Cloud Backup: Preparing Your Busine for Disasters at Happen in a Flash by Ren Grajales

Every business faces risk, but a recent fire at a fireworks store lends the term new-and dramatic-meaning. When I read about the July 6 blaze that destroyed a Caryville, Tenn., fireworks outlet, I was reminded of the visceral importance of something we discuss here daily: cloud backup disaster recovery planning.

What would happen to your business if you suddenly lost all your invoices, customer data and other critical electronic business information? Whether you own a medical practice, an insurance brokerage or a retail store, you need access to such mission-critical information on demand.

Two-Stepping Your Way to a Secure Information Solution

Consider these two critical steps to protect your data and systems from potential disaster:

1. Team up to design a cloud-based disaster recovery plan. Sign on with a trusted disaster recovery partner like Iron Mountain and get to work on your primary goal: developing a plan that allows you to recover your data and systems within 48 hours, 24 hours, or even one hour-whatever your business needs. Your partner's specialists will manage the planning and testing of your DR solution and then kick it into gear should a problem arise.

2. Back up data regularly. Okay, so your system is in place. But what good is a well-laid disaster recovery plan if there's nothing to recover? Yes, backing up data is a thankless task. However, automated server backup systems can back up your company data, including all computers, laptops and mobile devices throughout your business. Going automatic frees up your staff to focus on core business tasks.

Iron Mountain offers automated backups that deduplicate, compress and encrypt your data, then transmit it to a secure data center. Back at your office, you manage everything in a Web-based application that provides on-demand access. Recovery is just as easy. Using your computer and a secure Internet connection, you can remotely access your systems, which are replicated in a secure cloud. And all along the way you're maintaining compliance by storing data in line with federal, state and industry regulations.

Today's takeaway: While you may never have to duck beneath your desk to dodge a Triple Bang Blockbuster or a Finale Fireball, every business faces risks. And the more business risk you can address proactively via Iron Mountain Cloud Disaster Recovery and Server Backup solutions, the more time you can devote to what your business does best.

LINK:	http://blogs.ironmountain.com/2014/service-lines/small-business/cloud-...
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