Preparing for the worst is an essential part of owning a business. Everything from financial cushion to insurance, ensuring your business can stay afloat during a potential disaster is critical. But what about in the case of a cyberattack? While cybercrime is one of the most overlooked forms of disaster a business can face, it can be one of the most detrimental.

It has been estimated that the cost of cybercrime will reach a new all-time high of $8 trillion annually in 2023. Additionally, over 5 billion records were compromised from January to October 2023. While cybercrime might seem like a disaster only larger companies face, small businesses are targeted just as frequently because they are less likely to have comprehensive cybersecurity and a disaster recovery plan.

What is a Disaster Recovery Plan?

A disaster recovery plan is the protocol your employees are to follow if the worst situation arises. This plan should cover every scenario including lost data, cybercrime, natural disasters, and theft. Solutions should include who to notify first, steps to isolate the incident, and where a backup can be located.

Typically, you will want to have your IT company at the top of the list for notification. If you have data backup and recovery services employed, then your IT company should be able to neutralize the threat from the cybercriminal and recover your data for you. The sooner your IT company is aware, the better.

How to Implement a Disaster Recovery Plan

To implement a disaster recovery plan, you will need to outline each type of cybersecurity threat and what to do for each instance. For example, if an employee gets hit with ransomware, step one will be to unplug the computer, step two will be to notify their supervisor, and step three will be to call IT to ensure recovery is possible. 

While the above example is simplified, you can work with your IT company to make sure your disaster recovery plan is fully comprehensive and clear. After your disaster recovery plan has been implemented, it’s important to go over the plan with your employees. Ensure the entire company is aware of the protocol in each situation and can quickly put the plan into action as soon as a threat is detected.

Need Assistance Creating Your Disaster Recovery Plan? Computek Can Help!

Creating a disaster recovery plan on your own can be overwhelming. At Computek, we take the guesswork out of cybersecurity. If you’re not sure if your company is protected from cyber-attacks and want to learn more about creating a disaster recovery plan, schedule an initial consultation with us today!

Give us a call at 512-869-1155 or book online here. 

That’s all for this week’s Tech Tip Tuesday. We’ll see you next time!