Techno Tips for Business Disaster Recovery

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, business software consultant David Callery helped his clients recover their lost data. In an article on the CPA Technology Advisor, Scott Cytron asked Callery what businesses should be doing today to avoid some of the difficulties his clients faced.

“I believe there still needs to be a shift in the way businesses look at technology,” Callery told Cytron. Many companies, especially small ones, tend to make the investment in technology and think it will hold them for a number of years.”

For businesses that have yet to make their computer systems fully recoverable in the event of loss, possibly because of outdated equipment or incompatibility issues, Callery starts by sorting disaster recovery into three “buckets”: software, replaceable hardware and backups. In the article on the CPA Technology Advisor website he says companies should check that they are on a supported level of software. Those using Microsoft Office 97, for example, are unlikely to get support directly from Microsoft.

“This is the same with any application and, most importantly, with the vertical market software companies that support manufacturing, project cost, distribution packages and other functions,” Callery said.

As for hardware, it might need to be replaced. Callery addresses problems that arise when hardware is running on proprietary programs or old software, or when companies buy used printers for which drivers no longer exist.

The article outlines the pros and cons of the different options for system backup, such as running multiple servers on one machine, accessing data through the Internet, and replicating data to another company office.

To read the full article, click here:
http://www.cpatechnologyadvisor.com/print/The-CPA-Technology-Advisor/Putting-a-Technology-Focus-on-Disaster-Planning /1$2489