Southern Maryland: Is Your Business Disaster Ready? | eTrepid

While Southern Maryland is still suffering through the devastating effects of an earthquake, hurricane, and subsequent flooding from last year, we?ve already entered the 2012 hurricane season. Considering these disasters are likely to happen again, it is important to make sure your business has a continuity plan and disaster recovery plan in place. ?Preparing before a disaster strikes can help you to mitigate some of the more common and devastating effects from compromising your business, such as financial and information loss. ?Either one can be severely debilitating to an underprepared business.<br /><br />
Since 1972, Southern Maryland has suffered nine devastating hurricanes, averaging about one major hurricane every 4.3 years. Our businesses are at a greater risk for natural disaster than the national averages because of our proximity to the bay and rivers. According to a Ross Study, there is a less than 10% survival rate for companies that have experienced a disaster without a disaster plan. Natural disasters are not something that can be prevented; however, they are something your business can prepare for. ?Preparing your business for a natural disaster consists of a written plan that all employees know, an asset protection plan, proper insurance and back-up power sources. However, studies have shown in most cases a business disaster can simply be the result of human error, a power outage, hardware, software, or network failure. Being in the age of digital resources and data, we often times overlook having an IT plan.<br /><br />
IT firms can ensure the prosperity of your business by providing you with a business continuity and disaster recovery plan. It is important to find an IT firm that specializes in these two things in order to reduce your risk of encountering work stoppages, unnecessary closure and loss of revenue or data. These types of firms should provide your business with an IT plan that consists of a disaster recovery audit of your inventory, record of how long your business can function without power and a plan to help your business work through a disaster. According to Jim Garvin, a business continuity expert and the Director of Operations at eTrepid, Inc., a local IT consulting and management firm, ?when developing a business continuity and disaster recovery plan the most important step to take is to test the back-ups in place and verify in the event of a disaster [you] are able to recover what has been backed-up.? ?Studies show, most companies that aren?t able to recover their lost data often end up shut down completely or left with insurmountable debt.<br /><br />
We know the Southern Maryland area is prone to Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Earthquakes, and flooding; with hurricanes being the most destructive. Therefore, it is inevitable that history will repeat itself and we will encounter at least one of these natural disasters this year. It is essential to take in account the fact that manmade disasters can affect the functionality of your business as well. And even though we can?t prevent all disasters, with the right preparedness plan we can mitigate the loss and risk of damage disaster can bring upon our businesses and lives. <br /><br />
<b>By: Tabatha Blandford ? Thursday June 21, 2012</b>

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