Business Continuity Planning vs. Disaster Recovery Planning
In case of a catastrophic event, whether natural or man-made, a sound business continuity/disaster recovery (DR/BC) strategy can make the difference between a business glitch and a calamity. Progent's DR/BC consultants can help small and mid-size companies design and test a contingency plan that incorporates advanced technologies and proven processes to get back in business quickly after a catastrophic network failure while at the same time working within a restricted IT budget.
The terms "business continuity planning" and "disaster recovery planning" are often used interchangeably, but it is useful to distinguish them. Business continuity planning takes a high-level, holistic view of a business to determine what personnel, physical resources, and operational processes are required to keep an organization running at some minimally acceptable level after a catastrophe and how to restore normal operations efficiently. Business continuity planning takes into account information technology issues, which are vital to any business, but also addresses areas beyond computing. Will you need temporary office space? Substitute vehicles? Alternate vendors? Replacement personnel? Do you have an emergency notification system in place to alert workers and other stakeholders? Are you required to file regulatory reports or contact insurers? Do you need access to emergency funding?
Progent can provide the services of experienced consultants who can help you follow best practices to create and document a high-level business continuity plan that deals with these critical questions and provides a cohesive game plan to follow in case of a disaster.
Disaster recovery planning is more focused on information technology issues and involves the down-to-earth details of how to keep your crucial IT operations running, protect your data, and restore full network functionality as quickly as practical. Progent can provide the services of a certified IT professional who can help you create and implement a disaster recovery plan that utilizes the latest generation of technologies designed to provide a high degree of fault tolerance and recoverability at historically low prices.
What Is Involved in Developing a Disaster Recovery Plan?
It is still relatively rare for small businesses to have a comprehensive business continuity plan in place, but only businesses with an insatiable appetite for risk should go without a disaster recovery plan. Disaster recovery planning should address the IT resources needed to maintain a defined level of operational capability and restore full network functionality as quickly as practical. The plan should anticipate a broad variety of disaster scenarios such as fires, storms, earthquakes, chemical accidents, flooding, pandemics, loss of key personnel, equipment or system failure, human error, and cyber crime.
You should assess the worst-case impact of each of these disaster scenarios on your network infrastructure and business processes and prioritize the areas that are most critical for you to protect in order to limit business disruption to an acceptable level. For each scenario, you should develop a recovery strategy that addresses your local and remote workers, customers, vendors, facilities, hardware and software, communication services, support contracts, and lead-times for replacing equipment and services and restoring data. Your recovery strategies should include specific action plans, escalation procedures, and data retention and restoration policies. You should also test the plan and train your employees responsible for carrying it out.
Progent's Process for Creating a Disaster Recovery Plan
Progent has developed an effective and affordable process for helping small business create a viable disaster recovery plan. This process involves seven distinct phases:
Phase 1: Business Impact and Risk Analysis
In this phase, you differentiate between critical and non-critical organization functions. A function is critical if its loss for any significant period of time would result in damage that stakeholders regard as unacceptable. You can't realistically decide that all network functions are critical because you have to consider the probable cost of establishing and maintaining rapid business or technical recovery solutions. You also have to take into account that some functions may be dictated by law or contractual obligations. Progent can help you make informed prioritization decisions by assessing the cost and timing issues associated with various recovery strategies.
Once you have identified critical organization functions, you have to establish two values for each function:
The Impact and Risk Analysis phase results in the recovery requirements for each critical function. The recovery requirements consist of:
Phase 3: Solution Design
The goal of the Solution Design phase is to identify the most cost-effective disaster recovery solution that meets the requirements identified in the Business Impact and Risk Analysis stage. For your critical IT applications, this means determining how the minimum application and application data requirements can be restored within the target timeframe. Disaster recovery plans may also have to address areas beyond IT applications. A common example is the requirement to preserve information in hard copy format. Progent's expertise with Microsoft and Cisco technology, business application programming and support skills, experience providing Internet data center consulting and network management services, and extensive background helping small business recover from catastrophic network failures ensure that the solutions Progent proposes take full advantage of advanced technology to keep costs down while maximizing the chances of success.
