No matter how well-prepared your organization is, disaster can strike at any time. Perhaps a single employee makes an honest mistake or a hacker with a revolutionary new method targets your servers. Data breaches are more than just a scenario that haunts your IT department's nightmares, they are very real and cost your organizations both money and credibility - which is why preparation is key.  If you're able to prepare, you'll be able to react appropriately even in a worst-case scenario. 

Here's what a smart disaster recovery strategy looks like:

1. Identify and React Quickly

As soon as your organization gets a whiff of a potential problem, you need all hands on deck. It doesn't matter if there have been false alarms before, or if the attack occurs on Saturday at midnight. There should be a process in place so that every single employee feels empowered and able to report a potential security issue, no matter their position. Every second counts during a data breach, and a quick first response leads to a quick recovery.

2. Neutralize the Threat

Once your IT experts have indicated there is indeed a problem; you need to cut everything off. Make sure all affected servers are disconnected from the rest of your system to limit the impact. If necessary, you may need to shut your entire network down. It will come at a cost, but limiting the impact of the breach is your number one priority.

As soon as the threat has been temporarily disabled, take the time to figure out what happened. What information, applications, and systems were potentially affected?  A third party may also be helpful in managing this process. 

3. Communicate Your Breach

The second you nail down exactly what happened, it's time to own up to it. You need to speak with employees, customers, and perhaps the press depending on the impact of the breach and the size of your company. Depending on the nature of the issue, you may even need to contact local authorities, such as the Data Protection Commission in the Bahamas or a similar entity if you're elsewhere in the region.

You should consult with your local government, as many jurisdictions have specific guidelines on how these disasters need to be handled. Remember to be honest and direct, owning up to your mistakes. If you try to spread blame or hide critical information, you run the risk of ruining your reputation and making the situation even worse.

4. Recover and Learn 

Finally, you need to figure out how to prevent another similar issue in the future. For many businesses, this could mean turning to cloud service providers. Cloud providers are experts at storing data and keeping it safe, relieving you of those burdens.

If you're interested in having an expert assist you with securing your sensitive information, make sure to reach out to us today!

Are You Looking for a Disaster Recovery Service Provider?

If you're thinking about using a cloud service provider in your disaster recovery plan, consider Cloud Carib. Located in Nassau, Bahamas, Cloud Carib is a cutting-edge, cloud service provider that offers private, public, and hybrid cloud options. Its disaster recovery, CaribDR, is powered by Zerto Virtual Replication and DoubleTake Availability, ensuring your information is safe and secure, no matter the size, type, or scope of data. If you're looking for tailored disaster recovery from a reliable provider, call (800) 390-2806 to speak to one of Cloud Carib's representatives today.