Ensuring Business Continuity Using Cloud Management
January 29, 2022 - Reading time: 3 minutes
A business requires various resources like technology, infrastructure and staff. In this information age, it is essential for organisations to also focus on the technological front for the success of their business.
Although modern technology is undoubtedly one of the core aspects of success, an unexpected scenario, like a sudden threat, may break your organisation in seconds.
For this reason, it's crucial to invest in a cloud management device to safeguard your data. In addition, enlisting the expertise of online marketing agents may help ensure business continuity.
The Importance of BCP
A business continuity plan (BCP) outlines the proactive strategy of an enterprise in the event of a threat or a disaster.
"Depending on the organisation's nature and its size and various other factors, a company must design an optimal plan to minimise the effect of disaster and continue the critical business functions" (Scott Hannig, SANS).
Your business has to stay active even after a disaster occurs. If your organisation closes its operations even for a week, chances are, you'll experience losses that may result in a shutdown.
In addition, legal issues may arise if your organisation fails to provide critical services to your clients and safety to your employees.
Ensuring the security of your client's information assets and the safety of your employees is vital. They are not just ethical and moral issues but also a sensitive part of business continuity.
For this reason, if your enterprise hasn't had a BCP yet, now is the time to consider outlining one to prevent possible huge losses and reputational damages.
Key Features of an Effective BCP
The elements of a business continuity plan are the following:
- Strategy: Your organisation must have methods to complete day-to-day activities while ensuring continuous operations.
- Organisation: This is anything related to the skills, structure, communications and responsibilities of your employees.
- Applications and data: These refer to software that enables business operations.
- Processes: These are IT processes necessary to run your business to ensure smooth operations.
- Technology: This is anything related to the network systems and industry-specific technology required for continuous operations and backups for applications and data.
- Facilities: These are objects associated with providing a disaster recovery site if the primary site is ruined.
Ensuring Business Continuity in the Cloud
Cloud management refers to software applications and platforms to monitor and manage cloud operations, services, and data.
Cloud management technologies and tools ensure optimal performance of cloud services and resources.
Moving to cloud-based systems can make your organisation more adaptive, efficient, and profitable. However, taking this route requires careful planning.
Below are four essential things to consider regarding business continuity in the cloud:
- Ensure that your cloud provider gives you the level of data accessibility you need.
- Always prepare regular backups of critical data.
- Check the level of support your cloud provider offers.
- Ensure that your BCP includes contingencies for a potentially permanent loss of all data you have stored in the cloud.
Conclusion
A business continuity plan plays a vital role in your organisation's sustainability in this competitive business world.
When you have a contingency plan in place, you can protect your business from unpredictable circumstances.
Therefore, if you haven't prepared a BCP, make sure to outline one. This way, you can save your organisation from potential financial losses and reputational damages.
Lastly, ensure to invest in a high-quality cloud management device and seek the expertise of an online marketing agency to secure business continuity in the cloud.
References
- Cloud Management Optimization – Issues and Developments https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332143932_Cloud_Management_Optimization
- Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plan for Information Security https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1068&context=msia_etds
- Recovering from disaster: Implementing disaster recovery plans following terrorism. SANS Institute. Retrieved from https://www.sans.org/readingroom/whitepapers/recovery/recovering-disaster-implementing-disaster-recovery-plansterrorism-558
by Fay Smith