why disaster recovery testing is important


When running your disaster recovery test, it will be crucial to task one person with observing and documenting the test; this should be their sole purpose on test day. Your disaster recovery plan is only as good as your weakest link.

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} })(); Request a live demo by one of our engineers, See the full list of features, editions and prices. While automated disaster recovery tests serve an important purpose, they only test the technical component of your disaster recovery plan. disaster recovery tests practices

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And when they do crash, it is sometimes impossible to restore or retrieve the lost data.

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} else if (typeof(trackcmp_url) != 'undefined' && trackcmp_url) { Maximize commercial flexibility, reduce tech debt, and improve consumption costs across IT solutions. (function(el) {

var radios = form_to_submit.elements[el.name]; var form_submit = function(e) { Once the trust is gone, it is nearly impossible to regain it.

If you have a one-day requirement, you should be in your recovery environment testing once per quarter.

r = true; script.onload = script.onreadystatechange = function() { (function() { The method involves attempting a full recovery from an offsite storage.

Will your disaster recovery plan see you through ransomware attacks, hardware failures, and natural disastersor will you be caught flat-footed?

var visitorObject = window[vgoAlias]; Did the disaster recovery test reveal any holes? Now that you know how important disaster recovery testing is, let us demonstrate how you can perform it. "); Below you can find the four most popular testing methods. e.preventDefault(); However reliable they may be, machines are still not immune to failure.

var serialized = _form_serialize(document.getElementById('_form_5_')); return no_error; } That will depend on your businesswhat works for a local advertising agency wont work for a regional financial institution. if (no_error && elem.name == 'email') { It should also be noted that disaster recovery plan testing should be conducted regularly, preferably a few times per year. continue; } elem.className = elem.className + ' _has_error';

this.value = this.value.trim(); The other 23% simply hope for the best, risking losing both profit and customers in the event an actual outage occurs.

Conducting both tabletop tests and simulated technical tests will help ensure your people are prepared to execute against your documented policies and procedures. All the testing in the world serves little purpose if you dont leverage the insight youve gained to address vulnerabilities in your disaster recovery plan. This information will help you amend the plan and fix any weak links before a real disruption happens.

The more time you take to recover, the more customers you risk losing to your competitors. if (elem.type != 'radio' && elem.type != 'checkbox') {

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It is just as important to test your employees to ensure that everyone is on board with the plan. window._form_serialize = window.serialize; if (elem.tagName.toLowerCase() !== "select") { (_above|_below) ?/g, '') + ' _above'; const vgoAlias = typeof visitorGlobalObjectAlias === 'undefined' ? If your systems can never be down, you owe it to yourself to test much more frequently. This method helps identify potential blind spots and hidden issues. _load_script('https://nakivo12.activehosted.com/proc.php?'

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} else { var time = now.getTime(); How often should you test your disaster recovery plan?

window._load_script = function(url, callback) { } These include healthcare organizations, financial markets, huge enterprises, and government entities.

if (!no_error && e) { We recommend storing backups in an offsite storage site as it is highly unlikely that both the primary and secondary locations will fail simultaneously. addEvent(input, 'input', function() { Dont cheat on the test, but make informed, proactive decisions on steps to exclude. if (html) { no_error = true; However, 95% of companies that invest in disaster recovery testing manage to fight back. Every business strives to gain a reputation as a reliable partner. return new_tooltip; Factor possible natural disasters into your recovery plan and run disaster recovery testing to see if your staff and infrastructure are ready. window._old_serialize = null; By running DR tests beforehand, you can identify existing infrastructure vulnerabilities beforehand and fix them before these vulnerabilities can be exploited by hackers, thus putting your system at risk.

} else if (elem.tagName == 'SELECT') { if (_removed) return; Nearly 80% of unplanned downtime is caused by IT failures and power outages.

