Businesses Need Contingency Plans to Get Through Disasters

Disasters can happen when you least suspect them. Whether it’s a tornado that levels your office or an electrical failure which sparks a structural fire, a business-ending scenario could happen with little-to-no warning. You must be prepared to maintain operations even when it feels impossible, and part of this is being prepared to handle off-site operations.

By off-site operations, we essentially mean keeping your operations going when you cannot do so from the comfort of your business’ office. You can essentially break down your preparations for such work into two different categories: technology requirements and space requirements. Let’s go over how you can prepare for off-site operations should the need arise.

Technology Requirements

The biggest challenge you’ll encounter with your business’ off-site operations will likely be the technology requirements and ensuring that everyone has access to the resources they need to complete their daily tasks. In the event of a disaster that destroys your infrastructure, you’ll want to have a data backup and disaster recovery solution in place. Most BDR solutions allow you to restore directly to the device itself, allowing for quick access and minimal downtime in the event of a disaster.

However, this is only half the battle. You’ll want to ensure that your team also has access to devices that they need to access your business’ now-restored data infrastructure. This includes making sure they have the hardware (laptops, smartphones, etc.) to make use of the solutions and data you have backed up. In certain cases, you might be able to get away with your team using their own devices, at least in the short term. However, you still need to make sure they have the tools they need, like communications solutions and your productivity suite.

Space Requirements

The beauty of today’s technology is that it allows you to get work done from pretty much any location, provided you have the tools to make it happen. If you do want an off-site office location, we recommend that you find someplace temporary that will allow you to function in much the same way you would if you were in your home office, like a satellite location. However, you might find that it is simply more beneficial to allow your team to work from home during these difficult times. In this case, you don’t need to pay for any extra space—all you have to do is make sure they have the tools and technology they need to stay connected and productive while out of the office.

Computerware can help you acquire these tools and implement these solutions! To learn more, reach out to us at (703) 821-8200.