When things are going well, no one wants to think about disaster. The problem is, once tragedy strikes, it’s often too late for thoughtful planning and calm thinking. That is why you need a disaster recovery plan.

To avoid the pressure of having to react last minute, a business owner should take the steps necessary to be prepared in case of a disaster. That way if a situation arises, you’ll have peace of mind knowing a well thought out plan is in place.

The importance of a disaster recovery plan is especially evident when you lay out the costs you could incur if your business was down for a few days. The first areas that would be affected are:

1. Decreased Profit and Clientele – During a disaster, if you close your business, you will forfeit the money you would have made if you remained open. This is especially true if you are a service based business. Services and time are tied together, and you cannot re-create time. Once your business restarts, you can work extra hours, however you would still have lost the original time when your customers initially expected it.
2. Competitive Disadvantage – While you’re busy responding to a disaster, your competition has a real edge. Your current and future clients may go to them while you are down. This also gives your competitors ammunition against you if they are able to stay open.
3. Lack of Reliability – If your business is down during a disaster, your customers could wonder about this oversight. The shutdown suggests that you didn’t think ahead about your company’s needs. This could turn the client off and make them question your competency as a business owner. If you can’t handle disasters well, what else aren’t you handling properly?
4. Decrease In Staff Morale – If you expect employees to help get your business back up and running again, this could put an extra burden on them. It could force them to work extra hours which could lead to a lot of strain. This would be in addition to any stress the disaster itself may have caused them personally. On top of that, it could damage the respect your employees have for you. They might question their efforts at your company when they realize that you didn’t have the foresight to prepare a disaster recovery plan. This could damage their trust and it could affect their willingness to support your company.

You can appreciate the importance of creating a disaster recovery plan when you know how it can affect the areas of your business. Note that this list only includes the areas that could be affected in the immediate future following a disaster. Your business may suffer long-term consequences if a disaster forces a shut down. In the event of a disaster, you can breathe easy knowing you have a plan in place.

Unsure of how exactly to create a disaster recovery plan? Contact Wahaya IT to get started. Wahaya IT can help you assess your business needs so you know where you should be focusing first. That way when disaster strikes, you know you’re prepared.