Keep Your Company Safe With A Disaster Recovery Plan

What is a Disaster Recovery Plan?

In the event of a disaster such as a natural one or a man-made one, or even a catastrophic event for that matter, you will want to do your best to be prepared and have a solid plan in place.  As such this would be the same for a business as well. However, for a business when disaster strikes, this could be in the form of a cyber attack. In order to protect your core business and information systems, it’s highly important to plan ahead and develop a disaster recovery plan that will be readily available for your team members. A disaster recovery plan (also known as DRP) will include a recovery strategy and steps to take to protect your business on how to handle unexpected circumstances.

In summary, a DRP, allows an organization to prepare for a wide range of disasters including network attacks and equipment failures. The purpose of a disaster recovery plan is to lessen the impact of a disaster on an organization. When done properly, a disaster recovery plan can ensure a quick recovery of business functions for an organization without taking a major loss in revenues and other business activities.

A disaster recovery plan will include a breakdown of company processes. And will also share the details of a business continuity plan so, in the case of a disaster, a company can return quickly to smooth operations with the least amount of interruptions possible.

IT Disaster Facts

  • More than half of small businesses are reported to have suffered more than eight hours of downtime for the last five years. This downtime came at a significant cost; it cuts into the bottom line of the businesses involved.
  • DRP needs to be updated on a regular basis so that new information and installations are included in the plan. For companies without DRP, a risk assessment is necessary before creating one.
  • A 2015 report from the IT Disaster Recovery Preparedness (DRP) Council shared, “ One hour of downtime can cost small companies as much as $8,000, midsize companies up to $74,000, and large enterprises up to $700,000.”  

Getting Started

To begin with, a business impact analysis (BIA) has to be done, as well as a risk analysis (RA). The creation of a DRP also needs information on how fast the recovery needs to take place as well as the recovery status to be obtained for the process to be considered a success. Both of these are accomplished using a recovery time objective (RTO) and a recovery point objective (RPO). From the above, it can be seen disaster recovery requires a lot of work and expertise.

What To Do When Disaster Strikes in IT

When there is an IT disaster, an organization with a disaster recovery plan can immediately initiate its implementation. This begins with the incident response team taking over in order to assess the situation, recovering the affected systems, and later doing follow-ups to find out what sections of the disaster recovery plan worked and what parts did not.

Having a DRP will ensure that an organization is in a good position to manage the event. In addition, the plan allows businesses to test and improve on their existing disaster recovery plan and to ensure that normal operations are resumed as soon as possible.

To establish a hitch-free disaster management, copies of the disaster recovery plan should be made available for all those involved in the recovery process. The team should also be in a position to understand the disaster situation at hand and be able to test the plan out as well. An understanding of the systems’ hardware, software and other IT infrastructure of the organization affected is necessary for recovery.

That said, the process of recovering from a disaster should involve compliance with regulations as well as timely response, in cases where mission-critical operations are affected.

A successful disaster management process should end with the organization running its operations with little to no hindrances.

Managed IT Service Providers and Disaster Recovery Plan

A disaster can affect any department within an organization, including IT. IT has become a critical part of many small business operations and its outage could cripple an organization. Thus disasters need to be resolved with urgency and necessary skills.

IT disasters can be very expensive to contain and manage. Some businesses do not have the human resources to manage such incident. This is a problem that can be resolved by outsourcing the task to a managed IT service provider.

In fact, with the advent of cloud computing, outsourced IT support has pushed down the costs of disaster recovery. With these services, firms no longer have to spend on IT infrastructure in preparation for any disasters in future.

Another upside to using managed IT disaster recovery systems is that they are easier to deploy. Upgrades are also easier, and keeping the systems up to date is not technically demanding for the business. Using outsourced IT services can help free up time for company employees as well so they can focus more on projects rather than IT.

Disasters happen, and they have the potential to disrupt an organization’s operations and threaten its very existence. That is why every organization needs a disaster recovery plan to help them bounce back and reduce the potential damage that can happen due to unforeseen circumstances. Companies who don’t have the time or capacity to implement their own DRP should consider the services of Managed Service Providers who are skilled in disaster recovery.

Here at SDTEK, we offer two Managed Security Services – click here to learn more about our disaster recovery plan services. We will work with you to implement a DRP for your company to help keep your team members in the know if a disaster should strike.  

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.
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.