A Must-Know Guide to Disaster Recovery As A Service (DRaaS)

By TechDogs Editorial Team

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Overview

Picture a scenario where Mother Nature unleashes her wrath and suddenly your precious data and systems are gone - just like the epic disaster that struck the technologically advanced city of Wakanda in “Black Panther.” Not to worry, just as King T'Challa rose from the ashes to rebuild and make Wakanda even more powerful, there’s one technology that can help your organization bounce back from the aftermath of any natural disaster.

With this service, you don't have to worry about the aftermath of a disaster and the loss of your important data or systems. Instead, you can focus on keeping your business running while the technology recovery experts handle the rest.

It’s about having a solid disaster recovery plan in place. You can quickly restore your crucial data and systems, reducing downtime to a minimum and ensuring your business runs smoothly.

Let’s figure out what Disaster Recovery-as-a-Service (DRaaS) is about!

Imagine you're sitting at your desk, sipping on your coffee, when all of a sudden - BAM! Your computer crashes and you lose all of your important files. Total nightmare, right? Well, that's where Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) comes in to save the day!

DRaaS is like having a superhero on standby, ready to swoop in and save the day in case of any disaster. No more panic attacks or frantic searches for that one flash drive with your precious files on it. With DRaaS, you can relax knowing that even in the worst-case scenario, you've got a safety net that will have you up and running in no time.

Anyways, what is DRaaS, how did it evolve and how exactly does it work? Read on to find everything you need to know!

What Is Disaster Recovery As A Service (DRaaS)?

Do you know your phone automatically keeps a backup of your media and even application data? In case your phone crashes and you lose access to your files, you still have the chance to recover all your important stuff from the backup. That’s part of Disaster Recovery systems. Now, what if you could have this technology in the form of a service? That is what DRaaS is all about!

Disaster Recovery as a Service is a cloud-based solution that replicates your critical data and applications, so if your system goes down, you can quickly and easily restore them from the cloud. It is a cloud computing service model that keeps the backup of business data in a reliable cloud system. This service even hands you Disaster Recovery Orchestration to get your infrastructure access back in case there is a disaster and you lose normal access.

You must be wondering, why would you need a different service for storing critical data. The answer is simple. With DRaaS, you don’t have to own any resources or manage anything as the DRaaS vendor takes care of everything. This is what makes it better than any service provider!

You know what Disaster Recovery as a Service is but do you know who came up with this idea? Here’s how it became a revolutionary invention!

Where Did Disaster Recovery As A Service Come From?

We know (most of us, we think) the computer was invented in the 1940s. However, nobody then thought that we could lose all the data that the computer holds or even lose the computer itself. Computers till the 1950s, like ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer), were using massive and used switches. So, there wasn't the need to worry about data loss. In 1952, when IBM introduced the first magnetic tape to store data, things became risky.

When the magnetic tape came in, the risk of the tape breaking became a big concern. That’s when IBM came up with the idea of a vacuum column that holds the chip down during any movement. Thereafter, in 1962, something radical emerged in the world of electronics – the Logic probe! This gizmo was a lifesaver for troubleshooting electronic logic circuits and examining failed chips. Thanks to this nifty device, data recovery became a hot topic and a lucrative business, though computer owners still had to do the heavy lifting themselves – no third-party saviors yet!

In the late 1970s, data center managers had an epiphany: they realized their organizations were seriously hooked to computer systems. Before that, things were all about paper-based operations – no tech, no problem! Yet, once mainframes came into play, disaster recovery was crucial and business continuity was the latest buzzword.

Fast forward 20 years to the 1990s when the internet caused organizations to become more reliant on their IT systems, with some setting objectives for near-perfect availability. Awareness of large-scale disasters led to the development of disaster recovery services, including hot site locations and high-availability solutions.

In the early 2000s, Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) entered as a superhero solution to save businesses from costly hardware setups and complicated backups. With DRaaS, expert third-party providers replicated your workload to their data centers, making disaster recovery easy and accessible for everyone.

Yet, there’s more than meets the eye!

What Are The Types Of Disaster Recovery As A Service?

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If DRaaS is a toolbox, there would be many types of tools in it. Mainly, there are 3 types of Disaster Recovery as a Service solution that you must know about:

Self-service DRaaS

The cheapest DRaaS option is 'Self-Service'. You plan for disasters, while the vendor provides backup software and storage. Make sure to send your data to their center regularly in case things go wrong. This is best for businesses that have their own disaster recovery knowledge. However, plan carefully to quickly move data to the vendor's remote center during a disaster and recover it easily when local resources are up and running.

Managed DRaaS

In the Managed DRaaS, third-party swashbucklers take full responsibility for disaster recovery. To keep your systems working, you'll need to work closely with the DRaaS experts and keep all your infrastructure, applications, services, etc. up to date. Even if you don't have the expertise to manage your own disaster recovery, this is the treasure you seek!

Assisted DRaaS

Feeling picky about your disaster recovery plan? Choose the 'Supported DRaaS' model where you get to customize your own plan for those fussy applications and data so the service provider can decide on the best tools to optimize the process.
Now that you know about the types of DRaaS, you must be wondering why we need it anyway. Especially now that we have a secure cloud system at hand? Here’s your answer!

Why Do We Need Disaster Recovery As A Service?

