Preparing Your SME for the Unexpected
Last month’s CrowdStrike outage was a reminder of the vulnerabilities we can all face. It highlighted the need for comprehensive preparedness in the face of unexpected disruptions. For SMEs, we think this event serves as a lesson in the importance of proactive planning and robust business continuity measures. Here’s what SMEs can learn from this event and the steps you can take to safeguard your business.
Implement Robust Business Continuity Plans
Ensure your business has a well-defined continuity plan that includes procedures for various types of disruptions, from cyberattacks to natural disasters. Regularly review and update these plans to reflect current threats and business needs. A well-maintained continuity plan is your first line of defence in ensuring that your business can continue to operate despite unforeseen events.
Diversify Your Security Tools
Relying on a single security provider can be risky, as the CrowdStrike outage demonstrated. A diversified, layered security approach with multiple tools and services can ensure that if one system fails, others can step in to provide necessary protection. This redundancy is critical for maintaining security coverage across your entire IT infrastructure.
Regular Backups and Data Recovery Plans
Performing regular backups of critical data and frequently testing your data recovery plans is key. These steps ensure that your business can quickly restore operations with minimal data loss in case of an outage or data breach. A robust backup strategy should include offsite storage and cloud-based solutions to protect against localised failures.
Invest in Employee Training
Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity isn’t just about technology, it’s about people and processes, too. DR and BCP plans should be in place and up to date. Key staff should be familiar with the plans and involved in testing and rehearsals. So when the time comes everyone is on the same page and knows what to do.
Monitor Systems Continuously
Continuous monitoring of your IT infrastructure can help detect anomalies and potential security threats early, allowing for quicker responses. Use advanced monitoring tools to gain real-time insights into your system’s health, track unusual activity and respond to potential issues before they escalate. This proactive approach minimises the risk of undetected breaches that could compromise your operations.
Establish Clear Communication Channels
During an outage, effective communication is crucial to managing the crisis. Ensure that your team knows the established communication processes and that there are clear channels for both internal and external communication during a crisis. This includes having backup communication methods if primary systems are affected.
Review and Update Incident Response Plans
Incident response plans should be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure they remain effective and comprehensive. Conducting simulations and drills can help test the effectiveness of these plans, allowing you to make necessary adjustments. These proactive measures ensure your team is prepared to act swiftly and effectively in the event of a real incident.
Engage with Experts
Engaging with Disaster Recovery experts can provide valuable insights and access to advanced tools that can strengthen your DR posture. Regular consultations and assessments by professionals can help identify vulnerabilities you may have overlooked and offer strategies to mitigate them.
Leverage Cloud Solutions
Cloud services offer greater resilience compared to traditional on-premises solutions, particularly when it comes to disaster recovery and business continuity. Ensure your cloud provider has robust security measures, data redundancy, and comprehensive data recovery plans in place to handle potential outages. Cloud solutions can also provide scalability, allowing your business to adjust resources as needed during a disruption.
Our final thoughts
The CrowdStrike outage highlights the importance of being prepared and resilient. By implementing these strategies, SMEs can better protect themselves against unforeseen disruptions and ensure business continuity. We have been considering the potential impacts and how we can further help and advise our clients. We are dedicated to helping SMEs build robust cybersecurity and continuity plans tailored to their unique needs. Contact us today at info@greystone.co.uk to protect your business against the unexpected and ensure your operations remain secure and resilient.
