RDoS TL;DR Takeaways
Ransom DDoS (RDoS) attacks have emerged as a growing threat in 2023. Discover how these attacks work, the differences between Ransomware and DDoS, and effective measures to prevent and avoid Ransom DDoS attacks.
Ransom DDoS attacks, also known as RDoS, involve a malicious actor threatening to overwhelm an organization’s website or network with an enormous volume of traffic unless a ransom is paid.
The attackers typically demand payment in cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, to remain anonymous and untraceable.
By exploiting vulnerabilities and leveraging botnets composed of compromised Internet of Things (IoT) devices, cybercriminals can execute devastating attacks.
Imagine your favorite website being bombarded with a massive surge of traffic, rendering it inaccessible to its users.
Now, the picture receiving a demand for payment to restore its normal functioning. This is the essence of a Ransom DDoS attack—a cyber siege aimed at crippling businesses and organizations.
While both Ransomware and DDoS attacks aim to disrupt and extort organizations, they differ in their methods and objectives.
Ransomware infiltrates a victim’s systems, encrypts valuable data, and demands a ransom to restore access.
On the other hand, DDoS attacks overwhelm a target’s network or website with a flood of traffic, rendering it inaccessible to legitimate users.
To better understand the distinction, let’s imagine a physical scenario: Ransomware is akin to a thief breaking into your office, locking away your files, and demanding a ransom to release them.
In contrast, DDoS attacks are like a crowd of protestors blocking the entrance to your office, preventing anyone from entering or leaving. While both scenarios cause disruption and demand payment, the methods employed differ significantly.
The rise of Ransom DDoS attacks necessitates proactive measures to safeguard your organization from potential devastation.
Here are some strategies to help you prevent or minimize the impact of RDoS attacks:
A: Ransom DDoS attacks have become increasingly common in recent years, with cybercriminals leveraging the ease of DDoS-as-a-Service platforms to execute these malicious campaigns.
A: While it can be challenging to trace RDoS attackers due to the anonymity provided by cryptocurrencies and the use of botnets, law enforcement agencies have made progress in attributing attacks to specific individuals or groups.
A: Any industry with an online presence can become a target of RDoS attacks.
However, sectors such as finance, healthcare, e-commerce, and gaming are particularly attractive to attackers due to their reliance on uninterrupted online services.
Ransom DDoS (RDoS) attacks have emerged as a significant menace in 2023, combining the disruptive power of DDoS with the extortion tactics of ransomware.
Understanding the workings of RDoS attacks, differentiating them from Ransomware, and implementing preventive measures are crucial for organizations aiming to protect their online presence.
By fortifying IT infrastructure, educating employees, implementing network monitoring, and developing comprehensive incident response plans, organizations can strengthen their defense against Ransom DDoS attacks.
Remember, prevention and preparedness are key in combating this evolving cyber threat.
One of the most popular scams making the rounds lately is the Copyright scam or DMCA scam, also known as the DMCA takedown notice scam.
But what is it, and how can you protect your website from these scammers?
In this article, we’ll explore the trendy DMCA scam, how it works, and provide some tips to keep your website safe.
TL;DR:
1) The DMCA takedown notice is a legitimate tool used by copyright holders to protect their intellectual property online.
2) However, scammers have been using fake DMCA takedown notices to extort money from website owners and users.
3) It is important to be aware of the signs of a fake DMCA takedown notice and how to respond to it.
4) DMCA takedown notices have a significant impact on free speech and the future of online content sharing.
The DMCA takedown notice scam is a cunning way for scammers to get websites shut down without having to go through the legal system.
The scammers send fraudulent DMCA takedown notices to web hosting companies, claiming that the targeted website is violating their copyright. The web hosting company, upon receiving the notice, takes the website down immediately to avoid any legal trouble.
Recently, a variation of this scam involved a fake law firm called Nationwide Legal in Austin, Texas. The scammer sent out emails to unsuspecting victims, claiming to be a trademark attorney with the law firm.
The emails had all the tell-tale signs of being fraudulent, including not addressing the recipient by name and asking for a link to a shady website.
