Security breaches, cyber-attacks and natural disasters can strike at any time. For businesses that rely on their server and data to perform their daily operations it’s important to have a proactive plan in place to completely avoid, or at least mitigate the damage. We call this plan business continuity, and in today’s digital age, it’s absolutely essential for survival.
What Is Business Continuity?
To put it simply, business continuity is a plan that enables a business to ensure that their security, core operations and daily functions are not disrupted due to unplanned events and disasters that can take their systems entirely offline. It’s a proactive disaster recovery strategy that includes managed security plans, cloud backup and other critical data backup and recovery tools.
While large corporations easily see the necessity of business continuity, smaller businesses are sometimes slower to catch on to importance, often thinking that they’ve done enough to protect their clients and their assets.
Business Continuity and Common Misconceptions
Business continuity planning is without question one of the most valuable elements of a strong strategy for data recovery. Most of know that the unexpected can happen at any moment, but we’re also programmed to think that it only happens to other businesses, or that we’re more prepared than we actually are. Unfortunately, this is a mindset that leaves many small and medium sized businesses exposed and vulnerable to the unlimited possibilities for disasters that could be lurking right around the corner.
There are some common misconceptions that businesses fall prey to when not developing a business continuity plan. For example, many businesses have a disaster recovery plan in place, and think business continuity is the same thing. While they’re closely related, business continuity is more about proactive measures that detail how to protect a business before, during and after disaster strikes.
Another common misconception is that insurance will cover the losses. Sure, insurance is important and will cover some of the expense, but insurance isn’t going to do anything to gain back trust, your reputation and the clients that invested in you.
Even if you think you already have a disaster and data recovery in place, business continuity provides an additional level of necessary security and support.
How Does Business Continuity Protect Businesses and Clients?
There are many layers to how business continuity protects your brand and your clients. For starters, business continuity ensures that there isn’t a breakdown in communication amidst a disaster, but also helps to open channels of communication between your business and clients, stakeholders, vendors and suppliers who have a vested interest in both your proactive approach and recovery plan.
Business continuity also establishes your brand as one that considers protecting its clients and their assets a top priority. A proactive mindset helps clients to establish trust and confidence in brands, which is especially important for smaller businesses.
Finally, business continuity helps businesses establish themselves and keep their footing in competitive markets. The right business continuity plan prevents loss of revenue, client churn and setbacks in development and innovations.
Data Recovery Services to Protect Your Growing Business
Don’t let excuses and misconceptions prevent you from protecting crucial data and assets in the event of a disaster. Contact Proactive IT, and discover how our business continuity services can provide you and your clients with peace of mind.