In today’s fast-paced world, businesses need to be prepared for every possible eventuality, and the IT outages that have been causing mayhem over the past couple of weeks are a perfect example of this! Business Continuity Planning (BCP) is something all businesses should have in place so that if operations do go down, they can be quickly resumed with minimal disruption. IT plays a huge role in this process, and by having the right tools and strategies in place business functions can be maintained during a time of crisis.
Business continuity planning is all about creating and implementing systems for both prevention and recovery should your business come under threat. The aim is to enable businesses to continue operations before, during and after a cyber attack. Let’s have a look at the key elements of developing an IT-driven business continuity plan.
A thorough BIA identifies critical business functions, and the IT resources needed to support these functions. It also looks at the impact of potential disruptions to these functions and both recovery time objectives & recovery point objectives for each.
Redundancy & failover systems are essential for businesses to keep running through the difficult times. A list of IT infrastructure should be created which includes any redundant servers, power supplies and network systems to prevent a single point of failure. Failover systems automatically switch to a standby system in the event of a failure, helping to reduce downtime.
A disaster recovery plan (DRP) is part of the overall business continuity plan, but focuses on IT systems and how they can be recovered/restored after downtime. Things to include within this plan are data recovery processes, system restoration procedures and internal communication plans. The DRP should also be tested regularly to ensure it remains effective.
Employees play a huge role in business continuity planning. By holding regular training sessions, this ensures staff are aware of their individual roles in the event of a disruption. IT departments can provide training on using remote software safely, how to recognise potential cybersecurity threats, and how to recover data should the worst happen.
IT systems are key in the detection of potential threats to business operations. Advanced systems can actually simulate possible disaster scenarios, allowing businesses to prepare themselves for the worst. By having a managing & monitoring system in place, IT teams can provide real-time data to aid with decision-making.
One of the main concerns during any business disruption is how business data is going to be protected. IT solutions such as cloud computing, encryption and secure backup systems ensure this is not only protected but can be restored in a timely manner. Regular data backups, both onsite and offsite are key to protect a business from data loss.
During a crisis, effective communication is key and IT plays a huge part in providing robust communication systems including VoIP, instant messaging and video conferencing. This allows employees to stay connected no matter where in the world they are working.
The pandemic highlighted the importance of businesses having remote working teams. IT infrastructure, including VPNs have allowed employees to access company resources from anywhere. This flexibility is key to help maintain productivity during disruptions to the business.
IT departments are responsible for implementing comprehensive security measures to protect businesses against cyber threats. Firewalls, antivirus software and intrusion detection systems are all integral to safeguard a business against malicious attacks.
Regular testing is crucial to ensure that the business continuity plan works as intended. IT teams can create lots of tests and simulations to help identify any weaknesses in the plan. The BCP should also be regularly updated to reflect changes in technology, as well as any new threats. Updating hardware and software regularly is a key part of this.
IT provides the tools and strategies that businesses need to protect data, communicate regularly, work remotely, and safeguard against cyber threats. As the business landscape continues to evolve, the role of IT in business continuity planning will only become more and more essential.
If you would like help with integrating your IT systems within your business continuity plan, get in touch with the experts at Reality Solutions today.
*This article contains general information in order to assist all of our customers and is meant for guidance only – there are no guarantees that the information we provide will be suitable for your particular needs. If you require specific assistance, we recommend that you seek professional guidance on your individual circumstances. Reality Solutions are in no way responsible for any loss or damage arising from any information contained within our articles.