Is there one thing we can count on in 2020 and beyond, it's that the situation can change in an instant. You may have been confident in your business continuity plans in the past, but what about now? Here's your reminder to review your plans to get back to business quickly and seamlessly.
A good business continuity plan ensures maintained operations before and during unexpected disruptions. Generally, decision-makers strategize in advance to ride out:
- Natural/Man-made disasters
- National emergencies
- Utility failures
- Sabotage
- Data breaches or cybersecurity attack
- Theft
These could impact a system or network or prevent you accessing your location to get to your computers and important data. You can go ahead and add "Global Pandemic" to this list as well now. Something many business owners didn't have very high up or even listed at all.
Preparing for the unexpected
The goal of a business continuity plan is to anticipate the worst that could happen. While we never really know what that next "worst thing" will be, we can determine what data and infrastructure is absolutely necessary and how best to ensure it's availability. You may not ever need to use your plan, but taking a "these things only happen to other businesses" point of view could leave you in a serious bind as many businesses discovered over the last few months.
It's better to get your decision-makers around the table (physically or virtually) now, while things are working. Most people think more clearly when not in the midst of a crisis. So, be proactive. Plan now for the worst. You can weigh up options at leisure, and look at the various what-ifs to determine the best plan of attack.
Use the past and the present
Look back at what worked and what didn't during the COVID-19-related disruptions. This review can provide real insight into opportunities, and you'll be even better prepared in the future. Also important is to look at other companies both in your industry and those similar to it. While you don't want to take the attitude that problems only happen to other companies, looking at the problems other companies have had can provide important insights for things to prepare for.
Work with an IT partner to cover your bases
Putting together a comprehensive business continuity plan can be a daunting but necessary task for all businesses. We help businesses in a variety of industries cover their bases in an efficient and cost-effective manner to help ensure when the worst happens you can continue operating. If you'd like some help putting together a solution, we're here to help.