Business Continuity Training Helps Entire Communities Rebuild
The news is full of terrifying things. Between terrorist attacks and powerful storm systems there always seems to be somewhere in the world in need of aid. The rebuilding community is showered with support and well-wishes as the focus is on families in crisis. One unmentioned victim is the business community. Too often, for services to be returned to the area, many people have to be at work to make it happen. The ability to call for help and receive much-needed updates depends on the efforts of the phone company, internet providers and cable television companies. Places people receive things they need or go for emergency services or shelter, such as hospitals, schools and grocery stores, have to be able to overcome the crisis quickly. Don’t think of it as “business as usual” despite the problems, think of it as being a part of the solution by being able to weather the problems without becoming yet another victim.
Regardless of outside circumstances, key functions of business have to remain operational and the best way to do so is to implement standards in everyday practice rather than scrambling when the problem presents itself. Employee training is a part of the process, as is having both on and off site back up systems for important information and software. Once the system is in place, the business should be able to survive just about anything, from local power problems to hardware failures.
The steps needed to reestablish basic functions after a disaster, called disaster recovery, is only part of the planning process. A disaster can be an act of nature or something man made, from a tornado to a terrorist attack. While disaster recovery focuses on continuing the key functions of business, work area recovery specifically deals with the challenges of losing the physical building where work was once conducted. Both are covered in crisis management through a business continuity training program.
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Business continuity planning might include an off-site secure server that employees can access with a password even if they can’t get into their usual work facility. If employees do not need specialized equipment and can access the needed software and files from any computer, it is possible for business to resume from any location that can supply power for the laptops. If a fire destroyed the entire building complete with all equipment inside, the next day key personnel could work from a safe location and still access everything they needed to keep the business functional.
Short Course on Business – What You Should Know
To stay functional, it is necessary that businesses brace themselves for the unpredictability of the world. While the world focuses on restoring order, helping families find shelter, medical aid and other necessities, the businesses have to take care of themselves. The necessary relief is only possible if the businesses needed are unaffected by the disaster, and every business depends on others in an interconnected web. No matter how unconnected it may seem, businesses provide services to other businesses to support the key players in the restoration efforts. Investing in business continuity training is an investment in the community, ensuring that each business can be there to help reestablish the needed services as soon as possible.