What Happens to Your Business When Disaster Strikes?

Many companies don't have a business continuity plan in place in the event that a disaster strikes.

What they don't realise is that unscheduled downtime can have a damaging effect on productivity but it can be avoided by having the right back up systems in place. If a server fails or your system becomes corrupted it's not easy to find a solution if you aren't already prepared. According to a recent AT & T survey, many more companies, including SMEs are starting to use cloud computing technology to add to their business continuity strategy.

Mobiles, including smartphones, are of key concern with 83% of executives, because of their potential impact on security. Of course there are a number of disasters that could bring your business to a halt.

The recent flooding in South West England is a prime example where businesses could have their infrastructure damaged leading to a significant loss of business.
It doesn't have to be something onsite like flooding or a fire, problems can be caused by power failures and server problems too.
Planning for the Unexpected There are a number of issues that will need addressing in the event of a disaster.

How do you keep your business going, contact customers, make sure orders are delivered or recover any lost data? Developing a business continuity plan before anything goes wrong will go a long way to ensuring that you are prepared and likely to be up and running again as soon as possible.

* Identify the systems that you need back in place to operate effectively.

* Make a list of who are your key personnel and how they can be contacted, including who has the capacity to work from home.

* Have a list of contractors and vendors as well utilities you may need to contact.
* What critical equipment do you need to keep your business going including the software of your IT infrastructure? * If you are coping with losing the entire infrastructure of your business, what are the critical documents that you need to start trading again? * Identify where you can get alternative equipment if you need it.

That doesn't just mean things like PCs but delivery trucks and even office space. * Make a how-to list with the people who are there to solve specific problems including how you get your IT infrastructure back in place. * Keep your business continuity plan together in one place and make sure everyone is aware of how to implement it. And finally, make sure your contingency plan up-to-date.
Things change, processes are added to your business as it develops and you need to be sure how you can get these back in place in the event of a disaster.
Protecting Your Data Keeping your data safe is one of the most important parts of a business continuity plan - without it you could be losing a good deal of your company's power to work. Having a reliable back-up in place can save a lot of time and money.
With new cloud-based technologies, it is now easier than ever to ensure that all your IT systems are protected and can be readily replaced.
M2 Computing uses Blaze, an innovative back-up and data recovery system that keeps your most important data safe and secure via the internet. Following a disaster Blaze can restore your systems, including files, software, user settings and more in as little as 60 minutes.
And because it is cost effective and very flexible, it is a great solution for small and medium sized businesses that want protection from any potential disaster, both large and small.