You know the importance of an intelligent and well-conceived DR plan, and you know the importance of choosing the right DR partner. But did you know that the location of your DR servers is crucial to the success of your DR plan? Here are six questions to ask yourself about your service location.
1. Is It Safer from “The Elements”?
You’d think this would go without saying, but it’s surprising how often organizations aren’t aware of the external physical issues that can wreak havoc on DR planning and execution. The location of your DR facility must be less vulnerable to threats than your primary site. This means it should be better protected against flooding, power outages, transportation problems, nearby construction, inclement weather, public protests, or even train derailments.
2. Can Your Staff Access It Conveniently?
For every DR plan (where you wish to have some hands-on maintenance of your equipment and data), you want to ensure that there is easy site access for your IT staff, for any data storage media exchanges, and for alternate work areas required to house and execute business continuity activities.
3. What Jurisdiction Does It Fall Under?
It is important that your DR services are provided is in an acceptable legal jurisdiction, safe from the prying eyes of foreign governments or agencies, and protected by reciprocal privacy laws. Some cloud services won’t tell you where their actual servers are located; stay away from them. In a world of takeovers, insolvencies, industrial espionage and rising cybercrime, it is crucial that the servers holding your data are in a predictable, safe jurisdiction: i.e. locations where you can avoid embarrassing privacy breaches or frustrating legal red tape.
4. Is It Secure Against Unauthorized Physical Access?
Every cloud service says they provide security, but is their site completely foolproof? Your DR servers should be in a highly-controlled environment, where there is little chance of other tenants, contractors, or suppliers accessing, copying or damaging systems or data. This is a genuine concern in shared, co-location, managed, or cloud environments. Your DR server site should be subject to independently-verifiable audits, certification, and be staffed only by screened or bonded personnel.
5. How Many Redundant is the Network Access?
Your DR server should be in a location where it has access to the very best communication services. It should have proximity (and therefore more cost-effective access) to multiple alternate, establish wired high-speed carriers, as well as fall back to satellite, WiMax, or wireless coverage through reliable suppliers.
6. Can You Leverage Time Zone Coverage Advantages?
If your organization typically draws on after-hours support, having your DR servers in a more western time zone can turn that into a natural advantage, and better service. (but not so western that you are tormented with gaps in communication, language misinterpretations or cultural misunderstandings!)
When it comes to your DR site, don’t underestimate the importance of its location. Remember, these servers house the data that keeps your business running – that location should be well-protected, accessible, and positioned to use back-up options if and when the need arises.
