IT Disaster Prevention

3. Setting Up Your System

3.1 Design your network with disaster prevention in mind.

• Isolate any sensitive areas of the system (eg accounts).
• Install recognised anti-virus software, and update it daily using patches from the manufacturer's website.
• Use surge protectors or uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). Set up a UPS to shut down your server automatically if the power fails.
• If your system is connected to the Internet, you should install a firewall. See Security and the Internet.
• Maintain a list of each PC's configuration settings to make replacing or reinstalling your system easier.
• Consider installing a RAID system of multiple hard disks to keep key systems running if one hard disk fails.

3.2 Install and configure software carefully.

• Ban employees from installing unnecessary software, which could slow your system down or carry viruses.
• Check new software does not conflict with any other software you use. As a minimum, read the software's 'readme' file before installation.
• Restrict installation and configuration to approved (if possible, expert) personnel. You should have no major problems with software pre-installed by a reputable supplier.
• Configure software consistently across your system.
• Run the same versions of software on all computers to ensure files are compatible.

3.3 Set up a logical filing structure (see Filing and records management). This should:

• Allow employees to find data quickly.
• Make it easy to save files correctly. Otherwise, different versions of files could be stored in different locations, with no one knowing which one is correct.
• Prevent any unauthorised access and amendments to key information.