This method involves executing the DR plan in a test environment with no disruption to the production workflow. } allInputs[i].dataset.name = allInputs[i].name; Perpetual licenses of VMware and/or Hyper-V, Subscription licenses of VMware, Hyper-V, Nutanix, AWS and Physical, I agree to the NAKIVO if (validate_form()) {

After all, the solution vendor promised data recovery in minutes. if (elems[i].checked) no_error = true; Minimum order size for Basic is 1 socket, maximum - 4 sockets. for (var i = 0; i < elems.length; i++) { err ? 'vgo' : visitorGlobalObjectAlias;

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}; Policy, design a detailed disaster recovery (DR) plan, 3-2-1 Backup Rule: Implementing Efficient Data Protection, A Guide to Running Automatic and Manual Office 365 Updates, Oracle Database Administration and Backup, NAKIVO Backup & Replication Components: Transporter, Virtual Appliance Simplicity, Efficiency, and Scalability, Introducing VMware Distributed Switch: What, Why, and How.

Get in touch with a Sungard AS sales specialist. }

if (window.location.search.search("excludeform") !== -1) return false; } validate_field(this, true); elem.className = elem.className + ' _has_error'; Regardless of whether youre running a short drill to test discrete applications or youre running a full-scale test, youll need to fully document your disaster recovery testing plan before you begin. The world is unpredictable, and you never know when a disaster might strike. Data storage lifespans: How long will media really last? When it comes to disaster recovery testing, heres what you should keep in mind. Make sure you use the best disaster recovery testing practices to rest assured that your reputation is safe.

During a disaster you will face many obstacles and challenges. var selected = true;

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But before a test, you can make the decision to leave that connection to the bank out of the testing process. Thats why testing your DR plan ahead of time and on a regular basis is critical. return false This way, you will be able to resume operations in the shortest time possible before your clients even notice an outage has taken place.

You dont want the bank to process payroll during the test, but you do want to take the payroll system as far as you can in creating that file and analyzing whether it would match what you would send to the bank. }

Whether youre already a testing evangelist or need to brush up on the importance of disaster recovery (DR) testing, heres an overview of why testing matters, what can happen without testing, and guidelines for how to approach testing to ensure your systems are ready for recovery. You cant be successful in recovery without it.

If you cant answer that question with an unequivocal, Were ready! you should be investing greater time and resources in disaster recovery testing.

In 80% of cases, if a company closes for longer than a week, it never resumes operations again.

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Some companies have been taxed by changes during the pandemic and have had to defer tests for a couple months as they figure out problems theyve never faced before. addEvent(radios[i], 'click', function() {

_load_script(trackcmp_url); validate_field(this, true); Read on to learn how to develop a DR testing strategy for your company and why it should include NAKIVO Backup & Replication. "); }

That said, we recommend you run a full test at least every year. if (!

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Disaster Recovery Testing and Why Your Business Needs It, NAKIVO Communications is a common issue. Given the complexity and interdependencies among todays systems, missing even one critical piece of data can result in an inability to bring up your production applications in your recovery environment. Running DR tests can give you a real understanding of your RTO and RPO and help you adjust your plan as necessary.

If you are still not convinced that testing the disaster recovery plan is necessary, see the list of business risks you may face otherwise. tooltips[i].tip.parentNode.removeChild(tooltips[i].tip); Would you like to ensure the lowest possible recovery time objective in the event of system failure? } else { element.addEventListener(event, func); } If youve always worked from the office and havent set up the configuration from home, thats an adjustment youll need to make.

tooltip.innerHTML = text; }; } else { Thankfully, there is a way to mitigate the risks, and that is to design a detailed disaster recovery (DR) plan, which, for example, can be used to organize Hyper-V disaster recovery activities. Statistics show that 95% of companies worldwide invest considerable resources in planning for the worst. The importance of disaster recovery testing, If you have any questions, we are ready to help, Nous restons votre entire disposition pour toutes questions supplmentaires. no_error = false; } if (fieldVal) {

"); You can insure your business against losses, but no insurance policy can replace the data lost during an outage.

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} Thanks to the Replication feature, you can easily replicate your VMs locally or offsite.

No one wants to discover an issue when they no longer have the ability to fix it. The only way to truly protect your documents and files is to create a DR plan and run regular tests. if (elems[i].getAttribute('required') === null) continue; } button.parentNode.insertBefore(wrapper, button);

If you have any questions, we are ready to help. } Privacy Policy *.

