When I ask “Does Your Company Have A BDR?” to new folks and small business owners I meet, most of the time I need to explain what a BDR is. A BDR is a Backup and Disaster Recovery plan and in short, it’s a plan to keep your business running in the event of a technology disaster. If you don’t have a BDR, you’re putting your business at an unnecessary risk, one of which could be completely avoided.
If you haven’t read our post yet, checkout the most common IT issues with small businesses now to learn why having a backup and disaster recovery plan is so important to small businesses.
When we acquire a new client, we always lead with an IT needs assessment. During our assessment of the IT of your business, we’ll check for a backup and disaster recovery plan. If our new client doesn’t have a BDR (backup and disaster recovery plan), this is the first solution we implement. The majority of companies and small business owners we acquire as clients don’t have a BDR, or they loosely have plan in place but aren’t sure of the specifics. Some businesses are still using tape backup once implemented by their previous IT provider but aren’t even sure if the tape backup is working. Luckily, these businesses have averted disaster by sheer luck and we’re able to implement a BDR solution without issue.
However, some new clients contact us in the need of an immediate emergency; their server has crashed, they’ve experienced a surge, or their computer no longer boots, and they need help right away! Though, we have an excellent track record with getting businesses back up and running fast, there’s still downtime due to the technology disaster and poor planning by the business that again could have been completely avoided with a backup and disaster recovery plan. Depending on the issue and amount of damage caused by the technology disaster, this could mean hours, days, or even weeks of downtime and lost revenue. When put into perspective where it makes dollars and cents – pun intended, there’s hardly any objection to the importance of having a BDR for your small business.
Does Your Company Have A BDR?
After learning what a BDR is; Backup and Disaster Recovery Plan, and understanding the importance of having one, can you honestly ask – Does my company have a BDR? Some small businesses are completely aware of what a BDR is, they know the importance of having one, but they continue to put implementing a BDR on the back burner for whatever reason. This happens a lot with IT in general. For whatever reasons and justifications, some small business owners completely ignore their technology infrastructure and push the limits of getting the most out of their IT. Often times, before we’ve acquired the client, they have extremely dated computer systems and network equipment, little to no security, and a BDR doesn’t exist. If this sounds all too familiar to your business, now is no better time to contact a managed IT services and support company for a solution.
How To Get Started With A BDR?
If your company is struggling with managing its own IT, contact an IT services provider right away. Most IT support companies will perform a needs assessment at no charge and offer valuable information identifying key pain-points with the technology within your business. For more information on IT disaster recovery plans checkout Ready.gov – a website with resources to planning, engagement, and best practice in information technology.
For questions or comments regarding this article, check us out at on our Facebook. Or, if you’re ready for your no obligation free network and IT needs assessment to address IT issues within your business, contact ITC today.
