We’ve all heard the phrase ‘expect the unexpected’ to act as a motivator to plan ahead. Anticipating unforeseen events needs to be taken seriously by organisations so they can weather any incident that disrupts operations. A disaster and recovery plan combined with a Cyber Essentials certification will not only safeguard your business from an online attack but will also minimise the impact and downtime that follows. Here, we take a closer look at what is involved in a disaster and recovery plan and why a Cyber Essentials accreditation can help protect your professional reputation.
What does a business disaster and recovery plan involve?
A disaster and recovery plan (DRP) is a formal document created by a business describing actions that will be taken in response to an unplanned incident such as a cyberattack. Its primary purpose is to help an organisation recover its functionality after a disruptive event and allow operations to resume quickly. As part of a business continuity plan, a DRP will assist in restoring compromised data and maintaining the trust of clients and employees. This reassurance can be further strengthened with a government-backed security framework such as Cyber Essentials, which will reduce a business’s vulnerabilities and secure confidential information.
What goes into a business disaster and recovery plan?
Every business is different, so no DRP will be the same. Factors to consider include budget, identification of threats, history of previous incidents and the scope of recovery. Completing a detailed cyber security risk analysis before the plan is generated will give your organisation a better chance of recovering from a potential setback because its strengths and weaknesses will be identified. As the tactics of cybercriminals become more sophisticated, taking extra steps to safeguard digital assets will affect your DRP by lowering your risk of malicious attacks. Having a Cyber Essentials certification will form a valuable part of your protection strategy that could determine the roadmap your business takes to recover.
What is the Cyber Essentials certification?
The Cyber Essentials certification is a government-backed security framework. Developed by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), it was launched to help businesses secure their sensitive information and improve online resilience. To become certified, an organisation must implement five key controls to a satisfactory standard and complete a self-assessment to be verified by an external body. Once certification has been awarded, your business will be in a stronger position to withstand cyber threats, which will affect the content of your DRP. Being awarded the Cyber Essentials certificate will also support the growth of your organisation by showing stakeholders you recognise the importance of online security and are able to meet criteria endorsed by official bodies. While a detailed DRP is a powerful document to have at your disposal, your business will have less need to consult it if preventative measures are in place.
Contact Cybersafe for more information
If you want to improve the online security of your data, we are ready to help you obtain the Cyber Essentials certification. Please contact us by completing the form on our website and we will support you in strengthening your DRP and the future of your business.
