Disasters can completely catch your business off guard, and when they do you’ll have a hard time trying to get your network systems and servers back in order. It’s vital to have a business continuity plan (BCP) in place to ensure your company can continuously operate and deliver products or services even in the face of catastrophes.
What does a business continuity plan entail?
A business continuity plan provides a clear outline of all the emergency processes that you need to follow during and after a crisis, challenge, or disaster. A good BCP should take into account not just identified risks, but the possibility of unexpected ones too. It should list critical resources your staff will need access to if a cyberattack, hack or natural disaster brings your business to a halt.
Many companies hesitate to invest in a BCP simply because of the perceived costs and hassles involved. We won’t deny that creating a continuity plan is usually on the complex side, but there are plenty of good reasons as to why your company should adopt one.
Decreased downtime
This is perhaps the most obvious benefit of a business continuity plan. From fires to floods and theft to vandalism, there are countless disasters you might face, and they all could bring your business to an immediate halt. Without an effective BCP, you have to figure out what to do when that moment strikes. However, if you have a plan in place, you can execute what needs to be done right away by following the predefined procedures, allowing your business to resume processes within minutes.
Client confidence
First impressions matter, especially during a crisis. When your company can’t serve its clients, for example because of an unplanned network or power outage, your customers will quickly decide to take their business elsewhere.
Because a successful BCP will keep your operations up and running, you’ll be able to keep hold of your loyal customers and even continue to acquire new ones, especially if your competitors do not have a business continuity plan in place and are affected by the same disaster.
Staff confidence
A BCP not only instills confidence in your clients, but also in your employees. By educating your team on how to respond to difficult IT situations, you can eliminate the intangible costs associated with panic. Your staff will become more adept at coping with daily disruptions and learning to automatically assess the risks associated with minor incidents like computer crashes, and maneuver the situation with composure.
Better communication
Creating a successful BCP involves company-wide communication. For many businesses, there are tremendous gaps between team members and departments that don't normally work together on a regular basis. If your staff know how to communicate what needs to be done, effects of the disaster will be minimized.
There are several aspects to consider when designing and implementing a BCP and it can be hard to know where to start, so why not talk to the team at USWired? We have a wealth of experience in business continuity planning and offer superior backup solutions that will give your company the best chances of survival during a disaster.
