Nature is a fearsome beast. Floods, fires, earthquakes, tornadoes – the planet lets us know when she’s fed up, and it’s not a surprise given how we treat it. That’s a conversation for another blog, but if you are a business owner, one of the things that you need to have in your arsenal is a disaster recovery plan.
No matter the time of year, it is always best to be prepared.
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Without A Plan
Without one written specifically for you, you will struggle if there’s a natural disaster. A disaster recovery plan is standard if you work in an area prone to fire and flooding, but what about the bigger picture?
Are you planning for a disaster that could impact your small business?
What Is A Disaster Recovery Plan?
A disaster recovery plan (DRP) is a formal document created by an organization/business that contains detailed instructions on how to respond to unplanned incidents such as natural disasters, power outages, cyber-attacks, and any other disruptive events.
A Disaster Recovery Plan For Small Business
Are you prepared for tornadoes or earthquakes? No matter the crisis, you need to know how you plan to handle it, from the commercial roofing services you’ll use to repair the roof to what you will do if you lose all your equipment.
A disaster recovery plan isn’t just about money; it’s about equipment, people, and what happens to all of that.
A strategy in place early allows you to have a well-thought-out plan and ensures you don’t lose your business.
Here are the elements your strategy needs:
Think About Your Staff
While it’s important to keep your equipment and business premises as safe as possible, nothing is as important as having a plan for your people.
People are essential, and you should consider keeping them safe.
You want to be sure that your people will not be injured. Ensure you have a backup plan for people to work remotely, too.
Make Sure That You Have Jobs For Everyone to Recover
Coordinating jobs for your volunteers is vital for your business’s success with your disaster recovery plan. You need everyone in your business premises to be aware of the plan and get everyone to muck in.
When the entire organization pulls together, you can ensure that a natural disaster will not harm your business.
Everyone has individual needs, which means putting your employees at the top of your list.
Plan For Your Business’s Disaster Recovery Plan
Note that you have a plan for your staff. You need a plan for your business. That means knowing who your insurance provider is and what they can cover for you.
You should also ensure coverage for additional natural disasters. This will prioritize your business while not putting your people second.
Get Your Managers On Board
Your disaster recovery plan should also be known to all of your managers. They should each know which customers they’ll call if there is a delay in your business and production.
However, as a leader, you are going to have a lot on your plate as it is—make sure you’re not alone. Delegating to others is key to recovery. If you don’t have enough people for that, you may want to outsource during the recovery process.
Disaster Recovery Plan For Digital Property
With cyber-attacks on the rise, planning what to do with your digital files is time-consuming. There are four ways to store them:
- Complete Data Backup – the ability to restore all data quickly.
- Incremental Data Backup – minimal storage, and minimal time to backup.
- Differential Backup – eliminates the need to utilize full data backups routinely.
- Mirror Backup – fastest in terms of backup and restoration times.
Full Set Of Data
However, having a complete set of data stored off-site in case of a calamity at your office or business location is essential. You should also have 2-3 digital copies stored away for backup.
Having a small business lawyer may be a great way to keep that stored away for you.
How To Set Up Your Plan
The video below shows you step-by-step how to prepare your small biz. Furthermore, this video takes you step-by-step on how to build your recovery plan if and when disaster strikes your small business.
Your Turn
A disaster recovery plan is an excellent defense for your business – are you equipped? I’d love to hear about your plans if a disaster strikes your small business.
