95% of Leading Companies Utilize Off-Site Storage of Critical Data

Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company, has found that companies that backup critical data and systems at remote locations have a faster recovery time from computer-generated business interruptions.

Aberdeen’s recent research report, Off-site Storage and Computing: Keys to Successful Disaster Recovery ($399), shows companies employ various methods and technologies for managing offsite storage for their critical data, keeping it safe from even the most severe disaster scenarios.

The report features research based on a survey of the disaster recovery practices of over 100 worldwide companies.

Aberdeen’s research found:

• Ninety-five percent (95%) of leading companies utilize off-site storage of critical data. Fifty-seven percent (57%) report replication of critical computing systems to remote locations.
• One third of highly performing organizations (33%) employ simultaneous backup to remote locations. This ensures that little, if any, data is lost with a system interruption as all data is being replicated remotely as it is created.
• Tape storage is still used by 75% of superior organizations, indicating that the medium’s usefulness still remains, particularly for cost and long term archiving reasons.

"Preventing and recovering from computer-generated business interruptions continues to be a focus in the IT industry," says Dick Csaplar, Senior Research Analyst and author of the study. "Leading organizations report less than 1 business interruption over the last 12 months and require less than one hour of time to recover 90% of their operational functionality. This superior performance is accomplished through several technologies, but the key reason for quick recovery is that critical data and systems are remotely located."