The importance of having a disaster recovery plan in place cannot be overstated, as it can mean the difference between a temporary setback and a crippling blow to an organization's operations and reputation. However, as cyber threats continue to evolve and increase in frequency and severity, a traditional disaster recovery plan may not be enough to protect your organization.  That's where a cyber-recovery strategy comes in.

According to a recent IDC Spotlight, 'Creating a Cohesive Disaster Recovery and Cyber-Recovery Strategy,' a combined disaster recovery and cyber-recovery strategy can help organizations be more resilient in the face of disruptions and mitigate the risk of data loss and breaches.

Disaster recovery typically focuses on restoring IT systems and data after an unplanned event, such as a natural disaster, power outage, or hardware failure. Cyber-recovery, on the other hand, is a more recent addition to business continuity planning and focuses on protecting and recovering data in the event of a cyberattack.

The IDC Spotlight highlights the following key elements of a cohesive disaster recovery and cyber-recovery strategy:

1.  Risk assessment: Identifying and evaluating the potential risks and impact of disruptions and cyber threats on your organization is a critical first step in creating a cohesive strategy.
2. Data protection: Protecting data, both at rest and in transit, is essential for a successful disaster recovery and cyber-recovery strategy. This includes implementing data encryption, access controls, and backups.
3.  Cybersecurity: Implementing a robust cybersecurity program that includes threat detection, incident response, and recovery is key to protecting against cyberattacks.
4. Testing and validation:  Regularly testing and validating your disaster recovery and cyber-recovery plans is essential to ensuring they are effective and up-to-date.
5. Continuous improvement: As threats and technology evolve, so should your disaster recovery and cyber-recovery strategy.  Continuously evaluating and improving your plans will help ensure they remain effective.

One of the main benefits of a cohesive disaster recovery and cyber-recovery strategy is that it allows organizations to be more proactive in their approach to business continuity. Instead of simply reacting to disruptions and cyberattacks, organizations can focus on preventing and mitigating the impact of these events.  Additionally, a cohesive strategy can help organizations save time and resources by eliminating the need to maintain separate disaster recovery and cyber-recovery plans.

In today's digital age, the risk of disruptions and cyber threats is higher than ever. By creating a cohesive disaster recovery and cyber-recovery strategy, organizations can improve their resiliency, protect their data, and maintain the trust of their customers and stakeholders.

In conclusion, a cohesive disaster recovery and cyber-recovery strategy is a must-have for organizations that want to be prepared for the unexpected and protect their data and operations from disruptions and cyber threats. By following the key elements outlined in the IDC Spotlight, organizations can create a comprehensive and effective strategy that will help them weather any storm.