The U.S. air travel system experienced its worst meltdown in years last week after a database in the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) service – a system designed to advise pilots of conditions at their destination airports before they are allowed to depart – failed.

 While initial fears that this was a cyberattack were soon quashed, the actual root cause could prove to be just as disturbing – because it suggests structural weaknesses in how the information technology needs of the world’s busiest airspace are being met. 

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.