Let’s say you buy a car from a reputable manufacturer with all the bells and whistles. But would you buy it without checking the NHTSA and IIHS crash test ratings? You wouldn’t. Similarly, your IT firm should not deploy disaster recovery plans without thorough testing, such as the ones conducted by white label SOC firms.
Disaster recovery plans (DRPs) and business continuity plans (BCPs) have become the binding thread of the digital networks of IT businesses.
However, with the irreversibly progressive reliance of business processes on IT systems and the proliferation of sophisticated, unprecedented cyber threats, disaster recovery testing is taking center stage.
Testing: Its Importance in Production Environments
Losing access to client data is an IT company’s worst nightmare. However, even the most foolproof cybersecurity measures may not be enough to prevent a data breach. In such an unfortunate event, what you need is a reliable disaster recovery plan that helps your IT operations get back up to speed rapidly.
So, what is the best way to ensure that happens? Through disaster recovery testing.
Today, let’s discuss
- What is disaster recovery testing?
- Its key components
- The frequency of the process
Disaster Recovery Testing Defined
In simple words, a thorough assessment of the preparedness of an IT business’s disaster recovery infrastructure and processes in the event of a disaster before its ability to recover quickly gets hindered is what disaster testing is all about.
Must-have Steps of Disaster Recovery Testing
Here’s what your IT firm’s disaster recovery testing checklist should primarily have:
- Creating a precise test environment – Setting up an accurate testing environment for your IT firm’s DRP is crucial. The testing environment should comprise hardware and software that is as identical to your production IT infrastructure as possible and pit against cyber threats it is most prone to avoid any surprises in real-world circumstances.
- Selecting the appropriate testing method – There are several DR testing techniques available. However, if you have an experienced team from a white label SOC service provider, they will utilize a combination of different methods that include interaction testing with software or hardware, walkthroughs for emergency procedures, and simulation testing.
- Involving your vendors – Including your vendors in your DR testing helps you assess your IT firm’s disaster preparedness to a greater extent. Additionally, your vendors can offer their feedback on your testing processes and outcomes to enable improved operations.
How Often Should You Perform DR Testing?
It’s recommended that you at least get a quarterly local disaster recovery testing done for your client’s IT infrastructure. This is because every addition to your client’s network, be it a workstation or a server, means an additional system needs its data backed up.
A more comprehensive testing can be done once every six months.
Consult with an Expert
Although, having a white label MSSP do it for you is an even better option. They can handle everything that your IT firm’s DR testing plan requires. Their extensive industry expertise can help you meet your RTO and RPO goals as promised to your clients in the SLA.
With a clearly defined scope, a white label SOC service provider can ensure that your disaster recovery plans are as robust as your IT business.
Single Point of Contact is a White Label Managed Security Service Provider that provides a wide range of cybersecurity technologies and services. Our job is to keep your clients’ networks safe and secure by resolving potential security threats within minutes. With regular security monitoring and protection against cyber-attacks, we seek to help your clients attain peace of mind. Contact us today to discover more about how we can help protect your client’s network from cyber-attacks.
