Don’t just ‘Back Up’—Bounce Back: Building a bulletproof DR plan

Rina Brumin, Head of Cloud & Virtualization Division

In every conversation with IT managers, the question “Why do I need DR?” comes up again and again. It might sound like a regulatory requirement or just a tech buzzword, but when you understand the true meaning of DR, you realize it’s a critical component in an organization’s ability to survive and continue functioning during a crisis.

What is DR and why is it important?

DR (Disaster Recovery) is the process, planning, and infrastructure that enables an organization to recover from a disaster event—whether it’s a cyberattack, power failure, physical damage to the data center, or even war. DR is not just a regular backup—it involves an alternative site (DR Site) that can bring systems back online within a predefined timeframe.

5 key reasons to set up a DR site

1. Requirement due to risk assessments or regulations
   In many cases, internal risk assessments or regulatory demands require a DR infrastructure as part of the organization’s emergency preparedness.
2. High dependency on a single data center
   If the organization has only one data center (or two that are geographically close), any physical disruption—war, terror attack, or malfunction—can take down the entire organization. DR provides a real solution to this risk.
3. Protection against cyberattacks
   When properly configured, a DR site adds another layer of defense. It allows you to resume operations with a clean, uncompromised version quickly—skipping the need to deal with affected systems.
4. Power failures or critical hardware malfunctions
   Issues like power outages, A/C failure, hardware faults, or communication infrastructure problems can paralyze systems. A well-defined DR ensures business continuity within a short timeframe.
5. External infrastructure failures (like a damaged internet line)
   Real-world example: A bulldozer cut a main communication line and the organization was brought to a halt—without DR, there’s no fallback.

Steps to building an effective DR solution

Step 1: Define recovery objectives

• RTO (Recovery Time Objective) – How quickly must you recover?
• RPO (Recovery Point Objective) – How much data (in terms of time) are you willing to lose?
  Example: 10% of systems are highly critical – recovery within 30 minutes; the rest – recovery within 4 hours.

Step 2: Map systems by criticality

• Which systems are critical to business operations?
• Which systems are supportive but not essential for continuity?
• What is the priority order for recovery?

Step 3: Choose the type of DR site

• Hot Site: Always active, continuously synced – expensive but very fast recovery. However, it doesn’t provide full protection against cyberattacks.
• Cold Site: Activated in real-time – more affordable but slower to recover.
• Warm Site: A balance between the two.

Step 4: Choose a physical location

• Don’t place the DR site in the same geographic region as the main facility—consider southern/central regions if the main site is in the north, and vice versa.
• Cloud-based options are available in Israel and abroad—depends on regulations (GDPR, Cyber Authority, data repositories).

Step 5: Calculate costs and plan infrastructure 

• How much storage space is needed?
• How many recovery points should be retained?
• Are there licensing costs for additional environments?
• What are the network requirements (bandwidth, redundancy, secure connectivity)?
• What is the budget for ongoing maintenance, updates, and periodic testing?

Step 6: Build procedures and test scenarios

• Define clear, documented procedures for switching to DR mode.
• Train relevant teams and assign responsibilities in advance.
• Conduct simulations and periodic tests (at least once a year) to ensure the system really works when needed.
• Test recovery speed and data integrity.

Step 7: Monitor, maintain, and update regularly

• Technology changes, systems change, and business priorities shift—your DR plan must be updated accordingly.
• Set alerts and monitoring tools to identify issues before they become real crises.
• Ensure your DR environment is patched, updated, and reflects your current production environment.

A DR plan isn’t a luxury—it’s survival insurance

Disaster Recovery is not just a checkbox for compliance or a “nice to have” feature. It’s the difference between an organization that collapses under pressure and one that continues to serve its customers and stakeholders even in the face of a crisis. With smart planning, the right technology, and a practical budget, you can build a DR solution that truly holds water when it matters most.