There are several signs you should look out for to identify a DMCA takedown notice scam.
Firstly, if you receive an email from someone claiming to be an attorney but doesn’t address you by name, it’s probably a scam.
Secondly, if the email only asks for a link to a website and doesn’t provide any specific information about the alleged copyright infringement, it’s likely a scam.
Another sign of the DMCA scam is the use of fake law firm websites. These websites are designed to look legitimate, but on closer inspection, they often contain fake names and details. In some cases, scammers use stock photos of people to create fake attorneys.
Protecting yourself from the DMCA scam requires some vigilance and caution. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
You wouldn’t believe the DMCA takedown notice scams out there. Scammers can send takedown notices to YouTube, claiming videos contain copyrighted material, when in fact they are the works of independent artists. In one case, scammers did just that on behalf of the RIAA.
YouTube, however, confirmed that the RIAA never authorized any takedown requests, and the videos were restored.
Another scam artist, a photographer, sent takedown notices to a website selling prints of his photos without permission. But, the photographer was caught with his pants down – it turned out he had stolen the photos from other sources and had no right to claim copyright.
DMCA takedown notices have a significant impact on free speech and can limit your ability to express yourself online. Legitimate content can be taken down even if it falls under fair use, parody, or criticism.
The DMCA process can be abused to censor content without any due process or judicial oversight. This can lead to self-censorship by creators who fear legal repercussions.
In other words, the DMCA takedown notice process can make you feel like you’re walking on eggshells when you’re trying to create content.
The DMCA takedown notice system has been around since 1998, but it’s like a dinosaur – old and outdated. Some experts say the process is too slow and cumbersome, leading to significant delays and costs for both copyright holders and alleged infringers.
Others think the system is biased towards copyright holders and doesn’t adequately protect user rights. There have been calls for reform or replacement of the DMCA system.
One proposal is to create a mandatory notice-and-stay-down system that would require online platforms to prevent the re-upload of copyrighted content.
Another option is to shift the burden of proof to the copyright holder to prove infringement in court.
Either way, it looks like there are some changes coming to the DMCA takedown notice system – hopefully for the better.
This is a Cybersecurity Guide for SMBs. After all, small and mid-sized businesses are the backbone of the economy, and they contribute to the majority of job creation in most countries… So we all can benefit.
Because they are also the primary target of cyber attackers.
So this comprehensive guide provides essential information for SMBs to help secure their business against cyber threats.
Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting computer systems, networks, and sensitive information from theft, damage, or unauthorized access.
Cybersecurity is an essential aspect of every business in the digital age, irrespective of its size. SMBs often overlook cybersecurity, assuming that only larger corporations are at risk of cyber attacks.
SMBs are particularly vulnerable to cyber attacks, as they often have fewer resources and less sophisticated security infrastructure than larger organizations.
Cyber attacks can lead to the loss of business data, financial loss, legal liability, and damage to the company’s reputation.
The aftermath of a cyber attack can be catastrophic for SMBs, with some going out of business entirely.
Cybersecurity threats can come from anywhere, and SMBs face unique challenges in protecting their networks and data. Phishing attacks, malware infections, ransomware attacks, and data breaches are some of the most common threats faced by SMBs.
According to a recent survey, 60% of SMBs have suffered a cyber attack in the last 12 months.
SMBs face several cybersecurity challenges that make them vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Some of these challenges include a limited budget, a lack of in-house expertise, and complex regulatory requirements.
In many cases, SMBs are not aware of the cyber threats they face, which makes them easy targets for cybercriminals.
SMBs need to adopt best practices to secure their networks and data.
Some of the essential cybersecurity practices for SMBs are:
SMBs can use various cybersecurity tools to secure their networks and data.
Some of the essential cybersecurity tools for SMBs are:
SMBs are increasingly vulnerable to cyber attacks, and the consequences of a cyber attack can be devastating for small and mid-sized businesses.
By adopting cybersecurity best practices and using cybersecurity tools, SMBs can secure their networks and data against cyber threats.
