Apocalypse or doomsday scenarios often make the rounds, not just in the movies, but also in cyber world. While such claims usually turn out to be a hoax, or a build-up to nothing, a major disaster that completely cripples computing is a real possibility, especially in today’s age where cyber criminals of various hues attack networks at will. Moreover, apocalypse need not directly relate to computing threats. It could be a nuclear bomb eruption, civil war, riots, or any other event that disrupts normal life. In fact, such doomsday scenarios have already come to pass in many parts of the world, courtesy Mother Nature. Storms have shut down the Internet and flooded offices for weeks on end, even in mainland USA.

Being prepared for such an eventuality, to ensure that the business is not affected even when there is total shutdown, requires more than just taking simple backups.

Take Inventory:

It is not possible to save everything when hell truly blows over. Decide on priorities, or the data and infrastructure that is totally indispensible. For instance, data on the existing subscribers and clients may be vital, but a list of prospects who have shown interest to buy may no longer be a priority.

Develop a Plan:

There is no hard and fast rule on what to do when faced with a disaster. However, any plan invariably has to factor in physical security of the data and the infrastructure. A good plan would also detail the processes to follow when struck with disaster, and make explicit who is responsible for what. A major disaster would most certainly be accompanied by disruption of broadband and telephone connections, so deciding on clear-cut measures beforehand becomes important.

Data Backup:

Preparing for apocalypse, at its core, rests on backing up indispensible data. Unlike ordinary backups, apocalypse backups may require storing the data on CD’s or in paper, at remote locations. The cloud is also a good option, as it offers redundancy, with multiple servers across different geographical locations. Many large corporations actually opt for military-grade reinforced data facilities dispersed around the world.

Preparing the data for the end of the world means being totally prepared for the unexpected, so that even when disasters strike, the business can still get up and resume normal service as soon as sanity returns.