A single storm could wash away your years of hard work. One cyberattack could steal your dreams. And if you do not act now, you could be powerless to stop it. After a natural disaster, 25 percent of businesses never open again, while 60 percent of small businesses fail after a cyberattack. What many of them have in common? A failure to plan ahead for the worst-case scenario.

Whether you fear a natural disaster or a human-made crisis, disaster-proofing your business is the most tried and true way to make sure you can get through it with your data and your company intact. Here are 7 steps you can take right now to fortify your business against any emergency.

Keep (multiple) lines of communication open

When a storm wipes out power or a cyberattack shuts down your website and email, how do you stay in touch with clients and employees? Answer that question now, and you can keep communication flowing during a crisis in the future.

The key to keeping the lines of communication open during an emergency is to use many different channels. Include email, texting, and social media in your communication plan. In an emergency, chances are high that at least one channel will be available, even if others are offline.

Keep contact information current

In order to quickly reach out to the right people, you need to keep a list of current contact information for everyone you will need to talk to during an emergency. You should also create, write down, and educate stakeholders on clear communication protocols. When everyone knows what to do and possesses the tools to talk to each other, your business is able to quickly share information throughout any crisis.

Lock down critical data and records

 

If you do not have data, you do not have a business. Water or fire can consume physical records, while hackers can eat away at your digital data. Put your important information out of their reach to keep your New Jersey business safe in any emergency. Here are some tips for locking down critical data and records BEFORE disaster steals them.

• Back up documents regularly.
• Store physical duplicates off-site.
• Store digital duplicates on the cloud.
• Secure key documents (e.g. Tax returns, deeds, titles, insurance policies) in waterproof and fireproof safes.
• Take pictures or videos of high-value documents and equipment for easier disaster recovery.

Fortify digital data with IT and data recovery defenses

Every hour of downtime could cost your business thousands. Stop it before it starts with modern, state-of-the-art IT and data recovery defenses. Here are some of the bricks in an impenetrable digital defense.

• Modernize your IT infrastructure to protect your company’s hardware, software, and data.
• Implement state-of-the-art security measures.
• Follow current best practices for disaster prevention and recovery.
• Train employees on data protection and disaster recovery procedures.
• Implement protocols for backing up data, recognizing cyber threats, and executing disaster recovery plans.
• Regularly test your disaster recovery plan.
• Identify and correct any weaknesses in the plan.

Know your financial relief options

In the aftermath of a disaster, you have to have financial stability. Do not spend time looking for financial relief options. Educate yourself about them before the crisis hits. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

• Learn how to file insurance claims.
• Collect and secure important documents.
• Create a list of low-interest disaster recovery loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA).
• Learn how to apply for tax relief.

Plan to be an open book

Effective communication is critical in the aftermath of a disaster. Plan to maintain open channels with both employees and customers, keeping them informed about the recovery process. This transparency helps build trust during an uncertain time.

Reassuring employees about the company’s plans to resume operations is just as important. That means you must first have a plan and then be able to communicate it. Knowing that you have a plan that you are actively implementing can help them feel safer during the upheaval of a crisis. Set yourself up now as an honest, straightforward business, and maintain that reputation to gain that most important element in business success: Trust.

Go with the flow

Adapting to the changes in the business environment post-disaster is important for a swift recovery. Implementing flexible strategies and resuming operations in a limited capacity, if necessary, can help stabilize your business, and customers’ faith in you.

Having a plan can give you structure to guide and stabilize your business after a disaster. Flexibility can help you navigate the obstacles, and changes, that often accompany these crises. Together, a plan and flexibility give you the resilience your business needs to keep you and your customers safe.

Protect your New Jersey business from unexpected disasters with our expert guidance! At SPOT On Tech, we understand the operational risks you face and are here to help. Contact us to learn how.