Introduction
Nowadays, companies are presented with a wide variety of options for network structures, which are made with different intentions for a multitude of outcomes. There are numerous risk factors that firms have to accommodate in their digital environments, such as system overloads, cyberattacks, disasters, and similar disruptions (Sahoo et al., 2021). Starbucks, which operates in numerous countries worldwide, needs to be prepared for all scenarios that may affect its networks. Many options are available on the market, yet company-specific aspects must be considered when making such a decision.
Disasters and Cyberattacks
In the digital era, information security has become the primary objective for many firms that handle sensitive data. Malicious agents may access networks both physically and online, which requires a company to protect its servers in the real world as well as in the digital space. In addition to cyberattacks, disasters, such as fires and floods, can erase vital information without a chance to recover it (Baltzan, 2021). Starbucks must increase its security with the help of modern technological tools that not only respond to such incidents but also prevent them from occurring.
Cybersecurity Options
Centralization vs. Decentralized Networks
When all the firm’s data is located in a single place, there is a multitude of threats that can ruin its servers. However, the benefits of a centralized system present an opportunity to access information quickly and install new hardware with ease, which suits smaller businesses (Burger et al., 2019). Starbucks can not rely on a single information storage, as such locations are too vulnerable to disasters and cyberattacks. Distributed networks may be slower to respond, yet they are more flexible. The firm needs to alter the capacity of its systems by requesting new hardware to be connected to its framework, which is possible in a distributed environment.
Replication
Replication mechanisms provide data integrity through instantaneous or asynchronous copying of all files and changes in a system into a second location (Preston, 2021). Unlike backups, replications enable firms to preserve information almost without any losses, which is viable in disaster situations. However, a malicious change could be copied to a location with replicas, corrupting both sources. Therefore, Starbucks should avoid this method in its networks, as it opens up a greater possibility of disruptions.
Backups
Backups are timed operations that create a copy of a system’s files in a different location. These duplicates must be retrieved, and a recovery process might take a long time, yet backups are a safe alternative to replication (Preston, 2021). Eventually, backups consume a significant amount of disk space, yet they are beneficial for large companies. This approach allows Starbucks to store multiple copies of data, which can be slightly outdated yet remain uncorrupted.
Network Redundancy
Networks may incorporate non-optimal processes that do not benefit companies immediately. For example, backups can be made in several copies, while schedules for checks can be made in rapid succession. These factors enable firms to avoid possible system failures that stem from occasional bugs or network lag (Preston, 2021). Starbucks must employ such tools to ensure greater security of its systems, despite the lack of instant positive effects.
Application of Recommendations
While the listed recommendations benefit the company in different ways, each does not fully cover the potential damage. Therefore, each decision must consider both the financial and logistical aspects of Starbucks’ operations. For example, backups and redundancies increase expenditures, yet they also reduce recovery costs. A decentralized system can also incur additional fees, although it increases the network’s flexibility. The risks of such a framework are minimal, while it neutralizes the majority of threats.
Conclusion
Starbucks needs to utilize a decentralized network structure that creates recovery points through backups, as this method is the most suitable option for a multinational business. By using such a framework, most of the threats can be prevented, and any damage can be avoided through system recovery points. This plan provides a solid foundation for any large-scale operations and allows future alterations.
References
Baltzan, P. (2021). ISE M: Information systems. McGraw-Hill.
Burger, S. P., Jenkins, J. D., Huntington, S. C., & Perez-Arriaga, I. J. (2019). Why distributed?: A critical review of the tradeoffs between centralized and decentralized resources. IEEE Power and Energy Magazine, 17(2), 16- 24. Web.
Hamadah, S., & Aqel, D. (2019). A proposed virtual private cloud-based disaster recovery strategy. 2019 IEEE Jordan International Joint Conference on Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (JEEIT). Web.
Preston, W. C. (2021). Modern data protection: Ensuring recoverability of all modern workloads. O’Reilly Media.
Sahoo, K. S., Sahoo, B., & Mishra, B. K. (2021). Software-defined networking for future internet technology: Concepts and applications. Apple Academic Press.