Definition

Disaster recovery refers to a set of backup, recovery and related systems and processes designed to get a data center up and running in case of a major failure.

The popular impression is that disaster recovery is only used for major events like earthquakes or explosions, but serious outages can occur for a number of varied reasons, including technology failures and human error.

Business Applications

The main goal is to get critical systems up and running as quickly as possible. To that end, enterprises have deployed a number of technologies to ensure a quick response. Among them are data mirroring, remote  storage, hosted applications and virtualization.

An increasingly popular strategy is the deployment of thin client architectures and virtual desktops that essentially allow workers to tap into business applications wherever they can. But even this approach relies on rapid availability of organization data either from a central or remote  location.

Deployment Concerns

As with any storage and recovery issue, security is a key concern. During a major failure, systems need to be responsive to requests that may or may not be coming through standard network channels. Ensuring that these requests are valid in a timely manner can prove to be a significant challenge.

Another concern is the habit of ignoring disaster recovery systems and requirements until they are needed. Organizations that have experienced critical disruptions say DR needs to be an ongoing process in which systems are routinely tested and users are familiar with the processes and procedures to get back on-line.

Disaster recovery is also viewed by some as a major cost center with only a remote chance of ever being used. That view tends to suffer when news breaks of a major outage somewhere in the IT universe.

Technical details

DR entails a number of key technologies such as business continuity software, disk-  or tape-based archiving solutions, data protection and replication and mirroring technologies.

DR planners also become familiar with terms like recovery point objective and recovery time objective, which are used to gauge the effectiveness of plans to bring enterprise platforms back into operation.

Restoration of power systems is also critical, requiring redundancy in devices like uninterruptible power supplies, surge protectors and the like.

Other Related Content

• ACU Technology Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Plan

• Disaster Recovery Training Outline

• NIST Contingency Planning Guide for IT Systems