Preparing for the Big One
Posted By Rob Millard - 0 Comments -
Hurricane Katrina, 9/11, the 2004 Tsunamis and other recent catastrophes have brought home in no uncertain terms, how important disaster recovery is in any firm's strategy.
Herewith an article from the San Francisco Business Times about what businesses need to have done beforehand if they are to survive when (not if) another major earthquake strikes. The implications of neglecting this aspect of business anywhere that a major disaster can occur (which would include just about anywhere on the planet) could be fatal. When thinking through what eventualities the firm needs to be prepared for, both forseeable disasters and black swans need to be considered. (Black swans are major disruptive events that, by their very nature, are unforseeble. So they can be prepared for only in general terms.)
"Some law firms and courts in New Orleans, for example, had no backup for their paper records and files. As a result, some may never fully recover."
A disaster recover plan needs to go far beyond data backups, and "should include evacuation plans, workplace-security planning, the capacity to set up a temporary command post and alternative work sites and equipment, and backups for computer files, paper files and financial records."
Purchasing business-interruption insurance coverage and making other business-interruption plans is also crucial, especially for small businesses that tend to hope disasters will pass them by.
As always, comment is most welcome and may be posted below.
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