How To Disaster-Proof Your Business

Entrepreneurs think they are ready for the worst but don’t account for natural disasters. You need to make hay while the sun shines, which is why you never see the bad times coming. Suddenly, the weather hits or a freak incident causes a fire to break out and your business is in deep trouble.

Without the right safeguards in place, the organization you built might crumble to the ground and cease to exist. It only takes a couple of documents to be destroyed along with hardware and software for this to happen.

Thankfully, you can prevent it from happening if you are proactive. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

 

#1 Spread The Word

As soon as everyone understands the situation, you can attempt to limit the damage. First and foremost, you can get everybody to safety so that there aren’t hurt.

Secondly, you might be able to salvage documents and sensitive data before you leave. Telling the emergency services in time is often the difference. A bulk text message system is the perfect tool to ensure the whole company is on the same page.

Simply type a generic message and send it to your contacts and spread the word with advice and tips on how to act.

 

#2 Protect Your Data

Because evacuation is the primary concern, there is often no time to go back for files and laptops. As a result, they can burn up in a fire or drown in flood and the company is back to square one.

Protecting your data is the key, and the easiest way to do it is to upload important files to a private cloud server. Or, you can move them off-site so that any disaster which affects your premises doesn’t harm your information banks.

Some bosses like to install fireproof, waterproof and cushion-proof cabinets for extra protection.

 

#3 Invest In Stand-Alone Equipment

When there is a problem with the grid, everything that is connected to your power lines won’t work. So, it’s essential to have a piece of equipment that stands on its own and powers the business during an outage.

A backup generator is an obvious yet crucial piece of kit because it ticks all the boxes; however, choosing one isn’t easy. A good tip is to opt for a small generator that can power the essentials.

That way, you’ll be able to complete the most important tasks and keep the company running.

 

#4 Find A Replacement Office

If your replacement is irreparably damaged, you’ll need a new place to work while the insurance company picks up the tab. The best thing to do is to hire a trailer and deck it out with tables, chairs and a WiFi router.

Vans are quite cheap to lease compared to the cost of not fulfilling orders for months, and they are portable. So, if another disaster hits, you can move to a new location and ensure you’re out of the firing zone.

Do you do enough to disaster-proof your business?