Managed service providers (MSPs) offer various information technology (IT) services to companies, including disaster recovery assistance. These companies can help your organization recuperate from devastating events such as mass equipment failure, power outages, cyberattacks (malware, data breaches, etc.), and natural disasters (fires, floods, etc.).
According to Grand View Research, the disaster recovery market is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 36% through 2025. Demand for this service is not expected to slow down anytime soon.
How To Choose A Disaster Recovery Provider In Alexandria, VA
Alexandria, Virginia, is home to many MSPs that deliver disaster recovery services. However, it’s important to carefully choose your disaster recovery provider because there are certain criteria this type of IT company should meet to be considered competent.
Here are six key metrics to keep in mind for businesses seeking a disaster recovery (DR) provider in Alexandria, Virginia:
Meeting Basic Service-level Agreement Requirements
All disaster recovery providers must have a clear way of evaluating the performance of their service-level agreements (SLAs).
These agreements establish the level of service a client expects from a supplier or vendor and are essential because they reflect an MSP’s capacity to protect your business’s assets. This is thus the first indication of a disaster recovery provider’s ability to minimize risk.
Methods For Protecting Critical Data
Every company’s requirements and environment are different. A reputable DR provider must be able to collaborate closely with your organization to understand your entire IT infrastructure fully. This will allow the provider to identify better which data needs the most protection and how to back up and shield this information.
Plan To Meet Recovery Point Objectives
An experienced DR provider should also have a clear plan for meeting your recovery point objectives (RPOs). An RPO is expressed in terms of time and refers to the maximum quantity of data you can lose after recovering from a disaster.
To achieve these objectives, a DR provider should know the specifics of your applications and systems and utilize this information to determine which tools and processes to use for disaster recoveries, such as cloud services and data replication.
Methods For Planning & Coordinating Testing
Every business should always conduct failover testing at least once annually. A DR provider should collaborate with your IT management team to coordinate testing and remain up-to-date on variations in environments.
It must also closely evaluate users’ experiences during tests, as this often serves as one of the indicators of what could potentially happen in the event of an actual disaster.
Allocation Of DR Resources
Following a disaster, you may be forced to operate out of a different location (at least temporarily). An experienced DR provider should be able to change its plan for allocating resources if your needs change. This includes introducing new tools if necessary.
Strong Record Of Helping Businesses Recover
The final criteria you should consider when searching for a DR provider is a clear, extensive history of helping organizations recover from a wide range of disasters. You can do this by requesting client testimonials or referrals from friends and coworkers. It may also be helpful to obtain a DR provider’s basic financial information to get a sense of its solvency.
Other things to consider before choosing a DR provider include the provider’s availability, the cost of its services, and the distance between this company and your business. Regarding the latter, it should ideally be sufficiently far away from your business so that it is not also affected by natural disasters.
Speak To The Disaster Recovery Experts At TCB Today
Reach out to the professionals at TCB 24×7 Expert Network IT Support in Chantilly, Virginia for more information about what makes an experienced disaster recovery provider. We offer efficient and flexible IT solutions customized to our client’s needs, both current and future.
We are dedicated to assisting SMEs, startups, and large companies in several industries, including law enforcement, government, health care, and insurance. Our innovative disaster recovery and data backup services (including onsite and offsite remote data backup) are designed to minimize data loss. They provide a strong, additional layer of protection against breaches and other cyberattacks.
All of our backups are also encrypted and compressed to create maximum space. We understand that businesses today are vulnerable to many different types of disasters (both natural and non-natural) and therefore need adequate assistance to rebuild from these events. Call TCB today at (703) 783-2781 or contact us online to learn more about our services or to request a consultation with one of our IT professionals.