The Importance of Network Continuity

October 20, 2021

Have you heard of network continuity and wondered what it is, what it does, and how it works?

Network continuity ensures company operations continue without interruption. So there is no more downtime or slowdowns even when there’s an issue with their primary internet connection. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies found that they had to rethink their approach. 

Keep reading for our guide on network continuity and how it can help your business survive an outage.

What Is Network Continuity?

Network continuity is a service that provides uninterrupted uptime to your IT services. Usually, this term will be used in the context of a complete outage, whether it’s due to a natural disaster or something else.

At the start of the pandemic, a study by Mercer found that 51% of organizations didn’t have a business continuity plan.

With network continuity, all current data on all devices attached to the internet will stay protected and available even during a crisis. Businesses can achieve this through the use of a remote site. For network continuity to work correctly, you need to supply power, connections, software, and hardware that will permit the remote site to act as an extension of your company.

What Should You Consider When Looking Into Network Continuity?

Before committing to a network continuity plan, it’s essential to understand the requirements. Here are some key points:

People

Ensure that whoever is responsible for the day-to-day operations of network continuity at the remote location is available if necessary. IT support shortages should be considered in case something unforeseen happens, so you have someone who can handle any problems arising.

Power

The backup generator needs to provide enough power for all equipment attached to the internet. The last thing you want is data loss or poor service because there’s no power source for your hardware anymore.

Security

All security measures must be put in place both on-site and off-site to ensure that sensitive data remains safe whether it’s being transferred or not. You’ll need firewalls in place, security to guard against theft and malware, and also need to make sure that no personal or company information is accessible by unauthorized personnel.

Connection

All equipment must have a continuous connection to the internet. Depending on your specific needs, this can be accomplished through fibre, cable, or DSL.

Hardware and Software

The hardware and software needed to support network continuity should remain current, so any potential security or other updates are available whenever required.

Third-party Services

Suppose you use any third-party services for email, website hosting, or data storage. In that case, they should be included when it comes to continuity plans. It’s always a good idea to make sure you can reach all the services your business relies on.

How Does Network Continuity Work?

Network continuity relies on a stable link between the two sites, which permits information to be transferred from one site to another automatically without anything getting lost in translation – whether it’s transferring calls or sending documents back and forth for processing. Businesses set up networks at the backup site in most instances, but they have other choices if desired. These include:

Peer-to-Peer Network Backup System

One way to achieve uninterrupted service is with a peer-to-peer backup system where both sites generate identical files for continuity. In the case of a crisis, data can transfer from one site to another as necessary without any manual intervention.

Validated Network Backup System

If you want to use something on your own instead of an automatic system, a validated network backup system will be used to automate data backups and permit off-site storage. Manual involvement may be necessary occasionally, but it’s a good choice if you need peace of mind from location independence that only remote access services can provide.

It’s also possible to have both peer-to-peer backups and validated backups in place simultaneously, which means even greater security measures are being taken for your company or business’ continuity.

Network Continuity vs. Geo Redundancy

If you’re curious about the differences between network continuity and geo-redundancy, here’s how they stack up:

Network Continuity

Network Continuity provides service through one or more connections to the internet without requiring manual intervention on your part.

Geo Redundancy

Permits business continuity when the main office experiences a crisis by automatically switching over to another location always in operation.

What Are the Benefits of Using Network Continuity?

Having this kind of backup system in place gives you peace of mind that there’ll be no loss of data or even downtime for your business during an emergency situation. The benefit is knowing what’s being transferred and where it’s being stored, so all systems are covered without any hiccups arising.

You can have remote access services set up at both sites to ensure that remote operations continue smoothly even if one site has a problem. In addition, only minimal staffing may be required since you’re able to manage everything remotely.

Is Network Continuity Worth the Money?

It depends on your business needs and requirements. Having everyone’s data available 24/7 is necessary for many businesses, though all may not require it of them.

It’s a good idea to look at all costs involved and the benefits it provides since these vary from company to company. Once you’ve done this assessment and figured out the pros and cons of various scenarios, you can determine your priorities and choose what works best for your business needs so you’re not caught off guard.

A popular choice in the area is to use managed Calgary IT Support to handle the more complex aspects of network continuity.

Get Your Network Continuity Plan in Place Now

Network Continuity is a critical and often overlooked aspect of any network. Whether you’re on-site or off-site, it pays to have an established plan for continuity that includes backup servers, remote access services, and the ability to restore data from one location to another without prompting.

It’s essential for business needs and as a security measure against potential threats such as hackers.

Contact us now to secure your business’s connectivity and data.