Over the last few months, we have discussed ways to help your security posture be stronger and less vulnerable to preventable outages. We’ve explained the differences between backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity, and a term often used between the three is redundancy. The conversation surrounding redundancy is increasingly important in a day and age where keeping your business up and running is paramount. Let’s talk about redundancy and how it affects your business. 

Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

In technology, redundancy involves implementing multiple layers of replicated systems to safeguard against loss of business continuity through system failures. These layers are crafted to guarantee the continued operation of critical systems and data, even if one layer fails or becomes compromised. These layers should be a mix of hardware and software that mitigate the risk of downtime and prevent data loss. Hardware redundancy refers to adding one or more duplicate devices or components within the system that can replace or share the load, in the event the primary device fails or is compromised. When you replicate your hardware, your software replicates along with it. This assures that in case one segment of the system malfunctions, another segment can assume control.

Benefits of Redundancy

If you are looking to secure your sensitive data and keep your business operations functioning smoothly and consistently, there are several benefits that redundancy offers an organization. A few examples include:

1. Increase Data Resiliency: The risk of losing data due to a single point of failure is minimized when stored in multiple locations. If one piece of data becomes compromised or lost, other copies are available at other locations. 

2. Business Continuity: Refers to an organization’s ability to continue operations in the event of an outage or data breach. With redundancy in place, the IT system is protected against all failures, and the potential for business interruptions is mitigated.

3. Disaster Recovery: Maintaining multiple copies of all systems and data ensures swift and efficient recovery for organizations in the event of a breach or outage. Well-structured and implemented disaster recovery plans are critical to minimizing the impact of an unplanned outage or compromise and allow management to rest easy knowing their systems and data are always secure and available when they need them.

1. Backups: A properly architected and implemented backup solution is crucial for the effectiveness of data redundancy. When designing backup solutions, it is critical to segment or isolate them from any potential vulnerabilities. All backups are scheduled at specific intervals and must be monitored for proper functionality.

2. Testing: Regular testing is essential to ensure redundancy measures function as intended. This practice should be conducted regularly to guarantee the organization’s ability to recover from a data breach or outage. Without a regularly and thoroughly tested system, there is no guarantee of your redundancy actually being effective. 

3. Security: The security level of your backups should match the same level of security as your primary systems. You don't want to restore backup data with vulnerabilities. 

Document and communicate your redundancy strategy to all relevant users to ensure understanding and cooperation. If disaster strikes, everyone knows what they need to do to get the organization back up and running quickly at the same level as before. The effectiveness and relevance of your redundancy measures depend on leaders staying informed on the latest threats and technologies. It’s crucial to note that redundancy is just one component of a comprehensive business continuity strategy. Ongoing risk assessments, employee training, and other proactive measures should also be incorporated to safeguard your organization.

In Conclusion

Ultimately, the key to effective redundancy is a well-planned and tested strategy tailored to your organization's unique needs and risk factors. Implementing redundancy can be complex, but does not have to be costly. Implementing the appropriate redundant layers in your business can be an overwhelming process, and that is why ICG can be the perfect partner to help implement the right plan for you. We have the right tools and knowledge to customize a redundancy plan to keep your organization protected and running smoothly no matter what comes your way.

Do you need help establishing redundancy in your organization? Contact ICG today.