Managing risk: Keeping IT up and running
So why are we addressing risk management? Because every firm needs to make plans if something bad happens. It could be a fire, flood, hurricane, extensive power or broadband outage, even an act of terror, but any of these events could affect your IT infrastructure or capacity to connect to it. And many smaller firms fail to recognize how reliant they are on their IT infrastructure. Here are two tools that can help keep your IT infrastructure operational in the event of a disaster.
VoIP- This is an interesting option. You may have the standard PBX system that handles switching calls that are directed within your physical organization, and it may even allow call forwarding, but that is all it usually permits. VoIP systems allow dramatically aggressive approaches to call forwarding, including time windows. This makes it easier to maintain voice connections even if access to a physical site has been blocked. VoIP also offers many innovative features such as voice-to-text and voice-to-email that can increase productivity.
Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and surge protection - Don’t forget the obvious. Risk management means looking at one of the key risks any business faces: power interruption. What would you do if a long term power event occurred? Could you just tell your customers “oops-sorry?” That won't likely work very well. There are uninterruptible power supply systems using battery support, natural gas and other fuels which can provide support for as long as is needed.
Contact a managed services provider to discuss inhouse UPS management.