your plan will work and that is through rigorous and continuous testing. Assumptions aren’t reality, testing will let you update non-working aspects of your recovery plan. It will also let you prepare for worst case scenarios. If you adopt a testing schedule, you and your team will become familiar with the recovery process. Therefore, reducing the risk of panic-induced mistakes during an actual IT disaster or natural disaster. In addition, restored data should be verified for integrity.

3. Relying on One Backup

You have taken a big step by protecting your business with a backup plan. However, this is only good as long as your backup’s integrity is maintained. It is not unusual for business data and its backup to get damaged by a disaster. In that case, a business with one backup source can’t recover and may shut down. Having several copies of backup in different sites is redundant but it will enhance your business’ security. This is an important item to include in a disaster recovery strategy.

4. Ignoring Non-Centralized Data

Businesses prioritize data that resides sometimes in their mind or at the main office. This data is backed up on a regular basis. While data from branch offices and mobile devices such as laptops are either not backed up at all, or done occasionally. Modern businesses operate in both local and remote locations generating important data in the process. If you don’t include data from remote sources in your backup plan, a full recovery in case of a disaster may be impossible.

5. Not Having a Communication Plan

Many envision disaster recovery as just the process of backup and recovery. It is more than that. Since its goal is business continuity, a communication plan is an essential part of an effective recovery process. Your business needs to communicate with users and team members about the event and how to get back online in case of a disaster. The communication plan will also include steps necessary to get back online using appropriate tools and settings. Without a communication plan, your recovery may be stalled or even derailed. Users or members of your team won’t know what to do.

6. Focusing on the Wrong Disaster Risks

Earthquake, wildfire, and hurricanes are not the only disasters that businesses have to worry about. In fact, most disasters that affect businesses are due to human errors or deliberate sabotage. Such disasters include a failed backup power and infrastructural failures. Thus, disaster recovery plans should focus more on human-induced disasters. Also, during a risk analysis of your business, a new vulnerability angle such as cyber attacks could be revealed. These types of vulnerabilities should be considered while designing a disaster recovery plan. Not including other disaster risks in your plan can make critical business unrecoverable in case of new disasters.

There is no foolproof plan against disasters because they are unpredictable. However, you can close a lot of loopholes by avoiding the mistakes stated above and implementing the necessary changes. If you lack the resources to implement an effective disaster recovery plan, consider working with a business IT support provider (us!) to set up one. Disasters give no warnings, plan ahead to prevent loss, stress, and outage .

Common IT Security Compliance Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

June 17, 2025
Meeting IT security compliance standards is crucial for businesses that handle sensitive data, particularly in industries such as healthcare, finance, defense, and e-commerce. Regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA, CMMC, PCI-DSS, and GDPR exist to help ensure businesses protect customer information and maintain robust cybersecurity practices. Unfortunately, many organizations fall short of these requirements, often due to common, avoidable mistakes. These gaps can result in costly fines, data breaches, and reputational damage, which can significantly impact the business's bottom line and customer trust. 1. Failing to Conduct Regular Risk Assessments The Pitfall: Many businesses overlook the importance of conducting routine risk assessments. Without these, it’s challenging to identify vulnerabilities or evaluate whether your current cybersecurity controls meet compliance standards. How to Avoid It: Implement a regular risk assessment schedule. Work with a qualified IT provider to evaluate your systems, identify weaknesses, and document remediation plans. These assessments should be performed at least annually, or whenever significant changes to the system occur. 2. Inadequate Employee Training The Pitfall: Your employees are your first line of defense—and often your most significant vulnerability. A common compliance issue arises when businesses fail to train staff on cybersecurity best practices or on handling sensitive data appropriately. How to Avoid It: Invest in ongoing cybersecurity awareness training. Ensure employees understand how to recognize phishing emails, create strong passwords, and report any suspicious activity. Training should be updated regularly to reflect current threats and compliance requirements. 3. Improper Data Handling and Storage The Pitfall: Storing sensitive data in unsecured locations, failing to encrypt information, or retaining data longer than necessary are significant compliance risks. These practices are often flagged during audits. How to Avoid It: Adopt data classification policies that define how different types of data should be handled; encrypt sensitive data both at rest and in transit. Establish clear data retention policies and ensure that obsolete data is disposed of securely. 4. Lack of Incident Response Planning The Pitfall: When a security incident occurs, time is of the essence. Many businesses lack a documented incident response plan, or their existing plan hasn’t been thoroughly tested. This can lead to delayed responses, increased damage, and regulatory penalties. How to Avoid It: Develop a formal incident response plan that includes roles, responsibilities, communication protocols, and steps for containment and recovery. Run simulated breach scenarios with your IT team to ensure everyone knows how to respond effectively. 5. Using Outdated Software or Systems The Pitfall: Running outdated operating systems, software, or firmware is a common issue that can lead to compliance failures. Unsupported technologies are more vulnerable to exploitation. How to Avoid It: Keep all systems and applications up to date with the latest patches. Use automated tools to track software versions and receive alerts about end-of-life technologies. Schedule regular maintenance windows to apply updates and upgrades. 6. Insufficient Access Controls The Pitfall: Allowing too many employees access to sensitive data—or failing to revoke access when it’s no longer needed—can lead to data breaches and non-compliance. How to Avoid It: Implement role-based access controls and follow the principle of least privilege. This principle means that each user should have the minimum level of access necessary to perform their job. Regularly audit user accounts and permissions to ensure access is current and appropriate. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an additional layer of protection. 7. Neglecting Third-Party Vendor Risks The Pitfall: Businesses often overlook the fact that their compliance responsibilities extend to third-party vendors. If a vendor mishandles your data, you could still be held accountable. How to Avoid It: Vet third-party vendors carefully. Ensure they meet the same compliance standards as your business and include security requirements in your contracts. Conduct periodic audits or request compliance certifications from your vendors. 8. Failing to Document Policies and Procedures The Pitfall: Even if your security practices are strong, failing to document your compliance policies can result in audit failures. Regulators want to see evidence that you have formal processes in place. How to Avoid It: Create and maintain clear documentation for all compliance-related policies, including data protection, access control, incident response, and employee training. Make these documents easily accessible for audits and regularly review them to ensure updates are current. Conclusion Compliance with IT security standards is not a one-time project—it requires ongoing attention, regular updates, and a proactive approach to maintain effectiveness. By understanding and addressing these common pitfalls, your business can stay ahead of regulatory requirements, strengthen its security posture, and reduce the risk of costly incidents. This ongoing attention is crucial to maintaining your business's security and audit readiness. If you’re unsure whether your business is meeting current IT compliance standards, professional support can help. Contact SDTEK today to schedule a compliance assessment and learn how our IT services can keep your business secure and audit-ready. With our support, you can navigate the complex landscape of IT security compliance with confidence.

Why Cybersecurity and Business IT Support Are Crucial for Fort Wayne Businesses

April 9, 2025
In today’s digital-first world, cybersecurity isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether you run a small startup or a growing enterprise in Fort Wayne , protecting your business’s data, systems, and clients is essential for long-term success. From ransomware attacks to phishing scams, cyber threats are evolving every day, and the best way to stay ahead of them is by partnering with a reliable IT services provider that understands the unique needs of local businesses. Here’s why investing in professional business IT support is one of the smartest decisions Fort Wayne businesses can make—and how working with SDTEK helps protect your operations, your data, and your reputation.