The recent cybersecurity incident involving CrowdStrike has left many business owners questioning their own security measures. Are you worried about your business’s ability to withstand such an attack? If so, you’re not alone. Therefore, understanding what went wrong and how to fortify your defenses is crucial. In this post, we’ll break down the incident, highlight key lessons, and show you how to create a resilient business continuity plan to protect your business.

Why Business Continuity Plans Are Non-Negotiable

One major takeaway from the CrowdStrike incident is the importance of having a robust business continuity plan. Many companies focus exclusively on tech defenses; however, they neglect the broader strategy of continuity and disaster recovery. A solid business continuity plan ensures your operations can continue or quickly resume during and after a disruptive event, minimizing downtime and financial losses. This plan isn’t just about technology; rather, it’s about ensuring every aspect of your business can withstand unexpected challenges.

*For more on the importance of business continuity, check out the Forbes article “Successful Businesses Prepare for Disruptions Differently.”

The Necessity of a Disaster Recovery Plan

Every business, regardless of size, should have a disaster recovery plan. This plan goes beyond having the right tech solutions; it includes clear communication protocols and predefined roles and responsibilities. For instance, during a cybersecurity incident, who will notify employees not to come to work? How will you communicate with customers if your primary systems are down? These are crucial elements that need to be addressed in your disaster recovery plan.

*For a detailed guide on creating a disaster recovery plan, refer to this Comprehensive Guide by Ready.gov.

How to Start: Risk Assessment and Round Table Discussions

A great disaster recovery plan begins with a risk assessment and round table discussion. Gather your key stakeholders and brainstorm various “what could go wrong” scenarios. This exercise helps you identify potential vulnerabilities and develop strategies to mitigate them. Consider everything from data breaches and system failures to natural disasters and human errors. By anticipating these risks, you can create a more resilient and responsive recovery plan.

*Read more about conducting effective risk assessments in this article by CIO “9 Steps to a Successful Risk Assessment”.

The Role of Technology in Your Recovery Strategy

While a comprehensive disaster recovery plan involves more than just technology, having the right tech solutions is crucial. In the CrowdStrike case, affected users could have been back up and running within minutes if they had robust backup and recovery systems. Implementing solutions like regular data backups, redundant systems, and automated failover mechanisms can significantly reduce downtime and ensure business continuity.

*For insights into effective backup strategies, visit this TechRepublic article, “Top 5 Best Backup Practices”.

Conclusion

The CrowdStrike incident is a powerful reminder of the ever-present and evolving cybersecurity threats. By learning from this event and implementing the steps outlined above, small and medium businesses can enhance their defenses and ensure they are prepared for any eventuality. At BrownCow Technology, we’re here to help you develop and implement effective business continuity and disaster recovery plans, combining the best of technology and strategic planning to keep your business running smoothly, no matter what challenges arise.

If you or someone you know was affected by the CrowdStrike incident or is still experiencing outages, don’t wait—book a risk-free IT strategy call with us today. We will assess your current IT infrastructure, identify vulnerabilities, and help you create a robust plan to safeguard your business against future threats.

Let’s build a more secure future together.