Hurricane season can be an extremely challenging time for businesses in Houston, with the most recent season bringing destruction and devastation to businesses. A key way to combat this is by preparing your business to minimize disruptions and ensuring your operations stay on track. With the right IT strategies, you can safeguard your data, maintain productivity, and recover quickly after a storm.
This blog provides a complete IT checklist to help your business stay resilient during hurricane season, along with insights into how we provide the IT support Houston businesses rely on. Let’s explore the steps your business can take to prepare for the season and ensure the business continuity that Houston companies need when faced with severe weather.
A Complete IT Checklist for Hurricane Season
- Back Up Your Data Regularly
Data loss can have devastating consequences for your business, so it’s integral to ensure all critical information is securely backed up. This can be achieved by implementing cloud-based backups that store data off-site and keep it accessible even if local systems fail. Scheduling automated backups enables you to capture changes and updates in real-time, and testing your backups regularly to verify they work means your data can be restored when needed.
- Develop a Business Continuity Plan
A comprehensive business continuity strategy outlines how your business will maintain operations during and after a hurricane. Your plan should include a detailed disaster recovery process for restoring IT systems, assigning responsibilities to key personnel for executing recovery tasks, and communication protocols to keep employees, customers, and stakeholders informed.
- Enable Remote Work Capabilities
Severe weather may make your office inaccessible, but remote working solutions can keep your team productive. We encourage you to set up Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for secure access to company systems and ensure that all employees have the necessary tools, such as laptops and collaboration software like Microsoft Teams or Slack. It’s also important to establish clear guidelines for remote work to maintain consistency and security.
- Protect Your IT Infrastructure
Your physical IT infrastructure is vulnerable to power outages and water damage. You can protect it by installing surge protectors and Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) to safeguard equipment during power fluctuations, relocating critical servers and hardware to elevated areas to avoid flooding, and investing in weatherproof enclosures for outdoor equipment.
- Test Your Disaster Recovery Plan
Even the best plans can fall short if they haven’t been tested. Conduct regular disaster recovery drills to identify weaknesses in your current strategy, ensure employees understand their roles and responsibilities, and verify that backup systems and processes work as expected.
- Implement Cybersecurity Measures
Hurricane-related disruptions often create vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit. Strengthen your defenses by ensuring firewalls and antivirus software are up-to-date, enforcing multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users, and monitoring your systems for unusual activity during and after the storm.
- Inventory Your IT Assets
Keep an up-to-date inventory of all IT assets, including hardware, software, and licenses. This helps to quickly identify what needs replacement or repair, streamline the insurance claims process, and ensure compliance with licensing agreements during recovery.
- Communicate with Stakeholders
Keeping employees, clients, and partners informed is crucial. Set up communication plans that include emergency contact lists for all employees, cloud-based email systems that remain accessible during outages, and regular updates via phone, email, or messaging platforms.
How Willits Technologies Can Help
We specialize in providing IT support Houston businesses depend on to navigate hurricane season. Our services include:
- Cloud Solutions: Securely store your data and applications in the cloud, ensuring they’re accessible during and after the storm.
- Business Continuity Planning: Work with our experts to create a tailored strategy that minimizes downtime and ensures a swift recovery.
- Remote Work Enablement: Set up secure and efficient remote work systems to keep your team productive.
- Cybersecurity Services: Protect your business from cyber threats with advanced firewalls, monitoring, and access controls.
- 24/7 IT Support: Count on our team to provide real-time assistance and proactive monitoring, ensuring your systems stay operational.
Prepare Your Business for Hurricane Season
Hurricane season doesn’t have to mean downtime for your business. By following this IT checklist and partnering with us, you can protect your operations, secure your data, and keep your team connected no matter the weather.
Contact us today to book a consultation with our CEO, Steve, and learn how our IT services can help you prepare for hurricane season. Let’s ensure your business is ready for anything!
