Last year a survey of business-continuity software users revealed that 38% have activated a disaster-recovery plan, says Brian Turley, president, Strohl Systems Inc., King of Prussia, Pa. He offers the following tips for power outages, the most common business-continuity planning challenge his software users face:
- Develop, maintain and regularly test your business-continuity plan.
- Power outages affect entire regions -- not just one business. Ensure that the scope of the plan considers regional outages.
- Keep all employee contact information current.
- Make sure alternate sites are not on the same power grid.
- Airports and regional transportation may be shut down. Be prepared to recover without out-of-town personnel.
- Stockpile food, potable water, medical supplies, flashlights and batteries for the command center.
- Install and regularly test gas-powered generators. Know their limitations. Are they capable of running for many hours or days at a time?
- Ensure that all critical computers operate on an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS).
- Make provisions for transportation of key employees who rely on public transportation.
- Purchase business-interruption insurance.
