Is backup testing part of your business continuity plan? Let’s consider the effect of disaster drills throughout society. Why do schools still have fire drills? Why do day cares still practice tornado preparedness? Because natural disasters happen, we do well to stand prepared for the unfortunate extraordinary. In fact, disaster recovery is not a matter of “if,” but rather of “when” in the cybersphere. And, in the best case scenario, all the planning was for nothing. Because, of course, we would rather be prepared and not need data restoration than be caught unaware. Backup testing is a critical part of any disaster plan.
It’s a tough act to follow, after all, network admins have the unenviable job of keeping servers running, users to make happy, bosses to satisfy, budgets to meet. If I can just keep the henhouse running smooth, playing good cop, the good bits flowing where they ought to go – that’s my happy place. All in all, if I get home without any major disasters, it’s beer-thirty and time to chillax.
I saw a great video yesterday by National Geographic entitled “Celebrate”, the gist of it was “don’t dream it, be it”. (No RHPS jokes, please, this is a professional space!) That is, we can live in the complacent world view that’s all around us – and if we’re willing to settle for it, ho hum, it’s off to work we go.
