One of the things we often post about on our blog is the need to be prepared for both technology disruptions and changing business conditions. In the past couple of months, most of America has endured some form of both.
At a time when many of us are just catching up to the realities of work under quarantine, though, it’s important to remember that even bigger disasters might be lurking just around the corner.
With much of the business world (understandably) focused on the economic effects of the pandemic, some are overlooking other realities on the calendar. In fact, this is the time of year when we would normally be busy working with our clients to prepare them for the threats posed by hurricanes, tornadoes, and even earthquakes or other natural disasters.
Is your business prepared for the kinds of disruption and data loss that can occur if nature strikes at an inopportune time? Would you be able to recover if you suddenly lost access to client files or communications?
If thinking about any of these questions puts a pit in your stomach, here are some steps you can take today to get the protection you need…
Put Your Backup Strategy in Place
You should always have extra copies of your most important files and applications. That way, even if something happens to your physical hardware (like computers or tablets) you can access the records and information you need.
Ideally, you’ll want this data stored on a remote server that’s located somewhere away from your office. You’ll also want to ensure the files are password-protected and kept up-to-date by refreshing them regularly.
Create a Plan to Restore Operations
Having the right backup files stored in a secure location doesn’t mean anything if you can’t get to them when it matters. That’s why the second component of your coverage has to include a recovery plan that outlines procedures, access to equipment, and other details.
This doesn’t have to be a complicated document. It should be more like a flowchart that tells you and your employees what to do in certain situations, such as an office fire or cyberattack. Then you’ll have a common sense strategy to follow instead of making decisions when you’re panicked.
Think Through the “What ifs”
You can never truly anticipate what life is going to throw at you. After all, how many people thought the pandemic was around the corner when we turned the calendar to 2020? What you can do, though, is look for logical gaps in your strategy.
For instance, we certainly weren’t warning our clients about Covid-19 a few months ago. However, we were telling them to be flexible, make sure employees could access data remotely, and to make backup copies of crucial files. That’s because those are good ways to prepare your business for the unknown, even if you don’t know what it will look like.
Fantastic IT Can Help with Backup and Disaster Recovery Planning
Planning for disasters and data loss can seem overwhelming, but it’s a simple process if you’ve gone through the exercise hundreds of times in the past. That’s why we encourage you to reach out to our team for a free consultation today. In just a couple of hours we can show you how to save money, prepare for hurricanes and other disasters, and sleep better at night knowing you’re protected.