Key areas defined in the Solution Design phase include:
Phase 5: Testing and Verification of Technical Solutions
Testing and adjusting recovery plans for specific anticipated scenarios is another critical element of a viable disaster recovery program. The complexity of fault-tolerant networks requires rigorous testing to verify that a recovery plan is feasible and that assigned responsibilities are understood. Recovery exercises will show whether backed-up data can be usefully restored, alternative connectivity technology provides adequate performance under realistic loads, fault-tolerant technologies perform failover processes as planned, and IT staff knows what is expected. Testing exercises will help you identify weak points in your recovery plan so you can make adjustments before disaster strikes. Progent's experience with system design and support ensure that the Testing and Verification phase of a disaster recover plan is thorough and meaningful without being unnecessarily protracted and costly.
Primary areas involved in the Testing and Verification phase of a business continuity plan include:
Phase 7: Handover
The handover of a turnkey disaster recovery solution includes three activities:
CRISC-Certified Network Risk Control
The CRISC certification program was established by ISACA in 2010 to validate an IT professional's ability to plan, implement, and support information system control mechanisms to mitigate network risk. Progent can provide the services of a CRISC-certified consultant to assist your company to create and execute a workplace continuity or disaster recovery strategy based on industry best practices promoted by CRISC and geared to match your organization's risk tolerance, business objectives, and budgetary guidelines. To find out more, see CRISC-Certified network risk control specialists.
Windows Server 2019 High Availability Failover Clustering
Microsoft Windows Server 2019 introduced significant improvements in scale, performance, manageability, cybersecurity, application compatibility, Linux co-existence, container networking, and hybrid integration of local and cloud resources. Headline enhancements of Microsoft Windows Server 2019 include Windows Admin Center for unifying the management of hybrid on-premises/cloud deployments, System Insights for utilizing advance predictive analytics to control local networks, Windows Defender ATP (Advanced Threat Protection) Exploit Guard for host-intrusion defense, container networking with Kubernetes, Cluster Sets technology for deploying and managing massive non-stop scale-out clusters, and Storage Migration Service for simplifying the upgrade process from outdated versions of Windows Server. For more information, go to Windows Server 2019 Fault-tolerant Failover Clustering Consulting.
Windows Server 2016 Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
Progent's Windows Server 2016 disaster recovery/business continuity consultants can assist you to plan and deploy a DR system based on Microsoft's latest Failover Clustering technologies such as Cluster Operating System Rolling Upgrade for non-disruptive migration to Windows Server 2016, Storage Replica for crash-consistent recovery, Storage Spaces Direct for enterprise-class storage clusters using low-cost equipment, VM Load Balancing for improving the speed and fault-tolerance of Failover Clusters while reducing TCO and management overhead, and Cloud Witness for easy, economical creation of a failover cluster quorum witness. To learn more, see Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Disaster Recovery Help.
VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM) Disaster Recovery Solutions
VMware's Site Recovery Manager (SRM) is an extension to VMware vCenter that lets you define, automate and verify a consistent runbook for recovering services rapidly following a breakdown. SRM supports centrally controlled and automated disaster recovery, application mobility, and non-disruptive site migration, failback and re-protect. Site Recovery Manager also allows transparent testing for disaster recovery, updates and fixes and can generate reports to confirm full service restoration, validate SLAs and demonstrate compliance. Progent can provide the skills of a VCDX certified VMware SRM consulting expert to assist your organization to design, configure, test and administer a disaster recovery system based on VMware Site Recovery Manager.
NetApp MetroCluster Disaster Recovery Software
NetApp MetroCluster is a high-availability and disaster recovery software suite that combines failover storage clustering with synchronous replication to provide fast, zero data loss disaster recovery between datacenters that are up to 185 miles (300km) apart from each other. Progent offers online or on-premises access to a NetApp MetroCluster consultant who can help you to plan, deploy, manage, upgrade, test and repair a disaster recovery solution based on NetApp MetroCluster. Progent can assist you to choose a topology for your MetroCluster deployment that aligns with your functional requirements and IT budget. Progent can ensure you follow best practices for configuring your MetroCluster solution by delivering help with procedures such as assigning disk pools, determining aggregate and plexes layout, provisioning NetApp FlexVol volumes, setting up Data ONTAP configuration replication service, provisioning Cisco and Brocade switches, designing a tiebreaker mechanism, setting up a configuration replication network, and verifying your DR solution to prove adherence with industry standards and government mandates.
