Disaster can strike at any moment, and when it does it’s crucial to have a backup plan or a Business Continuity Plan that allows your business to continue operating as if it’s just another day. This means having the right infrastructure in place so you’re always up-to-date on information for those times when disaster strikes or something goes wrong with your IT systems like cyber terrorism, human error or power outages. You will be able to keep operating and serving customers without interruption if these are taken care of beforehand – but make sure not just anyone is doing this work!
Your Business Continuity Plan must be tested to check its efficiency. There are various methods for testing your continuity plan, which varies depending on the type of business and resources available as well as other factors such as location, suppliers, customers or employees. For example:
If you’re a small organization with few staff members then an informal test may suffice (such as sending internal emails) but it is still important that this process is first tested before any disaster strikes so everyone knows what they should do to keep things running smoothly without wasting time figuring out how best to respond if their own computer networks fail.
A company whose offices have been relocated can also set up remote backups by emailing files from one office laptop directly into another’s inbox in the case of an emergency such as a fire. This way, both staff can continue working from home and getting tasks completed.
A formal test should be conducted at least once a year and is more suited to larger organizations, that have trouble-shooters in place, that will handle continuity testing issues efficiently. Take into account if you are using third-party suppliers or vendors who have their own disaster recovery plans you will also need to consider how they can be used in place of your usual services if that is required.
A true test of your Business Continuity Plan will involve the cessation of normal daily operations, without warning, and everyone involved should know exactly what they should do when this happens (including employees) so your business doesn’t suffer because of a lack of communication during an event.
You may rely on software programs for testing your Business Continuity Plan, which may not require you to shut down your system for the test; instead, it would provide diagnostic procedures that can be used by IT staff members to quickly identify trouble areas and potential problems.
There are two types of testing: internal and external. An internal test is done to ensure that backups are functioning as they should be, while an external test is designed to assess how suppliers will function during a disaster situation.
This testing should be performed at least twice a year under normal conditions and more frequently in periods of high stress or increased business activity. Testing of your continuity plan should include all employees who have been trained for their assigned tasks, vendors and any other parties involved with the day-to-day operations of your business so there is no confusion during crises.
The importance of a Business Continuity Plan for your business cannot be understated and the team at Netlogyx are experts in the field and can provide you with the right advice for your situation.