Managed Service Providers (MSPs) like i4DM play a crucial role in protecting their clients and mitigating the risks associated with service outages like the faulty CrowdStrike security update that unwittingly hurled individuals and businesses across the globe into an IT whirlwind they never saw coming. And, chances are, even if you don’t use CrowdStrike, you’ve likely been impacted.
CrowdStrike worked quickly to identify and isolate the issue, and a fix has been deployed. However, due to the breadth of its impact and massive reach, the fix may take weeks to implement fully.
So, what now? Over the next few weeks, or sooner, make a concerted effort to evaluate your disaster recovery and business continuity plans. This event is a real-life reminder of the importance of having — and following — a fortified plan for maintaining mission-critical systems.
If you’re not sure where to start, enlist the guidance of a trusted managed IT services partner to document the procedures for restoring services quickly in the event of an outage. The procedures should include current backup systems and data replication strategies that ensure minimal disruption to your business operations while maintaining a high level of security and service availability.
This advice may seem untimely, but as the CrowdStrike event unfolded, businesses across the globe would likely agree that it’s never too late to start building a truly comprehensive IT strategy. But don’t go at it alone. Partnering with an MSP is a strategic decision that can drive efficiency, innovation, and growth in today’s ever-changing technology-driven business environment.
Interested in learning more about i4DM’s proactive stance? Reach out and discover how i4DM is not just an IT service provider, we could be a vital part of your success strategy.
We don’t just fix the problems — we foresee and prevent them. Below is a brief overview of the comprehensive IT strategy and standard operating procedures we designed to minimize disruptions and support our clients’ continuity.
Continuous Monitoring and Alerts
Implementing robust monitoring systems that provide real-time alerts is essential. Early detection of issues can minimize the impact of an outage. We continuously monitor the health and performance of all critical systems, including security tools.
Client Communication and Transparency
Open communication is our priority. In the event of an outage, we keep clients informed about the situation, the steps being taken to resolve it, and any potential impacts on their operations.
Proactive Patch Management
Proactive patch management ensures that vulnerabilities are addressed promptly, reducing the risk of exploitation during an outage or service disruption.
Diversified Toolset and Redundancy
We utilize a diversified toolset for security and operations management. This means we do not rely solely on one vendor or platform for critical services. Having redundancy in tools and services allows us to quickly launch alternative solutions, reducing the impact of an unplanned outage.
Vendor Management and SLA Reviews
We carefully evaluate service level agreements (SLAs) with our vendors, including provisions for outage response times and compensation when appropriate. Regular vendor performance reviews and SLAs help us identify potential risks and take proactive measures.
Training and Skill Development
Continuous training and skill development are essential to our core value: Excellence In All That We Do. Staying informed about the latest security threats, technologies, and best practices ensures that we are well equipped to handle service outages and mitigate their impact.
Incident Response Readiness
Our well-defined incident response plan includes procedures for identifying, responding to, and recovering from security incidents or service outages. This plan should be regularly reviewed and updated based on lessons learned from past incidents.
Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plans
Developing and regularly testing disaster recovery (DR) and business continuity plans (BCP) is crucial. We provide documented outage procedures for restoring services quickly. This includes having backup systems and data replication strategies in place.
MSPs play a critical role in helping your business stay secure. The right MSP will take a proactive approach to mitigating risk. With 24/7 support, i4DM can improve your business’s security posture, minimize downtime, and enhance recovery. Let’s connect today.