Welcome to the enchanting realm of cloud migration, where the digital world meets the wonders of a new city.
It’s a process that involves moving your data and applications from on-premises environments to the captivating realm of cloud-based infrastructure.
In this article, we’ll embark on an exciting journey to explore the significance of cloud migration and uncover the secrets behind its success.
Have you ever felt the pressure to be more agile, innovative, and cost-effective?
Businesses today face these challenges constantly. Cloud migration holds the key to unlocking new possibilities.
It allows businesses to adapt swiftly to changing needs, whether it’s scaling up or down, meeting market demands, or navigating seasonal fluctuations.
The cloud becomes the bridge between ambition and achievement.
Imagine a world where you only pay for what you use. With cloud computing, businesses can bid farewell to upfront investments in expensive hardware and software.
Embrace the era of cost savings, where you pay for resources on demand. Say goodbye to the hassles of maintaining data centers. The cloud takes care of your storage needs, upgrades, and security management, leaving you free to focus on what truly matters.
Cloud computing also offers robust disaster recovery and business continuity capabilities.
In the face of unforeseen events like power outages, natural disasters, or cyber-attacks, cloud-based backup and recovery solutions swoop in to save the day.
Your data and applications remain safe and can be quickly restored, empowering you to overcome adversity.
Security is a paramount concern for businesses today. Fortunately, the cloud takes this responsibility seriously.
Cloud providers invest heavily in state-of-the-art security measures, constantly updating protocols to stay ahead of evolving threats. Firewalls, encryption, and intrusion detection systems work together harmoniously to shield your precious data and applications.
In the realm of cloud migration, there are three paths to choose from, each with its unique charms.
Every adventure comes with its share of challenges. Cloud migration is no exception.
Security and compliance take center stage as businesses navigate the migration process. While cloud providers ensure robust security, businesses must encrypt sensitive data and implement access controls to fortify their defenses.
Integrating cloud-based applications with existing legacy systems poses another hurdle. Compatibility issues and data format differences can test even the most skilled adventurers. Thorough planning and testing are essential to ensure a seamless transition.
Performance and latency can cast a shadow on cloud migration. Applications designed for on-premises infrastructure may require optimization to harness the cloud’s capabilities fully.
This optimization minimizes latency issues and ensures a stellar performance.
The final challenge lies in fostering a culture shift and managing change within the organization.
Employees need training to navigate cloud-based applications and infrastructure, while businesses must adopt new processes and procedures to manage this new realm effectively.
Embark on a successful cloud migration journey with these tried-and-true best practices:
By adhering to these best practices, businesses can conquer the challenges of cloud migration and unlock the full potential of the cloud.
Cloud migration is a captivating journey into a world of agility, innovation, and cost-effectiveness.
By embracing cloud computing and following best practices, businesses can overcome challenges, unlock the benefits of the cloud, and thrive in the digital era. So pack your bags and embark on this adventure to a realm where dreams become reality.
Cloud migration awaits you.
Are you a GSuite user thinking about making the switch to Microsoft 365? You’re not alone!
Many individuals and businesses are making the transition for a variety of reasons. In this article, we’ll explore 10 reasons why you should consider migrating from GSuite to Microsoft 365.
Microsoft Teams is one of the most popular collaboration tools in Office 365/Microsoft 365, which streamlines workplace communication. Teams serve as a central hub for messaging and meetings, significantly reducing internal email flow.
In contrast, the Google Workspace solution comprises two separate platforms, Meet and Chat, while Teams offers a single interface. Slack-to-Teams migrations are also growing in popularity as organizations look to centralize data and maximize cloud investments.
OneDrive for Business is a cloud-based storage solution that enables several people to co-author documents simultaneously, updating a single file rather than emailing new versions each time changes are made. Secure links can also be shared with external contributors, allowing everyone to be on the same page without losing track.
In addition to the traditional Office suite apps, Microsoft 365 offers an array of new tools such as Planner, Editor, Forms, and Power BI. These integrated products offer new ways of working, boosting productivity while reducing the specter of shadow IT; you can keep more content within Microsoft rather than multiple third parties.
