Disaster Recovery Centers
What is a Disaster Recovery Center?
A disaster recovery center is a remote location designed to support a business’s operations in the event of a system failure or catastrophe at the main site. Disaster recovery centers are given their name because they allow continuous operation of a business. Backups of key software and data are stored on the remote servers, allowing a business to quickly and effortlessly switch computing resources from a damaged server to the backup (located within a disaster recovery center) without interruption to the business.
Data centers are located in specially designed buildings and contain significant computing resources, typically vast arrays of server racks, high-bandwidth fiber-optic lines, and reinforced floors with specially designed cooling systems.
Data centers are located in specially designed buildings and contain significant computing resources, typically vast arrays of server racks, high-bandwidth fiber-optic lines, and reinforced floors with specially designed cooling systems.
What Are the Advantages of a Disaster Recovery Center?
The primary advantage of a disaster recovery center is the ability to keep a business up-and-running even when there is a computer failure at the primary office. In today’s fast-paced, global economy, businesses would be crippled during a network outage.
Disaster recovery centers provide peace of mind by ensuring that all mission-critical processes are redundant at an off-site, secure location. In an emergency, businesses can function as normal by running via the remote servers.
Disaster recovery centers provide peace of mind by ensuring that all mission-critical processes are redundant at an off-site, secure location. In an emergency, businesses can function as normal by running via the remote servers.
What Features Should a User Look for in a Disaster Recovery Center?
Reliability is critical when choosing a disaster recovery center. Since the purpose of disaster recovery is to keep a business running during an emergency, the computers need to be available 24/7. The data center should have backup generators with uninterruptable power supplies (UPS) so that computers can run for days even if there is no electricity.
In addition, the building should have secure, controlled access to prevent unauthorized users from accessing sensitive data. Responsive maintenance teams ensure that the building and facilities are in working order.
Location is also a primary factor in choosing a disaster recovery center. Data centers should be located away from the main business so that a fire, flood, or extreme weather does not impact both the primary facility and data center. Ideally, the data center should be located close enough to a major city that it is easy to access, but remote enough that it would not be impacted by any event in that city.
In addition, the building should have secure, controlled access to prevent unauthorized users from accessing sensitive data. Responsive maintenance teams ensure that the building and facilities are in working order.
Location is also a primary factor in choosing a disaster recovery center. Data centers should be located away from the main business so that a fire, flood, or extreme weather does not impact both the primary facility and data center. Ideally, the data center should be located close enough to a major city that it is easy to access, but remote enough that it would not be impacted by any event in that city.
Questions to Ask Potential Disaster Recovery Center Operators
- Have there ever been any significant power failures in the last 5 years?
- How many internet/fiber-optic providers serve the building?
- Where is the local node for the fiber-optic/cable lines?
- Are the fiber nodes shared with other businesses that have heavy bandwidth needs?
- Are the servers leased to one company, or are they shared among many customers?
What Advantages Does River Bend Center Offer for Disaster Recovery Centers?
