Preparing for Disaster
For years I have observed firms wrestle with the development of disaster recovery and business continuation plans. IT professionals spend countless hours developing a reasonable strategy—and partners vote to do literally nothing rather than fund the project. The time has come for firm owners to recognize that business continuity is not an IT responsibility—but rather one that rests with management.
Many firms have been tested by disaster recovery during the past few years —and some have experienced significant losses. Forty-three percent of businesses that experience a disaster and do not have a sound recovery plan close for good. That figure rises to over 60 percent a year after the disaster.
Hurricane Katrina’s devastation was apparent to all, as were recent blackouts in the northeast. How about other disasters such as fire, theft, floods, lightning, pandemics and tornados? Is your firm protected?
Your answer is probably, “Sort of”—at best. You may have data backed up remotely; but what about personnel issues, phone systems, Internet access and alternative power resources? Most people think about hardware and software when considering disaster planning, but those who have experienced disasters understand that technology is back to work much earlier than people (especially from an emotional standpoint).
What can a firm do?
How can a firm afford to protect itself? Whose responsibility is business continuation? Partners who resist paying for protection are generally those who complain the loudest when an interruption occurs.
There is a reasonable answer to these questions—one that even the smallest of firms can afford. Firms can protect themselves against unforeseen risks and put the pieces of the puzzle together with haste. Several Boomer Technology Circle™ member firms have implemented this strategy and will speak to its validity.
There are three components to the strategy:
- The Plan—Outlines the employees and other resources necessary to restore the firm’s critical processes following an interruption.
- ReadySuite membership with Agility Recovery Solutions—Provides the four key elements of recovery: power, space, technology and connectivity on an as-needed basis.
- Business continuation insurance—Provides financial resources for recovery
You have probably thought about a recovery plan and business continuation insurance, and the status of each is probably a work-in-progress. If you haven’t reviewed your business continuation policy recently, you should because many insurance companies have changed their policies since Katrina—specifically with regard to data and voice services.
The Agility solution
Agility Recovery Solutions allows senior management to focus on what’s critical when disaster strikes: the firm’s employees, clients and stakeholders. Agility was founded in 1989 as a division of GE and has been a provider of disaster recovery services for Fortune 500 firms.
Memberships start at $250 per month. If you experience an interruption, Agility will put your recovery plan in motion and bill you for any associated out-of-pocket costs. The day you become an Agility member, your business is covered.
ReadySuite membership provides access to all of its resources, delivered within 48 hours. It ties the plan and insurance coverage together. (Some insurance carriers now recommend Agility because it can limit losses in the case of a disaster, and they know the firm will be back in business within 48 or fewer hours.)
As an added-value to ReadySuite members, Agility offers MyAgility—a secure web portal with tools and resources to aid in plan development in addition to customized consultation. Since the plan is a dynamic document with related documents such as contact lists and insurance policies, it is best to store them in an ASP environment accessible at any time.
I encourage you to stop procrastinating and take the three easy steps required to develop an executable recovery plan for your firm. Review your existing plan, contact your current insurance carrier as well as Agility Recovery Solutions and get started today. Hopefully you never experience an interruption, but by implementing this three-step strategy you will have peace of mind and the ability to service your clients regardless of what the future may hold.