Today, too many organizations implement backup and, Test both your disaster recovery solution, While automated disaster recovery tests serve an important purpose, they only test the technical component of your, Commit to regular disaster recovery testing, That will depend on your businesswhat works for a local advertising agency wont work for a regional financial institution. As soon as your main VM recovers, you can just as easily switch the workload back to the production environment. return true var results = new RegExp(regexStr, 'i').exec(window.location.href); Many companies have a two-day or one-day recovery requirement. } Long gone are the days when business documents were stored in notepads.

More and more organizations are relying on digital information for their daily operations, and criminals are taking notice. It is worth incorporating regular DR tests into your maintenance plan and staff training agenda.

return false; if (callback) { Take note of these guidelines: Testing lapses happen for any number of reasons. document.querySelector('#_form_5_submit').disabled = true;

} With NAKIVO Backup & Replication, you can turn any disaster into a temporary problem that is easy to solve. During the test, this person will document any hiccups and record the time it takes to complete each step in your documented disaster recovery procedure. Theres only one way to discover whether thats true and what pitfalls you might face: testing.

Windows, Linux, and ESXi Users Beware: New Threats Coming From Luna and Black Basta Ransomware.

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Network issues, faulty wiring and drivers are all out of your control. Rigorous testing is the only way to uncover and fix issues in your plan. } else if (elem.type =='checkbox') { if (results != undefined) {

Youre in the middle of a crisis and have a problem, but dont know who to call. If your requirement is 48 hours, you should be testing twice per year. // use this trick to get the submit button & disable it using plain javascript Theres no reason to fool yourself by going easy on your DR test. } var oldFunc = element['on' + event]; Remember: The more frequently you put your people through their paces, the more prepared theyll be to respond in the face of disaster.

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These may include starting/stopping/failing over/or failing back your VMs/instances, running/stopping/enabling/disabling jobs, sending notifications, etc. window._show_thank_you = function(id, message, trackcmp_url, email) { All of them must follow strict regulations like HIPAA and FINRA which require having a disaster recovery plan and abiding by a specific uptime.

} if (!found && elems[i] !== elem) return true; There are a few principles to keep in mind about DR testing, especially in the wake of a major disruption like the COVID-19 pandemic.

People are not perfect. return no_error; Testing the disaster recovery plan with NAKIVO Backup & Replication 9.1 should be as easy as 1-2-3. These are the best disaster recovery testing practices that are successfully being used in many organizations around the world. }); You must maintain those across your storage, network, applications, databases and other platforms. if (elem.options[i].selected && !elem.options[i].value) { var results = new RegExp(regexStr).exec(allInputs[i].name); true : no_error = false; _load_script("//d3rxaij56vjege.cloudfront.net/form-serialize/0.3/serialize.min.js", function() {

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If youre running a test and find out youre missing a file, your instant reaction might be to go back to production, get that file, and continue with your test. for (var i = 0, len = allInputs.length; i < len; i++) { new_tooltip.tip = tooltip; And, if youre required to comply with stringent regulations like, How long its been since youve tested your critical applications, and which should be included in your next test if its not a full-run, Changes to your IT infrastructure that may necessitate updates to your plan, which must then be validated through disaster recovery testing, Thoroughly document your disaster recovery test, Time required to failover, restore uptime, recover data, and failback, The human response to unexpected surprises, Instances where people encountered a lack of clarity in the disaster recovery plan, which slowed their progress and created anxiety amongst the team, Review and update your disaster recovery plan, Arcserve UDP Backup for Microsoft 365 (On-Premises), Protect Microsoft 365 and Other SaaS Apps, Channel Partner: Managed Service Provider, Customer: Small to Midsize Business (SMB), How to Extend Ransomware Protection to Your Backups So Your Data Is Always Secure.

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| By Tom Webster tooltip = create_tooltip(elem, "Please select an option.

})(input); elem.value = elem.value.trim(); It allows you to automate your backup jobs and disaster recovery processes while ensuring data integrity across various platforms (physical, virtual, or cloud).

Build an integrated plan, accelerate adoption, and optimize for maximum performance, agility and ROI. wrapper.className = '_form-inner'; } Technical glitches run the gamut, but one that Ive seen derail DR plans again and again is missing data.