As technology advances and becomes more accessible and readily available to both private individuals and businesses alike, the dangers surrounding information processing and personal information distribution are growing. Not only are individuals responsible for the safety of their personal information, but large businesses and agencies have the personal information of others running through their systems constantly, making them targets for identity theft and scams. Fortunately, there is measures that can be taken to protect sensitive information in the event of an Information Technology (IT) disaster, such as IT Disaster Recovery.

Most companies have an IT disaster recovery plan that they follow in the event that their computer systems have been breached by a hacker, a virus, or even by an accidental technology malfunction. Having preventative measures in place to secure information and protect it from being destroyed or compromised is the first line of defense for IT disasters. The more time and energy spent preventing and planning for cyber attacks or errors, the less likely information technology disasters are to happen.

Should an error or a human attempt to infiltrate an IT system still occur despite preventative measures, it is important to have an information technology disaster plan for dealing with and shutting down the threat to the IT system. Identifying where the problem occurred, what information was compromised or lost, and how to fix the problem as soon as possible are all part of the immediate response that should be taken by a disaster team to limit the damage and recover what they can.

Updating and bettering an IT disaster recovery plan after a disaster is a key element in preventing future invasions. Learning from past security weaknesses allows for IT specialists to identify and repair vulnerabilities in information systems, and possibly predict and prevent similar attacks. It also signals specialists to look for flaws in their security programs, and offer more effective programs and updates to old ones for both businesses and personal technology security.