71% of firms recover from outages in 1 to 5 hours – Kaspersky

Kaspersky has released new research that indicates that 71% of companies take between one to five hours to restore operations after a network outage, while 12% may need a full workday or longer.

Network outages significantly impact businesses by affecting productivity, revenue, and customer trust. These disruptions can stem from hardware failure, software errors, human mistakes, or natural disasters. Additionally, unexpected power surges and software bugs are noted as technical issues that can halt network functionality.

According to Kaspersky, human error frequently contributes to network outages, with errors such as misconfigurations, incorrect equipment handling, or unintentional data deletion leading to significant downtime. Cyberattacks, including Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks or malware infections, may further compromise network operations. Environmental factors such as storms, floods, accidents, or power outages are also potential causes.

Kaspersky has outlined several recommendations for businesses to mitigate these disruptions and prevent future occurrences. Identifying the cause of the outage is critical, which involves troubleshooting hardware and software components, examining recent updates, and reviewing network logs.

Clear communication with stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers, and partners, is advised to manage expectations and reduce the outage's impact. Implementing backup systems, such as alternative servers and network equipment, is encouraged to prepare for potential outages, according to Kaspersky.

The company sayss that regular monitoring and testing of network infrastructure can help identify issues before they escalate into major outages. Companies are urged to establish protocols for ongoing performance monitoring, regular tests, and robust security measures to counteract cyber threats.

A comprehensive disaster recovery plan should be developed, detailing procedures for data backup, system restoration, and communication strategies. Organisations are reminded of the importance of keeping hardware current, as 31% of companies reportedly have minimal or no formal replacement schedules for critical network components like routers and Customer Premises Equipment (CPEs).

Utilising specialized solutions such as Kaspersky SD-WAN is suggested for businesses managing geo-distributed networks, as these tools can centralise network management, enhance application performance, and merge various communication channels.

By following these recommendations, businesses can minimize the impact of network outages and ensure the continuity of their operations. It is important for companies to invest in reliable network infrastructure, implement best practices for network management, and have a solid plan in place to respond to outages and disasters. By taking proactive measures, businesses can protect themselves from the damaging effects of network downtime and maintain the confidence of their customers.