One of the significant benefits of Microsoft 365 is its cloud connectivity, empowering users to access applications remotely from any device, allowing them to work anywhere and instantly switch between desktop and mobile apps. This feature is particularly helpful for attending Teams meetings while on the move.
Additionally, users can work offline, and files will automatically sync across devices when they reconnect. Cloud access to all email, files, and applications makes business continuity easier should physical devices fail.
a) Robust security features: One of the key advantages of Microsoft 365 is its robust security features. Microsoft takes security seriously, and it shows in the suite’s features. The platform offers multifactor authentication, data encryption, threat protection, and compliance features that help organizations protect their data.
b) Compliance with industry standards: Microsoft 365 complies with various industry standards, including ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR, and FERPA, to ensure data protection.
c) Advanced threat protection: Advanced threat protection is a set of security features provided by Microsoft 365 to protect users from advanced cyber threats. Some of the advanced threat protection features offered include Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Microsoft Defender for Office 365, Microsoft Defender for Identity, Azure Active Directory (AD) Identity Protection, and Azure Advanced Threat Protection (ATP).
Migrating from GSuite to Microsoft 365 is a straightforward process thanks to Microsoft’s migration tools and support. This means that organizations can quickly and easily switch to Microsoft 365 without losing any data or productivity.
Microsoft 365 offers 24/7 customer support, ensuring that organizations receive assistance whenever they need it. Additionally, Microsoft guarantees a 99.9% uptime for its services, which ensures maximum availability and reliability.
Microsoft 365 offers seamless integration with other Microsoft services, such as OneDrive,
SharePoint, Teams, Power BI, and more. This enables organizations to create a unified digital workplace and collaborate more efficiently.
With Microsoft 365, organizations can also have greater control over their data.
Administrators can set up policies and rules for data access, sharing, and storage. Additionally, Microsoft offers advanced security features that protect data from unauthorized access and data breaches.
Microsoft 365 offers a wide range of customization options, including custom domains, branding, and templates. This enables organizations to create a personalized experience for their employees and customers.
Microsoft is continually updating and improving its services to ensure that organizations have access to the latest features and technology. This ensures that organizations can stay ahead of the competition and remain productive and efficient.
Disaster recovery testing is a vital part of any business continuity plan, ensuring that your organization can recover from a disaster effectively and minimize any potential downtime, data loss, or damage.
To achieve this, it’s crucial to have an effective disaster recovery plan that considers timing, changes, impact, and people.
In this article, we’ll discuss the purpose of a DR test, the different types of tests, and the best practices to follow.
A DR test’s purpose is to evaluate the steps outlined in the plan to ensure that the organization is prepared to handle operational disasters.
Conducting regular disaster recovery tests is essential to avoid potential issues and ensure that the backup/restore processes remain unaffected by any changes.
Failing to invest time and resources into testing a disaster recovery plan can result in the plan’s failure to execute as expected when it’s most needed.
Therefore, experts recommend conducting disaster recovery tests regularly throughout the year, incorporating them into planned maintenance and staff training.
Once a test is completed, the data should be analyzed to identify what worked, what didn’t, and what changes need to be made to the plan’s design. The goal of a disaster recovery test is to meet the organization’s predetermined RPO/RTO requirements.
There are three types of disaster recovery testing, which include a plan review, tabletop exercise, and simulation tests.
A plan review involves reviewing the DRP to find any inconsistencies and missing elements.
A tabletop exercise involves stakeholders walking through all the components of a DRP step by step to uncover any inconsistencies, missing information, or errors.
A simulation test involves simulating disaster scenarios to see if the procedures and resources allocated for disaster recovery and business continuity work in a situation as close to the real world as possible.
There are two types of simulation tests, including a parallel test and a live or “full interruption” test. A parallel test restores a system that hasn’t broken down to an alternate location, whereas a live or “full interruption” test downs the main system and attempts to recover it.
Disasters can be categorized into several major groups, including equipment failures, user errors, natural disasters, and cyber-attacks.
