What is BCDR and Why MSPs Need It

In 2023, organizations worldwide spent over $219 billion on cybersecurity alone, a 12% increase from the previous year. Cybersecurity expenses are only expected to increase in the coming years. 

As a Managed Service Provider (MSP), you are expected to keep the IT infrastructure of organizations intact and mitigate risks. Moreover, tasks like data recovery after a security event also fall on your shoulders. 

This is where business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) come into the equation. Keep reading to understand what it is and why you need it:

What is BCDR?

Business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) is a set of processes designed to help organizations regain control of their data and business operations during or after a disaster. A BCDR solution is the amalgamation of two systems:

Disaster recovery plan (DRP) – It is a contingency plan outlining how an organization will recover from a disaster event. Some common disaster scenarios include massive outages, ransomware, malware attacks, and even natural disasters. 

Business continuity plan (BCP) – It is a contingency plan that outlines how an organization will return to normal functioning after a security threat has been mitigated. While DRP mainly focuses on IT infrastructure, a BCP is concerned with general business preparedness. This can include supply chains, communication, and customer service. Keep in mind that a BCP makes sense even if a security threat is underway. 

DRP and BCP come together to achieve one central goal: reduced downtime and business excellence. 

How Does BCDR Work?

The BCDR solution entirely depends on two critical components. This includes:

Recovery time objective (RTO)

This is the amount of time it takes for an organization to restore business operations after an unplanned interruption. As an MSP, the Recovery Time Objective (RTO) is one of the first things you need to share with your clients. 

Recovery Point Objective (RPO)

This is the amount of data a business can afford to lose in a disaster. You can check this by assessing your client’s remote data centre. The aim is to ensure continuity despite certain data loss. 

How Can MSPs Benefit from BCDR?

When your client’s data is at risk, you need a reliable business continuity and disaster recovery solution. With BCDRs, you can:

• Manage all of your clients’ backup systems through a single interface and a central platform. 
• Save time. Third-party technicians will keep a close eye on the entire backup infrastructure all the time. They can also troubleshoot customer backups and assist in the backup disaster recovery process when needed. 
• Free up valuable resources. Tying up useful resources to backup recovery alone isn’t wise for your business operations. With a BCDR, you can focus on more billable projects and high-priority clients. 

Importance of Choosing a Reliable BCDR Provider

Not all BCDR providers are the same, and choosing the wrong one can disrupt business operations. 

Go for a reputable IT service provider, like ConnectWise. They have specialized BCDR solutions available for MSPs, allowing you to jumpstart your efforts and earn client trust.