How to disaster proof your business
Then, think about how your business should operate after an incident as devastating as in those areas. Well, you might not be able to operate right away because of a lot of problems; but if you have preparations in place, you might be able to operate it sooner than you think you can.
The world is fraught with dangers. It is a reality that we all have to accept. We constantly live threatened by both natural and human made hazards. These hazards can be devastating or small enough to cause some minor inconvenience but in both instances, your business should be able to operate within a given time frame.
Ask yourself this question: If a disaster were to strike your area tomorrow, how soon could you operate your business? The answer to the question depends on your business continuity plan.
Meanwhile it is not easy to develop the continuity plan of your business because there are a lot of assumptions that you have to consider. There are however, some simple steps to make it easier for you to start your plan. Follow these steps to develop your own business continuity plan.
1. Know the hazards in your area – Are you leaving near a fault line or a flood prone area? Even if you have not experienced these hazards before, it does not mean that they do not exist. Careful investigation might reveal that your area used to be part of a swampland. Your national seismic office can provide you with maps of fault lines that might affect your area of operation. Never assume that you already know. Investigate and find out about the hazards.
2. Conduct a business impact analysis – Identify the operations that are crucial to your business’s survival and subsequent recovery. This could include functions like accounting, customer relations, payroll, facilities, etc.
3. Back up your files – This point cannot be overemphasized. You have to back up everything whether soft or hard. A flooding in your area can wipe away all your creditor files. A system malfunction can delete all online orders. Be safe. Backup all files.
In all of these things, it is important that your management or your teams buy in to the plan. This can be done by making them a part of the scheme of things. Involve all of them from the start so there is ownership. Publicize your plan or do poster printing outputs outlining the role of each and everyone. This is important, because you would rely on these people if and when a disaster strikes.
