Disaster Planning for the Small Business

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Disaster: Plan and Prepare

Peter D. LucashDigital CPE, LLC

The Art of BusinessCharleston Digital Corridor

February 17, 2006

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Threats in Charleston

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Business disaster and continuity planning

• Anticipate risks to business• How long could you afford to go without

operating?• How would you continue?• This is a business function, not just IT• Plan and test• Include business partners

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© Peak 10

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Four Facets

• People• Communication• Workplace• Stuff

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People are number 1

• Where will they work?• How will they get there?• Who will you need and when?• What about families?• What about basic need?

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People

• It’s your business and it is personal• Employees and their families have to

evacuate, have extended families, and have homes to secure

• Payroll• Personal recovery vs. business recovery• Two income HH = two sets of time

demands with same problem

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Communication

• Phone lists:o Employeeso Customerso Vendors

• Tools:o Cell/sat phoneso Message boardso Email/web sites

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Contact lists

• Keep current• Evacuation plans• Meeting point

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Contact Card - Staff

Evacuation Destination:Alternate:

Home Phone:

Office Phone:

Title:

Date:

Email:

Notes:

Cell or Pager:

City/State/Zip:

Street Address:

Name:

Employee/Contractor Contact Card

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Workplace

• Staff needs a physical place to work• Power• Access

o Roads open and passableo areas restricted to residents?

• Services:o Phoneo Delivery

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Resources

• Equipment lists:o Hardwareo Softwareo Other hard assetso Other references

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Backup data

• Media storage• Tapes – frequently corrupt• Online services• Hot backup

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Customer care

• Current list• A/R• Contact • Notify with your plans

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Record Card - Vendor

Ph:24 HrFax:Other:

Notes:

Contact:

Alternate:

City/State/Zip:

Street Address:

Vendor:

Product/Service:

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Stuff

• Can –and how – will you be re-stocked?• Where will you put it?• IP: backups

o Duplicate offsite

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Risk assessment

• Fire• Wind/rain• Terrorism• Pandemic

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Hurricane

• Warning – time on our side• Notify• Group evacuation?

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Other

• Assist in evacuation plans• Assist in recovery – personal • IDs for staff to gain access

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IBM Webinar2006 Lessons Learned from Hurricane Season

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Lessons Learned: PeopleAdopted from webinar by IBM Corporation IBM Business Continuity and Recovery Services (2006)

Problems: • Employees weren’t available or 100% focused on the job• Employees didn’t know what to do • Employee safety was not considered• There were no emergency loans / funds for employees• What about the families, spouses and/or children

What to do:• Consider employees prior, during and after event• Ensure your employees are addressed in your BCP (roles during

and after disaster, safety, trauma, transportation, housing and funding)• Consider addressing employees’ families in BCP

Include IT, lines of business, HR and auditors in BCPConsider having alternate teams available

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Lessons learned: Communication

Problems:• Cell phone service out• No central point to call/view• No power = no phones• Communication with public safety agencies• Media relations

What to do:• Satellite phones and/or out of area cell phones• Website bulletin board, group

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Lessons learned: Data

Problem: Tapes at risk• Location• Corrupted• Restoration

What to do:• Offsite• Practice/test restoration

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Lessons learned: Infrastructure

Problems:• Storage in vulnerable locations• Structural damage: physical, mold

What to do:• Store above ground/flood level• Pre-arrange for contractors• Assess vulnerabilities

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Lessons learned: Hardware

Problems:• No power• Service contracts• Ability to relocate

What to do:• Plan or contract for replacement• Identify relocation and test

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Resources

Institute for Business and Home Safetywww.ibhs.org

US Dept. of Homeland Securitywww.ready.org

IBM Global Services/Business and Continuitywww-1.ibm.com/services/us/index.wss/itservice/bcrs/a1000411

Disaster Resource.comwww.disaster-resource.com

Disaster Recovery Journalwww.drj.com

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Getting started

• Compile listso Employeeso Vendorso Assets

Physical, financial• Secure data/information systems• Risk assessment• Insurance• Plan

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Q & A

People FirstBackupPlan Practice

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About the presenterPeter Lucash is the CEO of Digital CPE, a training, information and consulting firm. He is a former EMT and hospital administrator, and is an active instructor in business for online and ground universities.  

Help your community businesses prepare! Peter has also developed a hands on workshop for small businesses to develop a working disaster plan. In this half day session, attendees will start to work on their plan and leave with key elements in place and a task plan for completion.  Call or email Peter at 843.402.0900 orpeter@digitalcpe.com