You may think your agency is too small to worry about cyber security threats. But what if you’re wrong?

The truth is that threats like ransomware are increasingly targeting all kinds of businesses in every industry. Hackers are looking for the information behind your firewall, and the agency that fails to prepare for a breach is at serious risk.

This article reviews some of the latest cyber security threats this summer. How can a disaster recovery plan help you stay ahead of the game?

Disaster Recovery isn’t Optional

Have you been paying attention to the latest headlines on cyber security?

• August 17, 2017 – Popular software providers Microsoft and Adobe released security patches. Microsoft’s update patched 48 security holes in Windows that were wide enough for a hacker to drive a malware truck through.
• August 1, 2017 – The Medicare information on more than 18,000 patients was hacked from an Anthem server.
• July 17, 2017 – Lloyd’s of London calculated the risk of a global cyber attack and it’s a hefty $53 billion.
• May 17, 2017 – DocuSign, the online electronic signature company, fell victim to a phishing email campaign that leaked customer contact information.

Why did we pick these particular incidents when there are literally hundreds to choose from? Because they illustrate the crucial reasons why your business needs a disaster recovery plan:

• If you are still operating on-premise applications, it is crucial that you are in reactive patch mode. The Adobe and Microsoft security updates are critical; cyber threats are changing constantly, as hackers probe for holes. If your tools are not-up-to-date, your risk for cyber breach is higher.
• Hacking is a constant threat and growing, whether the breach is a large corporate entity, or through a phishing campaign that opens the door to your business via an unscrupulous email.

If these threats are so prevalent, how can a disaster recovery plan help mitigate your risk?

Disaster Recovery for your Agency

Even the federal government has gotten on the disaster recovery plan bandwagon. A technology recovery and business continuity plan should address all parts of your technology infrastructure, which could include:

• Connectivity to an Internet Service Provider (fiber, cable, wireless, etc.)
• On premise server rooms and data storage
• Cloud technology applications
• Software
• Mobile or other digital devices
• Data restoration and recovery

A good disaster recovery plan also includes a communications matrix, so employees can continue to operate your agency, and a strong vendor support strategy that can provide data backup and recovery in the cloud, or via an office or remote location, and a plan to handle on-site equipment in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.

While computer malware is one of the biggest threats we’re facing these days, there has also been a rise in inclement weather conditions that should make business continuity an important part of your risk mitigation strategy. Your disaster recovery plan should:

• Minimize the disruption and restore operations as quickly as possible
• Ensure data recovery and security
• Enable consistent, reliable backup processes
• Quickly restore business as usual

Disaster recovery is an important part of today’s technology-centric business operations. If you haven’t developed a plan yet, don’t wait.

Get a free assessment of your agency’s risk.