Did you know that in 2021, only 54% of companies had a disaster recovery plan ready? That’s to say nearly half of the companies still haven’t figured their way out just in case something happens to their valuable data.

Here are some things that the rest of them are missing out on:

It’s Reliable

Technology infrastructure is an essence of a company. Without access to a company's storage and servers, business activities such as servicing customers or production come to a stop. That’s where Disaster Recovery as a Service keeps things under control!
No Downtime

Downtime is costly for businesses and they can control the safeguards they put in place to restore operations promptly. By setting recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO) with DRaaS, companies can dictate the maximum allowable application unavailability during an outage and data loss tolerance. Higher standards mean higher costs for DRaaS solutions.
Paying Attention To Location

Geographically concentrated networks are vulnerable to natural disasters and attacks. Both of these can cause outages, data loss and poor functionality. Undoubtedly, this makes it critical for enterprises to have a disaster recovery plan or solution in place for regions.
Preventing Inside Issues

Internal errors or malicious actions can cause enterprise networks to go offline, making it essential to have a DRaaS solution in place to prevent extended downtime and quickly restore operations.

Let’s dig in deeper and understand the elements of this service!

What Are The Elements Of Disaster Recovery As A Service?

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Creating a disaster recovery plan is serious business but that doesn't mean it can't be fun! Here are the key elements to include in your plan:

The Team

You'll need a team of disaster recovery specialists who know their stuff and can save the day in the event of an emergency. Each member should have a defined role and know how to communicate with others.
The Risk

Identify the potential hazards that could wreak havoc on your business and strategize how to counteract them. Think of it like playing a game of Risk but for your company's survival!
The Assets

Know your business's most critical systems, applications and data so you can recover them in case of disaster. These are the crown jewels of your company, so don't let them get lost in the shuffle!
The Backup

Make sure you have a solid backup plan in place for all of your important data. Determine how often you need to back up and how long you can afford to be down in the event of an outage.
The Test

Testing your disaster recovery plan is key to making sure it actually works when you need it most. Think of it like running drills for your own personal apocalypse - with fewer zombies and more cyber-attacks.

So, once all this is in place, what do we have next?

What Is The Future Of Disaster Recovery As A Service?

The future of disaster recovery is all about the public cloud! As more businesses adopt public clouds, we'll see a surge in public cloud adoption. This shift will help organizations cut costs and boost efficiency by leveraging the economies of scale offered by public clouds.

Nonetheless, with extreme shifts comes increasing complexity. As organizations embrace multi-cloud strategies, DRaaS providers will need to manage increasingly complex environments that span on-premises and multi-cloud resources. To avoid recovery process delays and risks, the right set of tools and processes will be essential to simplify the recovery process.

The future of DRaaS is all about cybersecurity and convergence. Ransomware and other cyber threats are growing in importance, making cybersecurity a top priority for many organizations. Additionally, DRaaS and BaaS (Backend as a Service) are getting closer together, as the technology behind them becomes more similar. This convergence will simplify data management and recovery processes, making it easier to resume operations after a disaster. The challenges for convergence will be operational but the benefits will be worth the effort!

To Wrap Up

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DRaaS is indeed a powerful, cloud-based solution that replicates critical data and applications, so businesses can quickly restore them if their system goes down. Just as Vibranium is the key to Wakanda's success, DRaaS is the key to business success in the face of a disaster. Are you ready to give it try?

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Disaster Recovery As A Service (DRaaS)?

Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) is a cloud-based solution designed to replicate critical data and applications, ensuring quick and easy restoration in the event of system failure or disaster. Think of it like having a backup of your important files stored securely in the cloud. DRaaS not only backs up your data but also provides Disaster Recovery Orchestration, enabling swift recovery of infrastructure access in case of a disaster. The beauty of DRaaS lies in its hassle-free nature - you don't need to own any resources or manage anything, as the DRaaS vendor takes care of everything, making it a superior option to traditional backup methods.

Where Did Disaster Recovery As A Service Come From?

The roots of Disaster Recovery as a Service trace back to the evolution of computer technology and the increasing reliance on IT systems by organizations. As early as the 1950s, concerns about data loss arose with the introduction of magnetic tape storage. Over the years, advancements in technology led to the realization of the importance of disaster recovery and business continuity planning. However, it wasn't until the late 20th century and early 21st century that DRaaS emerged as a superhero solution, offering businesses a cost-effective and efficient way to handle disaster recovery. By replicating workloads to remote data centers, DRaaS providers made disaster recovery accessible to businesses of all sizes, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of data protection strategies.

What Are The Types Of Disaster Recovery As A Service?

Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) comes in various flavors to cater to different business needs. There are primarily three types of DRaaS solutions: Self-service, Managed, and Assisted. Self-service DRaaS is the most cost-effective option, where businesses manage their disaster recovery plans using backup software and storage provided by the vendor. Managed DRaaS involves third-party experts handling all aspects of disaster recovery, from infrastructure management to application support. Assisted DRaaS allows businesses to customize their recovery plans while relying on the service provider for guidance and optimization. Each type offers distinct advantages, ensuring that businesses can choose the right level of support based on their requirements and expertise.

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Disaster Recovery Services Cloud Disaster Recovery Benefits Disaster Recovery As A Service Cybersecurity Convergence Ransomware Disaster Recovery Disaster Recovery Plan Data Recovery

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