High Availability Load Balancing
Progent provides high availability load balancing consulting that addresses network load balancing, load balanced applications, LAN/WAN backbone routing, and content delivery products including Cisco Content Engine. High availability load balancing products for which Progent can provide consulting services include Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and 2008 Network Load Balancing Manager, Citrix Access Suite and Access Gateway, Cisco Content Services Switch, Cisco Content Distribution Manager and ACNS, and F5 Networks BIG-IP. For more information, see High Availability Load Balancing.
Fault Tolerant Internet Data Centers
Progent's Data Center professionals can show you how to select fault-tolerant data centers that meet the particular needs of your company. High availability co-location sites are especially appealing to small and mid-size companies due to of their affordability and convenience in comparison to pursuing a do-it-yourself strategy. Trying to design an on-site data center with even a basic degree of fault tolerance is financially prohibitive for the majority of small organizations. Progent is ready to show you how to reap all the benefits of 24x7 data centers by offering a full array of consulting and maintenance services. To learn more, see High-Availability Data Centers Solutions.
24x7 Branch Office Connectivity
Progent's interoffice connectivity professionals can help businesses achieve fault tolerant branch office connectivity through fully redundant networks with automatic failover. Progent's Cisco-certified CCIE engineers can plan and implement ultra-reliable Inter-office connections based on fault tolerant EIGRP network routers or fault tolerant OSPF deployment of Cisco routers. Progent can demonstrate how multi-path connections and automatic fail-over offers economical non-stop interoffice networking. To read more, see High-Availability Inter-office Connectivity.
Fault Tolerant Internet Connectivity
Progent's Cisco-certified network engineers can help you create an affordable, high availability Internet configuration architecture that can deliver non-stop Internet connectivity via a wide array of fault tolerant Internet network solutions including fault tolerant BGP, automatic fail-over, and redundant Internet Service Providers. Progent offers Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert professionals to show you how to apply the most up-to-date techniques for high availability Internet access to implement an affordable, completely redundant Internet network with automatic failover and other capabilities to create fault tolerant Internet access. To find out more, see Non-stop Internet Access Solutions.
Backup and Recovery Technology Consulting Services
Progent can provide affordable remote support from consultants skilled in a broad range of products and technologies that provide solutions for backing up Microsoft Windows, Mac, and Linux/UNIX servers and desktops plus notebooks and handhelds. Progent can provide consulting support for leading data protection products including Acronis, Backup Exec, BackupAssist, CrashPlan, Double-Take Backup, MozyPro, Retrospect, Apple Time Machine, VMware Data Recovery (VDR), and Oracle Solaris FLARs. Progent's consultants can help your company to implement, upgrade, or troubleshoot data backup solutions for a range of environments such as on-premises, remote, cloud-based, or a mix. For more information, visit Backup and Recovery Solutions Expertise.
System Center Data Protection Manager (SCDPM) Data Recovery Consulting and Support Services
Progent's expert Microsoft SCDPM engineers can assist you to create a practical disaster recovery plan, design an affordable fault-tolerante network infrastructure, configure a SCDPM-powered backup and recovery system, thoroughly test your system, train your administrative staff or local service providers how to maintain SCDPM, or provide extensive information technology outsourcing services such as off-site hosting of Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager machines in Progent's secure data center. For more information, visit System Center Data Protection Manager Consulting and Support Services.
Barracuda Backup Cloud and Offsite Data Backup and Disaster Recovery
Barracuda Backup is a low-cost, subscription backup and disaster recovery platform for small and mid-size businesses. A Barracuda Backup deployment can include a purpose-built hardware storage device built by Barracuda or a virtual appliance with similar features but which uses your existing storage hardware. Barracuda Backup safeguards vital company data generated locally, at one or more remote sites, or in the cloud. For disaster protection, you can replicate data to the Barracuda Cloud, to Amazon Web Services (AWS), or to any site with a Barracuda appliance. Progent is a Barracuda partner and Progent's Barracuda Backup consulting experts offer a wide array of consulting support services to help you to design, integrate, operate and troubleshoot a backup and disaster recovery system built on Barracuda technology. For additional information, go to Barracuda Backup and disaster recovery consulting.
