Protect Your Company’s Data from Disaster. Create an IT Disaster Recovery Plan Today.
Modern businesses handle huge volumes of electronic data every day. It is easy, convenient, and environmentally conscious to store records electronically, use technologies like VoIP and digital signage in lieu of traditional mediums, and depend on teleconferencing to keep business going strong. Since some kind of computing is necessary to complete most tasks these days, data and data equipment needs to be secure in the event of a natural disaster. Is your company prepared for the worst?
In the wake of the Hurricane Sandy, all business owners should step back and evaluate the security of their company’s technology. When a natural disaster hits, be it a flood, a hurricane, a tornado, or an earthquake, your electronic information and technical components can be particularly vulnerable. What steps can you take to protect your data before calamity strikes? First, establish a protocol. FEMA recommends that all businesses create an IT disaster recovery plan by following a few smart steps:
- Compile an inventory of all hardware. This includes employee laptops and desktops, servers, phone system components and wireless devices.
- Similarly, take an inventory of all software applications and data.
- Periodically BACK UP all software and electronic data either on an external drive stored offsite, or on an external network/server.
- Carefully note the most critical hardware, software programs, and connectivity components of your IT arsenal and make sure that those items can be restored if they are compromised by a catastrophic weather event. This is where good business insurance comes in.
The kind of protocol you establish for your company and the type of business insurance you purchase are contingent upon the natural disasters likely to happen in your area. If your business is located on a hill in a high-altitude region, you probably don’t need extensive flood insurance. But if located in an area prone to flooding, buy that insurance and make it company policy to place IT equipment above even aggressive estimated flood levels.
You can prevent many of the stressful and costly effects of natural disasters on your business and the technology that helps it run with careful forethought and some practical preparation. Keep your data safe and secure by taking the time to back it up in a way that makes sense and minimizes risk. Review your company’s existing insurance policies and make sure that they cover your critical IT components. Last but not least, depend on IT professionals with sharp expertise to help you develop the best protocol for protecting your data and data equipment. Call BCS Voice and Data Solutions today at 757-497-3100 to schedule an IT needs analysis with one of our professionals. We will help you prepare your vital data and technology for any emergency and advise you as to best IT practices for your business. Let us provide you with intelligent solutions.
If Hurricane Sandy hurt your small business, refer to this article from Forbes.com for details on where you can find assistance to get your company back on its feet.