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Before disaster strikes With the WTC disaster still lingering in our minds, now is the time for Hawaii companies who have not already done so to create a disaster recovery plan.
Prepare your business, or
you just might wish you hadBy Rich Halverson
Among the items to consider is recovering your digital records.
Whereas a terrorist attack is most likely a remote possibility in the Aloha State, the likelihood of a fire, robbery or natural disaster is well within the realm of probability. A good manager would be derelict not to be prepared for all contingencies.
Could disaster come your way? Just ask the management of Wall Street firm Cantor Fitzgerald, which lost 700 employees at the World Trade Center when the towers came crashing down on Sept. 11. Despite this, they had the prudence to store their backup data offsite and were up and running at alternative offices two days later.
Backing up your data and storing it offsite is the smartest thing any business can do and you don't have to be a publicly traded company to practice this.
Even the CEO of the smallest company can stuff a backup tape in his pocket at day's end and bring it home.
If your company has a large number of digital photos, you can always burn them onto CD-R disks. If you want to be more sophisticated about backing up your records, there are numerous Web sites (some of them even free) that will allow you to store data. These include companies such Connected TLM, iBackup, SkyDesk or NovaStor.
In addition to backing up your data:
>> Store your key hard copies offsite. The paperless office may be a reality but some paper records are critical. Naturally they will be vulnerable when disaster strikes. Keep copies offsite, preferably in a fireproof safe, along with your data backup tapes.
>> Set up a Web-based e-mail account. Hot Mail, Yahoo Mail and other web based e-mail services can be a real lifesaver if your regular mail server is down. These services were actively used during the recent WTC crisis when phone lines were down in New York. They are free, dependable and easy to use.
>> Dial-up enable your laptop. Be certain your laptop has a dial-up modem so if all else fails, you can e-mail people in your organization and get at your data.
>> If you have passwords for bank accounts, financial Web sites and the like, chances are they are embedded in your office computer. If you're office machine is down or no longer exists, you'll want a list of the log in names and/or passwords for key sites. Keep a copy in your wallet and in your Palm Pilot. If you can encrypt this data, all the better.
>> Keep extra charged batteries for your laptop, mobile phone and Palm Pilot ready at all times. If you don't have a Palm Pilot or a similar PDA get one. They are really handy for storing memos, addresses and phone numbers.
In a catastrophe, no one can ever predict what the scenario will be so you'll need to be ready for all contingencies. If you follow through on these simple tips, chances are you'll be in good shape if disaster rears its ugly head.
Rich Halverson is the founder and CEO of
Guide.net, a Honolulu-based technology company.
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