ProSight Data Protection Services Altaro VM Backup Solutions for Data Protection and Disaster Recovery
Hornetsecurity's Altaro VM Backup offers small organizations a reliable and budget-friendly platform for backing up and recovering Hyper-V and VMware-powered VMs. Altaro VM Backup can be used for local, remote, distributed, and cloud-hosted architectures and also supports cost-effective cloud backup to Azure storage. Altaro VM Backup supports high-end features like Immutable Cloud Storage for enhanced recoverability from ransomware. Progent is a Hornetsecurity Altaro partner and can provide a broad range of remote or on-premises services to help you to plan, deploy, optimize and troubleshoot a modern backup and disaster recovery solution powered by Altaro VM Backup. With ProSight DPS Altaro VM Backup, Progent delivers a fully managed backup/recovery service based on Altaro VM Backup technology. For details, go to Altaro VM Backup consulting.
ProSight Data Protection Services 365 Total Backup Services for Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 provides rudimentary archiving but does not include integrated support for vital data protection services like Exchange Online backups or greater than 30-day point-in-time data recovery for OneDrive for Business or SharePoint Online. Hornetsecurity's 365 Total Backup provides a feature-rich BDR solution for programmable backup and rapid recovery of all your company's M365 mailboxes, Microsoft Teams Chats, SharePoint documents, OneDrive for Business data, and content on Windows desktops and laptops. Progent is a certified Hornetsecurity/Altaro partner and has designed ProSight Data Protection Services (DPS) 365 Total Backup to provide end-to-end managed services for Hornetsecurity's 365 Total Backup suite. ProSight DPS 365 Total Backup provides a low-cost backup-as-a-service alternative that defends M365 apps against data loss caused by user or software mistakes, malevolent deletion, and malware attacks like ransomware. For details, see ProSight Data Protection Services 365 Total Backup services for Microsoft 365.
Fully Managed Cloud Backup: ProSight Data Protection Services ECHO
ProSight Data Protection Services ECHO from Progent provide small and mid-sized organizations an affordable and fully managed service for secure backup/disaster recovery (BDR). For a low monthly cost, ProSight Data Protection Services ECHO automates and monitors your backup activities and allow rapid restoration of critical data, apps and VMs that have become lost or damaged due to hardware failures, software glitches, natural disasters, human error, or malware attacks like ransomware. ProSight Data Protection Services ECHO can help you protect, retrieve and restore files, folders, applications, system images, plus Microsoft Hyper-V and VMware images. Critical data can be protected on the cloud, to an on-promises storage device, or to both. Progent's backup and recovery specialists can deliver world-class expertise to set up ProSight DPS ECHO to be compliant with regulatory requirements like HIPAA, FIRPA, and PCI and, when needed, can help you to recover your critical data. Learn more about ProSight Data Protection Services ECHO managed cloud backup.
ProSight DPS 360 Backup Solutions
Progent's data protection experts can assist you to design, deploy and debug a backup plan built around MSP360 technology. MSP360 offers file or image backup/recovery for virtual machines and physical computers, supports all popular public clouds, and allows you to create a data protection solution with a minimum Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and a defined Recovery Point Objective. With ProSight Data Protection Services 360 Backup, Progent offers end-to-end monitoring and remote management of your backup system to prevent data loss resulting from human mistakes, computer glitches, ill-intentioned insiders, and malware attacks like ransomware. To find out more, visit ProSight DPS 360 Backup services.
Consulting for Double-Take Software for Data Backup and Recovery
Double-Take Software offers a selection of products designed to provide small and midsize companies a range of affordable alternatives for backing up and restoring business-critical workloads including Microsoft Exchange Server, SQL, RIM Blackberry, and Microsoft SharePoint. Progent's disaster recovery planning experts have extensive experience integrating Double-Take products into small company information systems to create a high level of fault tolerance and disaster recovery readiness at an affordable price. To learn more, go to Consulting Services Double-Take Software for Backup.
Why Choose Progent for Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity Planning?
Since Progent is a Microsoft Partner and provides professional application consulting for a wide range of business software programs, Progent can assist clients to arrive at comprehensive IT solutions that maximize the business value of your information system. As a Registered Partner for Cisco, Progent offers the services of premier engineers and specialists with experience in architecting, installing and maintaining infrastructure environments based on Cisco products. The depth of Progent's IT experience and Progent's appreciation for the requirements of small companies make Progent the ideal resource for creating and running a cost-effective, dependable information system.
How to Get in Touch with Progent's Consultants for Disaster Recovery Planning Support
If you wish to contact Progent about professional expertise for workplace recovery planning, call