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Are you prepared for a hurricane, flood, fire, power grid assault, or cyberattack?
If the answer is no, implement these 11 steps to create a property restoration and business continuity plans ensure your company will survive a major disaster.
Understanding the differences between disaster restoration and business continuity plans is the first, and most important step, in the process. Companies that can provide services in both areas are unique and worth their investment.
Disaster restoration plans include all the activities involved in getting important infrastructure and operations up and running following a disaster.
Business continuity plans the disaster restoration further and encompasses the activities that businesses back to full functionality after the initial crisis has passed.
2. In the immediate aftermath, the disaster restoration plan outlines the process to assess the damage to the physical structures and to the humans affected by it.
3. Disaster restoration plans should be in place, before disaster strikes, to ensure that they are available when needed.
4. Phase your property restoration plan to focus on key infrastructure first, as more resources become available, focus on other areas.
5. Communication plans for the immediate aftermath are crucial. Who will contact employees, subcontractors, vendors, and customers?
The disaster restoration is, however, only 1 part of the entire business contingency plan.
6. Business continuity plans must include, at a minimum, 1 backup of key systems. If only one system is used it should be located at a different physical location than the main office. The systems must be able to be accessed by all key personnel in a timely manner after the disaster.
7. Business continuity plans must be continually tested and practiced so that implementation is seamless when it is put into action.
8. Roles must be clearly defined, and redundant. Communication avenues and trees must also be discussed prior to the disaster. Will sales reps work from home, or from another remote location, who will make those decisions?
9. What is the process to contact customers and who will make the key decisions on when to begin supporting them?
10. A Business impact analysis is also part of the business contingency plan and determines the cost impact of a sudden business loss. Ideally, you would plan for these costs in advance as well.
11. Share your plan with your employees, subcontractors, and vendors. Human capital is vital to the success of all businesses. The more informed, the more they can support the recovery process.
Begin by identifying the scope, key business areas, and critical functions needed in your business and in your unique plan. Where do business dependencies exist? Finally, what is, an acceptable downtime for each critical function? Review and improve your plan to ensure its success.
Contact us and our regional offices can help you with the disaster restoration and business continuity planning necessary to insulate your company.
