How to Create a Disaster Recovery Plan for Your Business
From hurricanes to wildfires, tornadoes, floods, blizzards, and thunderstorms, natural disasters have become a way of life in our modern world. It’s important to be prepared for potential disasters, but also to be able to recover from them when they occur unexpectedly. This is especially true in the professional world because companies that don’t get back to business within a few days after a disaster are much more likely to fail.
Here is some information about what a business disaster recovery plan entails, why it’s important, and how to create one for your business.
What Is a Disaster Recovery Plan?
A disaster recovery plan is a document that details everything you and your employees need to know after a catastrophic event. The document should identify the types of natural disasters that are most common to the region, as well as disasters that can occur anywhere, such as an office fire. It should also provide plans of action for how the business should be managed during a recovery period.
Why Do Businesses Need Disaster Recovery Plans?
According to statistics from the U.S. Small Business Administration, up to 25 percent of small businesses fail to reopen after a big disaster. Also, businesses that don’t reopen within the first five days after a disaster are much more likely to struggle and ultimately fail. With a disaster recovery plan in place, you can feel more confident in how to address post-disaster issues like crumbling infrastructure, employee absence, and reduced communication capacity. Thinking of these things in advance can save you a significant amount of time, money, and frustrations during stressful times.
What to Include in Your Disaster Recovery Plan
A logical place to start when creating a disaster recovery plan for your business is to make a list of all of the jobs performed today that would need to be moved to another location following a disaster. Also, take an inventory of the most important pieces of office equipment, such as software and desks, that you would need to replace after a disaster. Research alternative spaces where you team could relocate to and work after a disaster, making sure to factor in your budget and insurance coverage.
It’s a smart idea to designate a disaster planning team within your company and work with the team to identify goals, challenges, and capabilities. Then, hold meetings with your entire staff to review the plan, provide written documentation about disaster protocols, and solicit feedback for plan improvements.
Another important aspect of a business disaster recovery plan is an emergency kit that includes non-perishable food, bottled water, flashlights, extra batteries, and basic first-aid supplies. You may want to create an employee communication tree, plan ahead for data backup, and ensue that your financial records are stored in a safe place. By storing backups and key documents offsite, you could save your business from insurance nightmares and unnecessary financial losses.
Disaster Recovery for Rented Spaces
In conjunction with establishing a disaster recovery plan for your business, renting meeting room and office space can help you be prepared for unforeseen obstacles your business may face. If your permanent business location is devastated because of a disaster, NYC Office Suites can help your team get back to work with temporary office space and meeting rooms when you need them. We have four prime locations in Midtown Manhattan to accommodate your team, whether you need an occasional room to meet in or a few months to get back on your feet.
We recommend including our phone number (800-346-3968) in your disaster recovery plan in case your business needs an alternative place to work and meet after an event that renders your normal space unusable. To learn more about the temporary office space options and virtual office solutions that we provide, please contact us today.