Lambert Chapman experience disaster recovery test!

The Accounting Web published an article on Friday covering a survey’s results on disaster recovery plans. The same day that the Braintree fire alarm was activated by lightning and we had a visit from a fire tender!

The survey showed that more than a quarter of UK companies still do not have a disaster recovery plan for their IT systems, in spite of 92% claiming that it was an important factor in their IT expenditure. Interestingly the survey showed that the South West has surpassed London for the amount of disaster recovery plans in place. Last year's flooding no doubt offering a helping hand!

The lightning strike showed that we just about reached the “could do better” category and that the need for drill practice and clear procedures needs revisiting. This “report” sums up the findings of the survey which suggest that whilst many have procedures they don’t really know how things will work out because they do not test them. As an example we have 4 fire marshalls of which 2 were at lunch, one was off sick and the other in London on a course. I think this is known as “sod's law” but it was reality on Friday.

We all recognise the importance of our data whether on computer or in paper format and the need to protect it but we often do not make the time to do so. If you would like a timely reminder on how to put in place a disaster recovery plan, or what to include in it, Nigel Whittle’s article on this topic last summer may provide a timely reminder.

 Lambert Chapman revisit the disaster recovery plan and Nigel asks "Have you?"

The survey was done on behalf of the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) and can be accessed by using the following link:

 Survey Results Report

Date:14 April 2008