Operational Resilience: It's More Than Just IT Backup

For many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the assumption is often made that their IT backup solution is their BCP plan. However, this is a misconception that can have consequences more serious than a bad case of Monday blues.

A true business continuity plan goes beyond IT backup and encompasses the entire organisation. It's like a roadmap, guiding you through all the twists and turns of potential disruptions. It involves mapping out all critical business processes and identifying those single points of failure that could bring everything to a screeching halt.

At Dash, we've seen it all – companies relying on spreadsheets that would make even the most seasoned accountant weep, or single PCs running the entire payroll system (talk about putting all your eggs in one basket!). These situations are like ticking time bombs, waiting to explode and leave businesses scrambling.

And let's not forget about the internet! In today's digital world, where online orders and customer interactions are the lifeblood of many businesses, a slow internet connection can bring everything to a grinding halt.

To ensure operational resilience, SMEs need to take a holistic approach to business continuity planning. It's not rocket science, but it does require a bit of foresight and planning. 

This involves:

• Identifying critical business processes (the ones that keep the lights on and the staff paid)

• Identifying potential single points of failure.

• Developing mitigation strategies for each potential failure point (backup plans for your backup plans) - this can be as basic as an order book to replace a stock management system

• Regularly testing the business continuity plan (practice makes perfect, even in disaster preparedness)

By following these steps, SMEs can significantly reduce the risk of disruption and ensure that they are able to continue operating even when the unexpected happens. So, ditch the ‘it won’t happen to me’ attitude and embrace a well-rounded approach to business continuity – your future self will thank you for it! Questions? Lets talk - contact us today.