Lose your data, lose your business

Disasters, by definition, strike with little or no warning. Whether it's an extended power outage, a devastating storm, or some other unforeseen disruption, the most nerve-wracking part of owning a business is the unknown. But good news: we can prepare effectively to weather even the worst of storms. A solid disaster-recovery (DR) plan can mean the difference between a business bouncing back from a catastrophe or closing for good.

In past Network World contributions, my colleagues have underscored the importance of having DR plans, citing studies that show data losses stemming from IT outages can prove fatal to small businesses more often than most of us would guess. For example, a U.S. National Archives and Records Administration study found that 25% of companies experiencing an IT outage of two to six days went bankrupt immediately, with even more following in the longer term.

The question for every business is, if that kind of disruption happened to you, would you be one of the survivors or one of the casualties?

The core of almost all DR plans is data replication in some form -- duplication and storage of vital data in a safe, secure place where you can retrieve it if some catastrophe destroys or damages the primary location. There are essentially two different data replication strategies: host-based and controller-based.

If your organization has not committed to either yet, keep in mind that it's very difficult to switch from host-based solutions to controller-based solutions because the two aren't compatible. Each is handled differently and uses different components (hardware to software, and vice-versa). If you're unsure about which type is right for your businesses, be sure to seek the guidance of a trusted adviser.

Host-based data replication
Host-based solutions usually are recommended for small businesses as they are the most cost-effective and "easiest" systems to adopt. This type of implementation occurs at an organization's operating level by pairing two separate servers that will each save data, ensuring redundancy. Servers in a host-based system can be paired at a one-to-one level, or with multiple servers-to one location, depending on the needs and capabilities of the organization.

A host-based solution is effective because the back-up server can be deployed remotely, potentially eliminating any need to restart the server should an event occur. In addition, it is very efficient and has a limited footprint, both in terms of office space and energy consumption. However, keep in mind that host-based solutions employ a variety of software systems, all of which likely will require a license.

Sign up for ITworld's Daily newsletter
Follow ITworld on Twitter @IT_world

• Email
• Print
• Share
  • Slashdot
  • Digg
  • Stumble
  • Reddit
  • Newsvine