Did you know a magnitude-2.3 earthquake struck parts of northern New Jersey Tuesday evening, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

This recent event, coupled with the incoming storm season serves as a reminder to have a Disaster Recover plan in place.  Developing a plan offers assurance to both employers and their team members.  Need some help?  Here are five things you can do now to begin preparations:

  • Inventory Assets
    Networks, data, equipment, technology, supplies, products, and facilities are just a few of the assets at risk during a hurricane. Threats include not only flooding and high winds, but gas shortages and power outages.  Identify the following assets now to prevent stress and headaches later:
    -Where are your assets located?
    -What kind of physical protection is available for each asset?
    -Which assets are critical to running the business?
    -Are these assets owned or insured?
    -What assets are leased and what is your responsibility if they are damaged?
  • Back Up Data and Test It
    This is a common practice often overlooked.  Ensure your data is backed up to an offsite location to safeguard against on-premises damage (flooding or fires can destroy on-site servers).  And, don’t assume your backup technology is working automatically. Take the time to recover information from the backup system to be sure you know both that it works and how to access critical information
  • Set Up Cloud Systems
    Disaster recovery is why cloud-based systems are the preferred choice by IT professionals. If you need to work from a different location, you want to be certain you can access key business systems and data from mobile devices. This may include payroll, CRM, and HR systems. If you haven’t converted such systems to the cloud, now is the time.
  • Develop a Solid Communication System
    Even if the internet is down due to a power outage, you should still be able to relay vital information to your team.  Make sure you have accurate contact information of your staff and determine an alternate means of connecting (such as a text message service or social media page).  Knowing how to reach your employees and vendors is a vital part of helping your business to quickly recover from a disaster.
  • Outline a Plan Now and Assign Tasks
    Prepare a plan ahead of time, so you can react and activate your catastrophic response team as soon as the storm leaves town.  Assign staff with specific tasks and communicate responsibilities to ensure they have the resources and technology needed.  Let everyone know who is on each team and who they can look to for specific information.

Need help setting up your Disaster Recovery Plan?  Contact a member of the BMT team.