Equipment failures range from server meltdowns to storage failures, while user errors involve accidental deletion of data or crashing the database server.
Natural disasters include hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes, and cyber-attacks can range from malware infections to hacking.
All of these potential disasters should be considered when developing a DRP.
That being said…
Based on our experience and all that we’ve mentioned before, here is a checklist of best practices for disaster recovery testing:
By following a comprehensive disaster recovery checklist such as this, businesses can proactively prepare for a cyber security incident and minimize disruption to their operations and financial loss.
Disaster-Recovery-Testing-ChecklistDownload
In disaster recovery planning, two critical terms that often come up are RTO and RPO. RTO and RPO are both essential metrics that define how long a business can tolerate downtime and how much data it can afford to lose.
Understanding the differences between RTO and RPO is vital for creating an effective disaster recovery strategy that can help minimize the impact of a disruptive event.
RTO (Recovery Time Objective) is a metric that determines the maximum amount of time that is tolerable to restore all critical systems online after a disaster. RTO indicates the time between a disaster occurrence and the recovery of the system.
It is important to define RTO since it allows a company to determine how quickly it needs to recover its activity. RTO can be defined as rapid as a few hours, or it can be as long as a couple of weeks.
Some factors that can influence a user’s RTO include the amount of revenue a company will lose per hour of downtime, the amount of financial loss that can be absorbed during an emergency, the availability of resources necessary to restore operations, and a customer’s tolerance for downtime.
The RTO is calculated based on the costs and risks associated with downtime, and the time it takes for losses to become significant. If a client needs its systems to function within three hours, then this is its RTO.
If their average calculated time for effective recovery is five hours, they exceeded their RTO by two hours. This preliminary calculation indicates that more investments in BDR are necessary to reduce the actual recovery time.
Although RTO is not just about determining the duration between the disaster’s start and recovery, but also includes defining the recovery steps that IT teams must perform to restore their applications and data.
Recovery Point Objective (RPO) is a metric used in disaster recovery planning to determine the maximum acceptable amount of data loss that a company can tolerate without causing significant damage to its business operations.
It defines the frequency with which a company’s systems need to be backed up, and the time interval between the last backup and the occurrence of the disaster.
The frequency of backups will determine the volume of data at risk of loss, and the company will need to assess the amount of data it considers tolerable to lose in case of a disaster.
RPO is determined by the company’s owner/director and IT management, and it helps to configure the appropriate backup job. For critical systems, an RPO of 15 minutes is recommended as a good compromise between system load and processing time.
RPO is closely related to the frequency of data backup, and it depends on the complexity and number of fundamental systems, volume of data and access requirements, frequency of data changes, and the backup method used.
RPO is critical in determining the company’s continuity during downtime. The longer the RPO, the greater the possibility of data loss due to prolonged downtime.
RPO aims to answer the question, “How much data can the company afford to lose?”
In other words, RPO determines the age of the data that must be recovered to resume business operations.
The RPO prepares the scenario for determining the disaster recovery plan, evaluating the importance of the data, and deciding which applications, processes, or information should be recovered.
The backup system determines the RPO, depending on the specified time of the last backup and the type of backup.
Therefore, RPO is important in guiding an MSP’s recommendations for data backup solutions, especially regarding storage space and backup mode.
| Recovery Point Objective (RPO) | Recovery Time Objective (RTO) |
| Amount of data loss a company can tolerate in the event of a disaster | The maximum amount of downtime a company can tolerate |
| Determines the frequency of data backups and replication | Determines the time needed to recover a system after a disaster |
| Helps establish the maximum acceptable time gap between backups | Helps establish the acceptable time frame for system recovery |
| Helps ensure that the most recent version of data is always available | Helps ensure that the system is back up and running as quickly as possible |
In conclusion, RTO and RPO are two fundamental concepts that must be considered when designing a disaster recovery plan.
Both metrics play a crucial role in ensuring business continuity and minimizing data loss.
By understanding the differences between RTO and RPO, organizations can make informed decisions about how to allocate their resources and prioritize their recovery efforts to minimize downtime and keep critical business operations running smoothly.
