Lot has been said and discussed about how cloud computing technology can be a boon when it comes to disaster management. But, I see there is no much discussion going on about how can disaster hit even the remote servers or hardware platforms and how can it be managed. After all clouds are responsible for thunder and lightning; they too disappear after the rain!

Best examples are 9/11 and Japan’s Tsunami 2011 which were the greatest examples of recent times man-made disaster and nature thrown disaster. It’s interesting to know that cloud computing itself is the solution for businesses and companies to manage disaster but then disaster can hit even harder to cloud resources and ruin multiple businesses all at once if proper backup and disaster recovery measures are not taken. Here’s what can be done:

1. It is excellent to find a cloud computing company who can offer first hand backup plans for their clients. It is a good move to invest and collaborate with such companies even if it means paying little extra bucks for quality and assured back up options.
2. The other option would be to invest with a second cloud computing for minimum resources so that you keep your backup data updated frequently so as not to miss any of your data in case if you have to recover from an uninvited disaster taking place with your first cloud services company.
3. Apart from relying and engaging cloud resources you should maintain critical data like your stake holders associated with different clouds, your in-house employees whom you can trust when in disaster for added value to recovery process, etc in your private resources to come handy when in cloud crisis.
4. Additionally your PR department employees and customer service personnel should be good enough and trained well before hand to handle media hazels and customers nerves!
5. Costumers are believed to be Gods in disguise! Once if your costumers are turned off due to any of your clouds failure or if you cannot recover early from a disaster then you may have to forget your business. Have more than one ways to reach your customers and keep them informed of your crises and what is being done about it. Surely, social media is a great weapon that can be used to reach masses in less time.
6. Your associates, investors and partners have all the rights to get first hand information about cloud failures or any disasters. Maintain valuable database with quaint essential contact information so as to alert any crises or calamities.

So initially it might look like it is a little too much to invest and manage for recovery and backup processes but only that can help you stay calm and contained while in disaster. Clouds have failed many times before and still they bet a chance to fail again! Cloud computing is no doubt a trending business choice to save funds and get work done remotely and this is why companies like Syntax has managed it so effectively. But still this technology stands a fair chance to put you in disaster like any other technologies can do.

What do you think? How important it is to plan for disaster management for the technology which itself is used for disaster management?