There are many times when disasters strike us out of nowhere. A freak accident that we don’t see coming can wreak havoc on our lives. However, with all of the technology available to us these days, there are a lot of times we know in advance if a disaster is going to strike. By tracking major storms and natural disaster patterns (such as hurricanes and tornadoes) we have ample time to prepare for a disaster, and make sure that we’re safe.
There is more to disaster preparation than stocking up on water and canned food, or taping the windows. Your technology is incredibly vulnerable during a storm, especially this season, when the summer storms include a lot of lightening. By following some simple guidelines you can help protect your business from suffering the havoc of the disasters.
1. Backups: Make sure that your backups are up-to-date and running properly. The last thing you want is to bring your organization back up only to realize you have lost a month’s worth of data.
2. Unplug Everything: And we do mean everything. If it is connected to a power source, unplug it. It is especially important not to forget to unplug your phones. If a power line is struck by lightning and electricity travels through the phone lines, it could cause major damage to any electronic equipment the phone line is connected to.
3. Alternate Power Source: If you have a generator, now is the time to break it out. Take the time to make sure the generator is clean and make sure to test that it works before the disaster hits.
4. Charge the Batteries: Make sure your portable devices are fully charged before the storm hits. Cell phones, laptops, tablets, hand-held games, etc. Nothing is more frustrating than losing power and only having twenty minutes on your laptop before that shuts down too.
5. Prep for Water Damage: If heavy rains are predicted, it is important to make sure that you keep your equipment safe. Bring things up off the floors and away from the walls and windows. It won’t help to have your system up and running if your computer has suffered too much damage to work.