From taking inventory of your devices and applications to choosing the right pricing plan and managing your server, this guide will provide you with the following Office 365 migration tips.
After all, migrating to Office 365 can be a daunting task for any small or midsize company. Whether it’s to upgrade business tools or as part of a merger, the migration process can present challenges that can negatively impact the business if not done correctly.
However, with the right planning and guidance, companies can make a safe and accurate transition. Follow these Office 365 migration tips and you will be on the right path.
To make the migration process smoother, companies should not skimp on preparation and plan for coexistence to minimize the impact on business. They should also implement the ABCs of security and not forget about post-migration management. So keep reading.
As you may or may not know, migrating to Office 365 and Azure AD can bring a range of benefits to organizations, from improved collaboration and productivity to enhanced security and compliance.
With feature sets now on par with on-premises counterparts, it’s hard to justify investing in expensive on-prem email, collaboration, and communication capabilities when everything can be obtained through a monthly subscription to Office 365.
Azure AD also offers compelling features, such as the ability to provide single-sign-on (SSO) to thousands of end-user applications, including non-Microsoft ones like Salesforce, and valuable security features like conditional access policies.
However, migrating to Office 365 is not without its challenges. Proper assessment, inventory, and cleanup of the source environment are necessary, along with efficient migration tracking, ensuring normal user operations throughout the process, and proper management of the target environment after migration.
Specific challenges include mapping permissions from the source platform to Office 365, dealing with feature restrictions and size limitations, and migrating highly customized SharePoint applications.
Additionally, native tools have important limitations during each phase of the migration process, with no capability to merge tenants or to migrate from one tenant to another. But with proper planning and execution, organizations can overcome these challenges and experience a successful migration. Simple Office 365 migration tips can go a long way.
That being said, here’s what we recommend you to do and don’t if you’re planning to migrate into Office 365:
When it comes to finding the right IT solution for your business, you have several options to choose from. Managed IT services and in-house IT department services all have their pros and cons.
This article will compare these two IT solutions to help you determine which is best suited for your company.
Availability is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing an IT solution.
Here is a comparison of how managed, in-house, and co-managed IT services handle availability.
| Availability | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Managed IT | MSPs provide redundancy, ensuring that you always have access to IT support. MSPs have on-call engineers to address IT problems outside of typical business hours. | They cannot provide as much on-site support as in-house IT can. An MSP engineer may visit your site only once a week. |
| In-House IT | Hiring an in-house engineer gives you the option to have your engineer on-site during all business hours. Your in-house IT engineer can address problems as they arise. | In-house IT resources can have lapses when the engineer takes time off. |
All IT solutions are designed to support your IT environment. Here is a comparison of what service looks like for managed, in-house, and co-managed IT services.
| Service-Level | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Managed IT | MSPs provide constant support from engineers with expertise in specific IT disciplines. MSPs have the knowledge and skills to solve complex IT problems. | MSPs might not know your business or industry. |
| In-House IT | In-house IT engineers know your business and industry. In-house IT engineers are always available on-site. | In-house IT engineers may not have expertise in all IT disciplines. In-house IT can be expensive to maintain. |
Cost is always an important factor when it comes to choosing an IT solution. Here is a comparison of the cost of managed, in-house, and co-managed IT services.
| Cost | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Managed IT | MSPs are typically less expensive than hiring a full in-house IT department. | MSPs may charge extra for some services or require you to sign a long-term contract. |
| In-House IT | In-house IT departments provide complete control over your IT environment. | In-house IT departments are expensive to maintain, requiring salaries, benefits, and infrastructure. |
Managed IT services, in-house IT departments, and co-managed IT services each have their pros and cons. The right choice for your business depends on your specific needs and goals.
Managed IT services are becoming more popular as they are less expensive, easier to set up and maintain, and have teams segmented into tiers, ensuring that any issue is addressed by the right person.
They are also efficient, have experienced professionals, and offer remote problem resolution.
Managed IT service providers are experienced in managing network security and keeping data safe, ensuring your network is protected from cyber threats. However, working with MSPs can be a hands-off experience, and some companies may prefer more control over their cybersecurity.
