| Defining 8 common business continuity terms |
Battle box - a tool box where necessary equipment and vital information are stored. These objects and pieces of information should be useful in a disaster. Typical items include a first aid kit, laptop, protective equipment, and communication devices. Business impact analysis (BIA) - a process to evaluate the impact that a disaster may have on a business. The BIA shows what a business stands to lose if some parts of its functions are missing. It allows you to see the general picture of your business processes and determine which ones are the most important. Call tree - a comprehensive list of employee contacts and their telephone numbers. Call trees are used to notify out-of-office employees about a disaster. Companies can use a software program to contact people on the call tree by sending automated emails and text messages. In order for a call tree to work, employees should provide alternative contact options and their information must be up to date. Data mirroring - a duplication of data from its source to another physical storage solution or the cloud. Data mirroring ensures that crucial information is safe, and companies can use the copied data as backup during a disaster. Exercise - a series of activities designed to test a company’s business continuity plan. When an exercise is carried out, there will be an evaluation to decide whether a BCP is meeting standards or not. An exercise can identify gaps in, and the drawbacks of, a BCP and is therefore used as a tool to revise and improve a business continuity plan. Hot site - an alternate location equipped with computers, communication tools and infrastructures to help a business recover information systems affected by the disaster. Plan maintenance - a process of maintaining a company’s business continuity plan so that it is in working order and up to date. Plan maintenance includes scheduled reviews and updates. Recovery time objective (RTO) - a period of time in which companies must recover their systems and functions after a disaster. This is the target time for a business to ideally resume its delivery of products and services at an acceptable level. RTO may be specified in business time (e.g. one business day) or elapsed time (e.g. elapsed 24 hours). Business continuity plans can be a hassle to design and implement without proper understanding of their requirements. If you want to learn how you can protect your business from disasters, give us a call today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
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As a business owner you’ve probably heard of the benefits of a business continuity plan (BCP). It ensures your company’s protection in the event of an unexpected disaster, whether that’s natural or man-made. But you likely don’t have time to sit and learn all about business continuity procedures and terms. Hearing technical terms in meetings, and being expected to follow protocol, may also sound overwhelming. To help clear up the confusion, here are eight common business continuity terms that you should be aware of.| Why VoIP is better for your business |
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The telephone is an essential part of the communications toolkit in any business; it’s been used for over a century for good reason. But in today’s business world, the costs of traditional phone systems can drag down your company. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was an alternative? Well, there is. If you haven’t heard of VoIP, it’s time to learn about the next step in the evolution of the phone. And there are a number of advantages that make it essential for many businesses in today’s modern world. Here’s how VoIP can help your business.| Venmo adds multi-factor authentication |
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It’s easy to get complacent about internet security, but the reality is that none of us can afford to let our guard down. Precautions to protect yourself, your identity and your finances online can be simple, but they are only effective when practiced rigorously and consistently. And while the most obvious things like making passwords hard to guess and locking your workstation are as effective as they ever were, nowhere are conscientious security efforts more crucial than when using online banking systems and mobile payment portals. Users of peer-to-peer payment provider Venmo can breathe a sigh of relief, then, because the service just added extra security controls for its customers.| Should I choose Virtualization or the Cloud? |
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You’ve heard about Cloud Computing and Virtualization. You’ve followed the news about them, and even know a few fellow business owners who’ve successfully implemented the technologies. You’re excited and ready to take the plunge. But wait, which technology should you use? If you’re unsure, read on. Here are the differences between the two and the things you need to know to help you determine which one will benefit your business more.| Prevent the ultimate break/fix nightmare |
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Have your IT problems become chronic? Is your break/fix contractor hanging around your office so often that he’s on first-name terms with the maid? If you’re starting to think about an alternative IT solution that can clear up your chronic IT issues for good, Managed Services may be just what you’ve been dreaming of. Even better, they could just prevent your ultimate IT nightmare from coming true.
