A higher number of applications and data are being handled virtually, leading to many companies having to update their disaster recovery plans, it is claimed.

Online information management resource idm.net.au makes its comments following research by Symantec which revealed almost one-third of Australian firms have been forced to use their disaster recovery strategies following computer failure.

The website urges firms not to view their plans as documents "collecting dust" but to update them to ensure they are prepared for disaster.

"Since human error is one of the greatest problem hindering successful recoveries, organisations should look to automation that will speed recovery and reduce errors and reliance on personnel," it adds.

Earlier this month, Empirix, in partnership with DMG Consulting, questioned a number of call centres and found many lack sufficient disaster recover plans.

Just 37 per cent of the 200 it questioned were confident they could cope with a business disruption without it affecting their customers.

New research from Connect found that, on average, it takes businesses that use backup tapes take 11.6 hours to retrieve and restore files. Connect is now recommending that SMEs switch to www.connect.co.uk/services/online_backup