Poor attempts at asset management are hindering disaster recovery plans, it is claimed.

Karen Conneely, group commercial manager of Real Asset Management, says firms need a true picture of their assets in order to protect what they own.

"Without excellent, up to date information about asset type, value and location, how can an organization feel confident in its business continuity investment?" the expert questions.

Furthermore, she believes business continuity is an integral part of businesses in the 21st century, adding that investments need to reflect the need for control over asset information.

Success may come from co-ordinating asset register recordings in finance departments and inventory lists used by the organisation as a whole, the expert adds.

A survey of small and medium-sized enterprises carried-out for the Finance and Leasing Association by the Open University Business School reveals that 71 per cent of London firms suffered falling or stagnant sales in the fourth quarter of 2008.

A recent survey for Connect found that one in ten companies has lost important data as a result of a backup failure. The company has now developed a unique online backup service - http://www.connect.co.uk/services/online_backup – for SMEs to ensure they can survive any disaster.