WOBURN, Mass., Dec. 13 – Hurricane Sandy left major devastation in her wake this past October. With loss estimates due to damage and business disruption coming in around $65.6 billion, Sandy went on record as the largest Atlantic hurricane in history. For some businesses, Sandy meant major flooding and debris; for others, it meant loss of power for weeks on end. But, for businesses across the region, it meant putting their disaster recovery plans to the test – plans that only 35 percent of businesses actually have confidence in, according to the 2012 Disaster Recovery Index.

In an effort to help companies avoid future hurricane devastation, Acronis, the leading provider of data availability, accessibility and protection solutions for physical, virtual and cloud environments, today issued three data protection tips for businesses to ensure their company is protected and their critical data is easily recoverable.

1. Plan, Test, Plan – You've heard the adage before, "those who plan, prosper;" and never is this more evident than in a crisis. Having a sound disaster recovery plan in place is the first step on the road to data protection. But, it's important to make sure that plan addresses all types of IT environments, especially as nearly 80 percent of companies already have some form of virtualized infrastructure in place.

2. Move to the Cloud – Many companies have a physical location for their backup, but should also consider the additional protection a cloud-based backup solution can provide. The location could be anywhere, out of the Hurricane's path, and offer critical redundancy if an office is devastated. Considering remote management options for recovery provides greater flexibility – you don't have to be in the office either. Forrester Analyst James Staten predicts that the cloud's cost-efficient pay-per-use models will make cloud computing a much more viable option than traditional disaster recovery storage – and faster to recover!

3. Back up Your Data and Machines – By making images of computers and servers, companies can ensure complete copies of their applications and data are secure and quickly recoverable. So, if a hurricane were to strike, the disk images could be loaded onto new hardware in mere hours, as opposed to days to get critical company operations and services back up and running.

"There's no question that today's world cannot function without the data we create every day," said Blaine Raddon, Acronis General Manager, Americas. "Without our data, we cannot operate – at least not in the way we are accustomed. That's why having a plan in place and knowing what technology is out there to help keep data protected and secure at all times – during a hurricane or in our everyday lives – is so vital. That's our mission here at Acronis and we see it as a crucial part of economic survival for businesses of all sizes."

Hurricane Sandy left 8.5 million homes and businesses without power over the course of her reign and some had to wait more than a month for it to be restored. It's safe to say that, when Hurricane Sandy was being predicted, no one could have imagined the kind of destruction it would bring. And, as preparations are put in place for next year's hurricane season, Acronis hopes these tips will help to safeguard companies' critical data to keep more businesses up and running.

About Acronis

Acronis is leading the next wave of data availability, accessibility and protection solutions to simplify today's complex IT environments. Acronis technology enables organizations of all sizes to manage the always-on anywhere data access demands of users, reducing risk against the loss of valuable corporate data, and controlling management and storage costs. With proven technology for data migration and synchronization regardless of type or platform, Acronis is enabling organizations to embrace new IT strategies and options such as BYOD and Mac in the enterprise.

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Source: Acronis