Most businesses rely on information technology (IT) systems. Even a small business may have critical data and applications without which it could not operate. Computers have become more reliable, and many business systems are now cloud-based. Even so, if the hardware is stolen or destroyed in a natural disaster, the downtime that it would cause could have a significant impact on any business.

So, a company should have a plan to get systems online again ASAP following an IT disaster. But, if you have never prepared a disaster recovery plan (DRP) before, where do you start? Here is a ten-step guide to help you develop a disaster recovery plan for your business.

Most types of businesses, from retail to manufacturing, have adopted at least one form of enterprise software. These systems integrate information that is critical to business operations and allow department heads to make informed decisions concerning purchasing, inventory management, staffing and production. However, retail and hospitality business owners may need to make split-second decisions due to seasonal demand, an ongoing promotion or even a change in the weather. This is just one reason that a point-of-sale (POS) system should be added to an existing enterprise software system for transactional operations.