Why Your Business Needs Unified Continuity (Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery) Technology
Unified continuity and traditional backup are the two common data saving measures that all businesses rely on. The fundamental difference between the two choices is that unified technologies consist of fully integrated systems, while traditional backups do not.
Traditional backups aren’t new to anyone; they typically involve the use of disc-based hardware to backup information at a primary location. Conversely, unified continuity solutions collectively utilise hardware, software and cloud to provide a digitally and remotely accessible answer to backing up technology.
But with investment in new IT infrastructure requires so much commitment, is it really worth making the switch?
Unified Continuity
Conceptually, unified continuity is much more than just the backing up of data. The fundamental objective of unified continuity is in the name – the ability to continue operations through a disruptive occurrence. This means that data backups are really only one element of the solution. Some individual components of unified continuity include:
- Physical backup drives
- Backup software
- Cloud infrastructure where repeat backups are stored
- Web platforms which manage backups, recoveries, etc.
- Virtual servers
Imagine that business continuity is the objective. When the organisation persists through a disruption, unified continuity is the solution by which the business can achieve this.
Disruptions
A disruption can be anything that disturbs the operation of business. When thinking of business continuity for instance, significant threats include:
- Data loss
- Cyberattack/breach
- Network outage
- Power outage
The more substantial a disruption is, the more time must be spent fixing the issue, in turn losing money. While backups are fundamental, they don’t necessarily translate into continuity. A backup must still be restored after data loss, meaning that the time taken to perform the restoration is costly as well. Because of this, continuity requires data to be almost immediately accessible by the personnel in need.
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery – (BC/DR)
Business continuity and disaster recovery (BC/DR), is the umbrella term for the systems that facilitate unified continuity. This can include alternative methods for data recovery over different formats, including local, virtual and in the cloud. BC/DR’s primary purpose is to minimise the time needed to overcome a disruption.
Advantages of BC/DR
If you’re still not sure if you should commit to investing in BC/DR systems, consider the following advantages:
Seamless Integration
Every component in a BC/DR system is optimised for maximum performance and dependability. This simplification is because a BC/DR system is developed by one vendor, meaning no inconsistency or incompatibility exists between separate elements.
Expense
Optimised infrastructure means you or your IT staff don’t need to spend precious time getting your backup recovery systems up and running. Holistically, BC/DR manages your IT resources more effectively than what was previously possible, translating into cost savings.
Ease of Deployment
Unified continuity technology is ultimately more manageable than its alternatives. With all individual components coming from a single manufacturer, less set up and configuration needed and no parts are separately updated.
Requiring significant investment and commitment, the decision to adopt unified continuity technology is not to be taken lightly. It’s true that there are some businesses for whom this may be inappropriate for – small organisations that have minimal IT infrastructure and aren’t progressing toward conducting business digitally. For more information on how business continuity and disaster recovery technology can benefit your organisation, reach out to the team at Provide Technology.