Field Note: Your Business Needs an Emergency Plan Too

What happens to your digital business when you can't get to your business?

When we think about emergency preparedness, we usually think about our homes, vehicles, pets and families.

But businesses need a plan too.

A wildfire, flood, extended power outage or other emergency can suddenly make your normal workplace inaccessible.

If that happened tomorrow, could you still access the things your business depends on?

Start with the basics.

• Do you know who hosts your website?

• Do you know where your domain is registered?

• Can you access your business email from another location?

• Do you have secure access to your social media accounts?

• Are your important files backed up?

• Do you know where those backups are?

• Do you have access to your website administrator account?

• Could you update your website if your physical location was closed?

• Do you have a way to communicate with customers if your normal operations suddenly changed?
  

You don't need a complicated disaster-recovery system to start preparing.

You need to identify the digital pieces your business cannot operate without and make sure you know how to access them.

And don't forget the human side.

If someone else manages your website, email, hosting or social media, make sure you know who they are and how to contact them.

Because discovering that information during an emergency is not the ideal time to start investigating.

Digital Detective Jo's Note

Your business may have to leave the building. Your digital information shouldn't have to stay behind.