The first question you'll ask yourself after disaster strikes your business: "now what?" The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimates that nearly 40% of businesses that go through major disasters never recover; only 29% are in operation after 2 years. Much like a fire or other emergency drill, it's important to start planning for the worst now so if it ever happens, you're prepared and know exactly what to do to get back on your feet. After all, it's better to be safe than sorry. But how exactly do you plan for the unplannable?
Information
Information is the most crucial part of developing a disaster recovery plan. In order to properly execute the plan efficiently, everybody on the team should be on-board and in-the-know about what to do and how to properly carry out their roles. Additionally, block out some time to go through your company's documents in order to know what the essentials are to your business. As you look at each of your documents, ask yourself, "if this were thrown into a fireplace right this second, how negatively would it affect me?" If that answer is "I'd lose the business", then BACK IT UP! Digitize it via scanning services and keep it stored off-site. This way, in the event of a disaster, your documents will be safe in a warehouse and you'll be able to immediately access them over the web. Start getting into a routine of backing up important information as you create or receive it, in order to save time.
Have a backup plan.
Evaluate your business' situation from an objective standpoint and identify where you might be susceptible to accidental, malicious and natural disasters. For example, if you're a bank, you have customers' and staff's most sensitive information stored -- identity theft may pose a larger threat to your institution comparatively than others, so securing them properly would be in your best interest. Evaluating where you're most vulnerable, documenting how various scenarios could play out and planning a response to those threats will help your business bounce back in no time.
The worst thing you can do is get caught off-guard with no plan in place. Taking some precautions and educating your team will help you avoid becoming part of the 40% that never recover. R4 Services is here to help you through every facet of document management. From disaster recovery services, to off-site storage and document shredding, we've got you covered. If you've been thinking about how to protect your bottom line, contact us to find out how we can help.
The worst thing you can do is get caught off-guard with no plan in place. Taking some precautions and educating your team will help you avoid becoming part of the 40% that never recover. R4 Services is here to help you through every facet of document management. From disaster recovery services, to off-site storage and document shredding, we've got you covered. If you've been thinking about how to protect your bottom line, contact us to find out how we can help.
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