Hurricane season is nothing new for businesses in Houston. The record-breaking blackouts in the wake of Hurricane Beryl, however, are a stark reminder that even short-lived storms can have long-term consequences if you’re not prepared.
2.2 million people were left without power, and the consensus amongst former elected officials is that not enough was done in anticipation of the storm. But power outages are largely out of the public’s hands. Now that we’re in the midst of hurricane season, what can local small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) do to protect themselves and all they’ve worked so hard to build?
Why SMBs Get Hit the Hardest
Recovery is more of an obstacle for small and medium-sized businesses than larger ones, because SMBs don’t have the same resources to rebuild. If you lose one server, that’s all your data gone. If three team members can’t get into the office, that’s your entire team offline, not just one department.
Financial and personnel constraints mean small businesses can be slower to reopen, and since the speed at which a business can resume operations post-disaster is crucial for their long-term survival, this setback could be the final straw.
IT Preparedness Protects Business Continuity in Houston
Staying up and running (or being able to get back up and running quickly) in the aftermath of a hurricane relies on minimal operational disruption and maximal adaptability.
One of the best ways to facilitate this—and it’s a step every single business can take—is IT preparedness. In other words, ensuring the tech integral to your SMB is as robust and resilient as possible (ideally with the help of IT services in Houston), before disaster strikes—because it’s not just the initial event that can be damaging.
Natural disasters create an environment ripe for cybercriminals to exploit, as businesses are distracted and potentially less vigilant. According to experts cited by GovTech, there’s almost always a spike in cyber-attack attempts following major events. This makes cybersecurity a top priority, as SMBs in Houston must protect sensitive information and ensure operational resilience.
Remote Working in Houston Depends on Business Agility
Increased agility is both a facet and an outcome of IT preparedness that can help ensure business continuity in Houston. Even when you know a storm’s coming, you can never fully predict its impact. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to pivot your working model to accommodate infrastructure damage or team members being unable to report to work (as was the case for 91% of employers following Beryl), cloud solutions will enable you to make this shift on short notice.
With secure backups and access to everything they need—from documents and data to collaboration platforms and CRM systems—at any location, you lay the best foundations to support remote working when your team need it.
How to Prepare Your IT Infrastructure (It’s Not Too Late!)
As we approach the peak of hurricane season in September, it’s crucial for SMBs in Houston to prioritize IT preparations. Here’s a checklist to help you focus on key areas that’ll support continued functionality in the face of potential disruptions:
Cloud-Hosted Solutions:
- Undertake a cloud readiness assessment to better understand the steps required to securely migrate your data.
- Introduce a remotely hosted solutions package, like Microsoft Azure.
Cybersecurity Measures:
- Implement zero trust endpoint security to safeguard your network against unauthorized access.
- Use password managers to ensure strong, unique passwords for all systems and accounts.
- Have your local IT services conduct regular vulnerability scanning to identify and address security gaps.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) Systems:
- Invest in VOIP solutions to maintain communication with clients and employees, even if traditional phone lines are down. These systems allow you to make and receive calls on any internet-connected device, wherever you’re based.
Backup and Disaster Recovery:
- Establish a comprehensive data recovery plan, including regular backups of critical data to off-site locations.
- Consider cloud-based disaster recovery solutions for quick restoration of services.
It’s never too late to fortify your IT infrastructure. By engaging with IT support in Houston, you can navigate hurricane season without the worry of technical difficulties or unexpected costs. Local IT services can provide tailored solutions to help your business withstand the potential impacts of a hurricane, ensuring minimal disruption and swift recovery.
Protect Your Business as You Would Your Home
Just as you’d prepare your home for an impending hurricane, it’s imperative to fortify your business. Beyond securing physical assets and having adequate insurance, building up a more robust, resilient IT infrastructure helps keep your business running whatever the weather.
“Preparation, preparation, preparation,” is the guidance former mayor Sylvester Turner gave the city on facing future natural disasters. They’re words local businesses in Houston should heed, too. By taking proactive steps to secure your IT systems and support remote working, you can protect yourself from the threats of damage and cyberattacks in the wake of hurricane season. Don’t wait until it’s too late—contact your local IT services in Houston today and safeguard your business’s future.
Willits Technologies Inc: Reliable Managed IT Service Partners for Texas’ Professional Services
At Willits, we’re a growing family-owned business that combines accessible enterprise-grade solutions (at affordable prices) with a personal and reliable service, designed to help growing businesses thrive.
We’re dedicated to supporting SMBs in Texas and beyond through exceptional IT support and tailored solutions that help them to reclaim their time, lower costs, and drive profitable growth. By making the world of technology accessible and empowering, we act as a partner that they can lean on in good and bad times alike.
If you’d like to prepare your IT infrastructure for hurricane season, we’d love to help! Get in touch or come see us in person.
