When disaster threatens, business
management is faced with one question above many, ?Should our doors remain open
or should we temporarily close?? The question is most easily answered by
whether or not your business is prepared for an emergency in advance.
Disasters can strike at any time. Fires,
hurricanes, floods, acts of terrorism or utility outages could cause a business
to relocate, cease operation temporarily or even close its doors indefinitely.
Protecting your information technology in Houston can be a daunting task.
According to research firm IDC,
approximately 60% of small businesses fail to back up data regularly and as
much as 80% of all backups have a portion of data that is not restorable. For
business owners, backing up data is a top priority when the loss of important
files and information could debilitate operations for months, even years. In
fact, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 43% of businesses that close
following a natural disaster never reopen.
Hardware and software can be replaced; the
real risk to your business is interrupted access ? even momentarily ? to
critical data. How prepared you are to face these challenges before a disaster
strikes can determine the fate of your business.
Houston e-Retailer Shines through
Hurricane Rita
For Debi Wexler, CEO of an upscale diamond e-retailer based in
Houston- the decision to ?stay or go? was simple:
?We couldn?t afford to close the
business,? Debi said. ?As an e-retailer, our business isn?t confined to the
Gulf Coast. We have orders and inquiries coming in from every corner of the
globe, 24 hours a day.? So Debi designated all personnel to safer locations and
maintained normal business activities remotely.
Debi, a customer of ours, has grown
accustomed to depending on our IsUtility? system, a fully-managed Houston IT
outsourcing solution. With it, ?s interoffice communication and collaboration
between sales and management went as smoothly as when all departments sat under
one roof.
?I?ve been in this industry for over 10
years, and if you?re not available to process an order or respond to inquiry,
someone else will be. As an e-retailer, I can?t wait weeks or months to
retrieve hard data if something should happen to my system,? Debi clarified.
?Loss of data could put me out of business. Even a day?s worth of lost
productivity can set us back. Throughout Rita, and now Ike, my workforce worked
under one virtual roof without missing a beat.?
Take a moment to consider what this could
mean for your business. What if all of your important data was lost in an
instant? How long would it take you to get your business up and running again?
If you?re responsible for your
organization?s IT system, an emergency preparedness plan is the only way your
business can survive the fury of what may happen during hurricane season.
For any business interruption, every
minute of downtime - planned or unplanned - costs a business more than just
thousands or millions of dollars. It can also cost you the confidence of those
who depend on that business - customers, suppliers and business partners.
Hurricane seasons of the past five years only reinforce the importance of
disaster recovery in Houston.
Key components of an emergency
preparedness plan should include:
1. Records. First, determine the critical
components of your business. Keep detailed notes on everything you do and what
you rely on, such as data, electricity, phones, the Internet. Then make
contingency plans for every aspect. If you outsource your IT function, have
your IT consultant to assist you with this.
2. Business Information. The quicker you
can access your data, the quicker you can restart your business after a
disaster, especially if you have to work from another location. In a disaster,
you?ll receive insurance or federal funds much more quickly if you have your
records accessible. Your data should be stored in a secure central location so
that your employees can operate no matter where they?re located. This allows
you to keep track of employee activities, retain customers and receive quicker
assistance.
3. Backup Data Files. Although backups
should be part of regular procedures, a separate full backup of your critical
data should be performed before your business closes in response to a hurricane
threat. It is crucial at this time that a copy of this backup be moved to a
secure location an appropriate distance away in order to avoid the possibility
that a hurricane would affect both locations. While many Houston IT consulting
providers offer remote data backup, the key to a successful plan is how quickly
you can restore the data. The difference between a backup and a ?good? backup
can save your business, so be sure to test your backups for verification.
4. Computer Storage. As a last step, your
computer should be shut down properly and unplugged from the wall outlet. Do
the same for the monitor and all peripherals such as printers, scanners and
speakers. Move the computer and peripherals away from windows and doors towards
the center of the room. The equipment should be supported securely at least two
feet from the floor and covered with plastic sheeting.
5. Power. For each vital piece of business
equipment, purchase auxiliary generators. For data, you can purchase
inexpensive backup power supplies to give you about a half hour of extra power
for computers.
6. Safety. In a disaster, the most
important thing is physical safety. Keep flashlights and fresh batteries on
hand. Develop evacuation plans; know how to exit your building in the dark or
in a fire. Keep a supply of fresh water in case you have to stay in your office
or store for hours. Get names and numbers from every employee of whom to
contact.
7. Alternative suppliers. Remember, a
disaster elsewhere can be a disaster for you if your critical vendors become
unavailable. Develop a list of suppliers in other parts of the country ? or
world ? for back up
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