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Disasters can temporarily stop a business from operating. These periods of non-operation are known as downtime as they can be very costly to businesses – not only could you suffer a loss of income, but you could suffer damage to your company’s reputation. Various disasters can lead to downtime. Here are just five common causes and how to guard against them.
Power cuts
Without electricity, most businesses can’t function. Power cuts can be an internal problem, but in most cases they’re the result of external issues such as damage to electric transmission lines or power station faults. The best way to protect your business against the threat of a power cut is to install a backup generator. There are companies that offer generators for rent that could be useful in the event of a temporary power cut. Alternatively, you could buy a generator to permanently have on site.
Broken machinery
Your business may be reliant on a specific machine. For instance, a printing company could be put out of action if its printer breaks down, whilst a coffee bar might have to close its doors if its coffee machine breaks. Investing in a backup machine could be too expensive, however you may be able to still hire a machine to use on standby. Alternatively, you may be able to prevent faults by regularly servicing your machinery and getting repairs done promptly out of operating hours to prevent total failure.
Network issues
Having no internet connection could also lead to downtime in many companies. Investing in a strong internet connection and possibly setting up a backup wi-fi source could possibly prevent this issue. If you’re storing data on the cloud, having some backup files on your computer hard-drives could possibly also allow some work to carry on ahead if connection to the server temporarily fails.
Data loss/theft
Having important data lost or stolen could also prevent your business from operating. A good way to safeguard against this disaster is to always back up files so that you’ve always got another copy to rely on. Training staff meanwhile could prevent data loss from human error, whilst putting digital security measures in place could prevent cybertheft from occurring.
Natural disaster
Natural disasters can also put companies out of business. Some areas may be more prone to disasters such as flooding, hurricanes or earthquakes – ensuring that your business premises is protected against these disasters could help to minimise damage and prevent downtime. In the case of severe natural disasters, consider backing up all your data on the cloud and having an emergency plan in place – storing files on the cloud could allow you access them after the disaster even if your premises is destroyed, whilst an emergency plan may be able to help you act fast and save important equipment (and more importantly you and your employees) from harm.