Companies are spending hundreds of billions of dollars on cloud technology to hit growth goals, making cloud solutions critical components in infrastructure planning. But one question IT teams are asking is whether cloud-based solutions assist in generating a network disaster recovery audit.

A disaster recovery audit allows companies to protect data and systems from the possibility of a disruptive event, such as a network or equipment outage, or a power outage due to a natural disaster. Audit controls should be examined for recoverability and network integrity. There are three types of audits that companies should consider:

• An internal audit, or first-party audit
• Second party, which uses an approved organization to conduct an external audit
• A fully independent, or third-party audit

Implementing Disaster Recovery Audit Procedures

From natural disasters to human error to sabotage, data is at risk. Fortunately, there are cloud technologies available that protect your valuable data and give you the means for staying afloat when the unexpected happens.

Data backup is the foundation of any network disaster recovery strategy. From redundant systems to virtualized equipment, having a copy or multiple copies of your valuable data will equip you for business continuity, avoiding the extended downtime that can wreck a company. For example, if a company has been hit with a data loss situation and they don’t have backups, failing to restore operations within a short amount of time can make it hard for the business to recover.

How an Audit Works

Some organizations refer to a disaster recovery audit simply as an IT audit. An audit gives companies a map for collecting and evaluating information systems, operations, governance, practices, and procedures.

Two important items must be included when preparing for an audit: preparation and documentation. Teams should prepare by identifying both electronic and hard copy documents, and this team should be prepped for working alongside the auditors.

The internal audit team should be prepped on what types of questions the audit will include so that they can answer questions accurately.

It’s not unusual for companies to have difficulty obtaining all the information they need in their audits. There are times when the information is available, but it may not be up to date or consistent. A full audit is most successful with buy-in from everyone in the organization, requiring you to interview all of the staff members about their roles in the disaster recovery process.

The following is a list of information that the audit team should prepare ahead of the audit:

• Copies of all documentation related to disaster recovery and network operations, including policies and procedures, assessments, responsibilities of team members, results of testing, and documents describing previous recovery challenges and how they were resolved, as well as documentation of ongoing network improvement activities.
• Documentation of how your network disaster recovery policy is part of a more comprehensive IT disaster recovery strategy.
• Documentation of disaster recovery assessments, updates, and network updates.
• Evidence of the involvement of senior staff in the disaster recovery program, such as an executive sponsor, as well as a budget dedicated to network disaster recovery.

Outside Assistance

To get around some of these challenges, it is of great value to seek outside assistance from a professional who knows the latest solutions related to ensuring an insightful audit. Whether you’re a large or small operation, bringing in disaster recovery audit experts can help you avoid a lot of headaches, lost time, and lost money.

Independent Connections is in a unique position to help companies like yours with your disaster recovery audit strategy. Our slogan is “we manage your IT so you can manage your business,” and that’s true of our approach to assisting organizations with disaster recovery solutions. Contact us and learn more about how we bring value to our clients.