IT Disaster Recovery:
IT Disasters and their Impact

According to DTI and other research, at least 70% of businesses that suffer computer and data loss go out of business within 18 months.

Definition of disaster

‘Any accidental, natural or man-made malicious event, which threatens to, or does disrupt normal operations or service for sufficient time to affect significantly, or cause failure of, the organisation’
Source: Computer Services Association

How does an IT disaster damage your business?

Most organisations are highly dependent on information technology systems. When disaster strikes, the downward spiral that leads to business failure is dramatically speeded up by this dependence. Amongst other things, you lose the ability to manage:

• Order handling, sales & invoicing
• Collection of receivables and control of your cash-flow
• Payment of salaries, commissions, expenses
• Payment of creditors (suppliers, VAT, NI, etc)
• Contact records for customers, suppliers, partners and staff (names and addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses)

You also lose Internet connections, so you lose:

• E-mail communication & transfer of documents
• E-commerce capability
• Incoming and outgoing web-site access

If your premises are unusable, you also lose the use of your telephone system.

The more fundamental longer-term risks include:

• Damage to your reputation and brand
• Damage to staff morale
• Loss of market presence and of customer loyalty & confidence
• Legal and regulatory problems

Given this, having a comprehensive IT disaster recovery service in place is both urgent and essential - to protect your business and to protect the interests of stakeholders, customers and employees.

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