Planning for the Unexpected in 2016
The start of a new year is a good time for big picture planning. One of the topics that often falls into that area is disaster recovery. In light of the recent floods that Central Illinois experienced, many have seen first-hand the importance of having a business continuity plan in place.
Fires, tornadoes, floods, snowstorms, theft and data loss are just a few of the ever-present threats small business owners face. Like any other aspect of running a business, the key to survival is preparation.
The following steps are recommended as part of developing a formal business continuity plan:
- Assess your risks Before you can begin creating a plan to mitigate and deal with disasters, you need to come up with a list of external events that can hurt your company. Think through all the threats that could cause damage to your business and determine how they might affect you.
- Prioritize business functions Decide the order in which certain business operations will be restored in the event of an interruption. Functions that bring in more business and generate more sales should be your first priorities.
- Develop prevention & mitigation strategies Once you've determined your business's most important functions, the next step is to come up with strategies around them to prevent and mitigate the various types of disasters you may encounter.
- Test and maintain your plan You don't want your first test to be the real event. When your plans are developed, test them out: Have your team walk through the steps of your disaster-recovery plan.
The better an organization thinks through what a disaster will look like for them, the more effectively they can prepare and minimize the damage to their business.
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Cyber Security
... in the New Year
Cyber security was the buzzword of 2015 and it appears that it will continue to top the charts in 2016.
Although the subject often evokes fear and trepidation, it is important to note that with heightened knowledge comes increased preparation and readiness.
Experts suggest that organizations accept the inevitability of a security issue at some point and plan accordingly. This planning includes assessing key risks, building a layered approach to security and educating staff (repeatedly) on the importance of the being vigilant about security procedures.
Shifting from defense to offense when it comes to cyber security will be more important than ever in the new year.
IT Security can be an unfamiliar topic for many organizations. To fill that need, Hanson Information Systems offers security solutions, specifically designed for the needs of small businesses.
Hanson's Security Solutions is available to businesses of any size, at an affordable price. Evaluating, selecting and managing IT security needs can be difficult for a small organization. With the rapid pace of technological changes and advances, and especially with the growing proficiency of cyber criminals; it can sometimes feel like an impossible challenge.
That's where Hanson Information Systems comes in, offering the expertise to help a business determine their security risks and needs. By providing a collaborative and thorough assessment, Hanson can design a security plan that enhances IT security and meets individual business objectives.
Hanson's Security Solutions provides a full range of services, including:
- Security Assessments
- Vulnerability Scans
- Systems Monitoring
- Firewall Implementation
- System Patching
- Anti-Virus & Anti-Malware Software
- Server Protection Systems
- Hosted Email with Encryption
To discuss your security needs or for more information about Hanson's Security Solutions, contact info@hansoninfosys.com or 1-888-245-8468.
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