Disaster recovery preparedness is the key to implementing a disaster recovery plan successfully. And of course one key part of that is the data we all have stored on computer and in the filing cabinet. Creating data backups is absolutely vital and yet only one component of a disaster recovery plan. The other component is to ask whether you keep the data you've backed up off-site?

Because if you're hit with a flood or a fire wipes out your building you're not going to be able to get in to get your backups. And natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and fires are no respecter of territory and may also invade your house where you've the most vital backups stored. In which case the key to recovery is to buy a tough, watertight box that can take a lot of punishment.

It's also important that you can see it in the murk as it could be under water, rubble or in the dark - because the power is off. The best colour to see in bad conditions is not white as everyone thinks but yellow. So a strong yellow box is going to stand out, stand up to punishment and stand one of the best chances of keeping your stuff together.

The other thing to think about is whether you've a computer to restore your data to so that you can get back up and running very quickly. To reduce the risk you could have a computer at the home of a key employee ready to run your key systems - such as accounting and customer relationship and email systems on. And finally, how do you know the plan will work and demonstrate your disaster preparedness to your company?

Rehearsal. Yes you need to rehearse the disaster recovery plan and make sure you really can work from the box on the key employee's computer after a disaster.

Andy Gray is an expert disaster recovery specialist who's been where terrorists bombs have, major fires and is involved on a number of high profile disaster recovery committees in the UK. Check his blog at http://disaster-recovery.manchester-blog.com/disaster-recovery/ for other useful tips.

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