Disasters are impossible to predict and can strike when they are least expected, Some areas are more disaster-prone, like those situated on or around the Ring of Fire, where earthquakes are common or those in hurricane zones but IT infrastructure located in “safer” regions are far from danger-free. Anything from an unexpected natural disaster to simple technical failure can lead to downtime, lost revenue, and reduced client trust.
According to Gartner research, the average cost of unplanned IT downtime across industries is, on average, over $5,000 per minute. Small businesses especially can take a serious hit from lost revenue, but, more importantly, from damaged trustworthiness. So, are your files safe? Here are a few things to consider.
What Is Your Current IT Setup? And, Is It Safe?
Measuring the safety of your data and infrastructure is essential. Though there are experts who can perform detailed examinations of your infrastructure to determine its resilience, a little self-questioning can provide a good overview. If these questions are hard for you to answer, you should take the time to consider them deeply; the profits and the reputation of your business are on the line. If the answers are unsatisfactory, read on for some possible solutions.
If your business suddenly encountered unexpected downtime today:
- How long would it take for someone to start looking for a problem?
- How long would it be before someone capable of fixing the problem could begin working?
- How long might the fix take? Minutes? Hours? Days?
If natural disaster strikes and your infrastructure is physically damaged and compromised:
- Will your data be safe? All of it?
- Will your business be able to continue running as usual, or will there be a service disruption?
- If your infrastructure is damaged or destroyed, how long until it can be rebuilt and fully operational?
The risks of a single, central data center are high if a problem ever arises. Can those risks be alleviated? They can, by diversifying through the cloud.
In-house Cloud Solutions
One possible solution is to partially or fully back-up data and operations on a local or in-house cloud. Distributing your data away from one centralized location can alleviate some of the risks and provide additional cloud computing benefits for your business. If one of the two experiences problems, the other can ensure smooth operations.
Not all businesses, however, can afford the time or expenses that in-house cloud solutions bring with them. Smaller businesses, especially, will struggle with the logistics and hefty price tags of operating their own cloud.
An in-house or local cloud still has risks, too. Though lower, the possibility of experiencing technical problems in both at the same time is not negligible, and may even be more dangerous if adequate precautions have not been taken. Worse yet, if the cloud is located nearby, or even in the same geographical area, a natural disaster may still damage or destroy both.
Cloud Solutions
In terms of safety, the best solution is diversity AND distance. If a natural disaster strikes your neighborhood, your city, or your country, cloud solutions from a service provider based in a different country will ensure that your data and operations remain unaffected. In addition, off-prem cloud services provide the same cloud benefit as an in-house or local cloud: decentralized infrastructure, which helps protect your business from technical failure and simplifies the process of resolving it.
Depending on the objectives and operations of your business, some mix of in-house, local, and off-shore may work best for protecting the data and hardware that you depend on from the disaster.
If you would like to start disaster-proofing your business as soon as possible, consider Cloud Carib. Based in Nassau, Bahamas, Cloud Carib is a world-leading Cloud Service Provider, offering cutting-edge cloud technology. To learn more and to speak with a cloud specialist about the best cloud solution for your business, call (800) 390-2806.
