If your business has more than a handful of employees and more than a handful using computers to do their work, it’s clear you’re one of the many businesses heavily dependent on the use of their IT. Yet many don’t consider that said dependence can also be a vulnerability to the business. Where downtime is concerned, losing your tools, your data and your very means of doing can be more than a temporary dilemma. It can put your business in existential danger. So, here’s how you deal with that downtime.
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Always have a backup
Prevention is obviously the best method of dealing with any potential crisis. With your IT, it’s about making sure you always have another way to keep working, even if it’s at a reduced capacity. Having multiple backups for the most valuable of your data, both physically and in the Cloud, is a start. Having some kind of access for other devices to that data so people can work remotely or bring their devices into the workplace means that hardware failure can be worked around, too. If internet connectivity is crucial to the business, then you shouldn’t just rely on one provider for your connection. Finding local hotspots and other such alternative means of connecting to the net might be less cost-effective but they can ensure that you stay online when you need to.
Keep people in the loop
If you have a large team of workers scattered in different locations, your IT failures aren’t just going to affect you. If they have a need for certain data, they can get caught up short when they find it’s inaccessible. If you have work you need done but you’re unable to do it yourself, they could be the proxy by which you ensure that work is finished. Notification systems like those mentioned at https://www.alertmedia.com/emergency-notification-system can allow you to keep everyone informed. Not just those using the IT tools and systems you have in place, but those far away from it who might either be affected or might even be part of the solution.
Getting back on your feet
Preparation isn’t about mitigating the damage of downtime, but ensuring that you can get things running up as soon as possible. Disaster recovery plans like http://www.cio.com/article/3090892/disaster-recovery/8-ingredients-of-an-effective-disaster-recovery-plan.html are about looking at solving all potential causes of downtime and quickly sourcing what you need to get back to normal. A full inventory of hardware and software you need to use, with a list of contacts from IT support technicians to software vendors, can help you replace what’s missing, for instance. The plan also needs to include how and where to implement those backups when necessary and how to keep communication clear throughout the plan. If you use any outsourced IT firms, software providers, and data centers that your agreements with them include some level of service during such disasters.
As they say, fail to plan and you plan to fail. You could lose all your business’s data, from project plans to valuable customer details. You could be deprived of the tools you need right when you need them most. Protect your business from downtime.