On the other hand, building an in-house IT department allows for more customization, hiring employees with the exact qualifications and experience needed, and customizing the hardware and software.
However, it can be expensive, and the costs can quickly add up, paying for salaries, benefits, workstations, and cyber security and management software.
The decision between in-house or managed IT services depends on your company’s specific needs and capabilities, such as the size of the company, the level of control required, and the complexity of the IT infrastructure.
Ultimately, it’s essential to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of both options and review feedback before selecting an IT company.
Credits: Featured image/photo by Sigmund on Unsplash
To address misconceptions about the frequency and cost of data center downtime, we’ve studied and now explained the common causes, potential costs, and solutions.
After all, the reliance on IT systems to support business-critical applications has increased significantly over the past decade, with data center availability now becoming essential to many companies whose customers pay a premium for access to a variety of IT applications.
This connection between data center availability and total cost of ownership has made a single downtime event capable of significantly impacting the profitability (and, in extreme cases, the viability) of an enterprise.
A study found that the average cost of data center downtime was approximately $5,600 per minute, and the average cost of a single downtime event was approximately $505,500.
Indirect and opportunity costs accounted for more than 62 percent of all costs resulting from data center downtime
This study conducted in 2011 involved Data Center Professionals from 41 independent facilities across various industry segments such as financial services, telecommunications, retail, healthcare, government, and third-party IT services.
The participating data centers were required to have a minimum of 2,500 ft2 to ensure that the costs were representative of an average enterprise data center.
Respondents provided cost estimates for a single recent outage, and follow-up interviews were conducted to obtain additional information.
Business disruption and lost revenue were the most significant cost consequences, and losses in end-user and IT productivity also had a significant impact. Surprisingly, equipment costs were among the lowest costs reported for a downtime event.
The common causes of downtime are UPS system failure, human error, and cyber attacks.
But let’s take a look at two that cause more damage, therefore, result in more expensive.
a) Power-Related Outages – The root causes of power-related outages are discussed, and it is noted that UPS and generator failures are the most costly. Tier I and II data centers are particularly vulnerable to power failures due to a lack of redundancy and other preventative measures.
Redundancy in power systems is recommended to minimize the impact of equipment failure. Additionally, regular maintenance and monitoring of critical power systems can help to minimize the risk of power equipment failure.
Comprehensive monitoring solutions can aid in quickly identifying and addressing power equipment issues.
b) Environmental-Related Outages – Environmental vulnerabilities, such as thermal issues and water incursion, are cited in this study as root causes of data center failures, accounting for 15% of all root causes.
IT equipment failures caused by environmental issues are the most expensive, with a cost of more than $750,000 per incident. It also emphasizes that an optimized cooling infrastructure is critical to preventing catastrophic equipment failures and minimizing downtime.
Best practices for cooling infrastructure are explored, including using refrigerant-based cooling instead of water-based solutions, eliminating hot spots and high heat densities, installing robust monitoring and management solutions, and implementing regular preventive maintenance and service visits.
However, you can implement a proactive strategy to mitigate these risks and improve availability by considering these six key strategies.
Regular assessments and performance optimization services can help identify vulnerabilities and create a plan tailored to your infrastructure and budget. By implementing these strategies, you can improve availability, reduce downtime risks, and gain a competitive edge.
Firstly, monitor batteries and implement a battery maintenance program that identifies system anomalies and trends end-of-life.
Secondly, consider monitoring software like Vertiv’s Data Center Planner to help identify battery problems before they impact operations.
Thirdly, consider lithium-ion batteries as they are smaller, lighter, and last longer while providing the power needed for critical loads.
Fourthly, use an integrated approach to optimize your infrastructure with Vertiv’s Liebert iCOM-S Thermal System Supervisory Control to match load demand.
Fifthly, keep the data center clean, perform preventative maintenance, and assess environmental threats to protect your infrastructure.
And lastly, implement and update policies and procedures regularly to ensure everyone is aware of common threats and how to respond to system failures.
