VoIP Business continuity is from the shipping industry to telecom to retail, almost all have a policy in their service terms and conditions referencing force majeure, or uncontrollable events. More often than not, in northern Mississippi, tornadoes are the force most likely to cause devastating effects in spring. Recent data from WalletHub shows that Mississippi ranks tied for number one, per capita annually, in costs associated with natural disasters at $1 billion.

Do you have a plan for when the unexpected knocks at your door? Read below for the information you need or call Complete Computers to talk with a consultant who can tailor a solution to you. 

Importance of a VoIP Business Continuity Disaster Plan During Tornado Season 

A disaster recovery plan is only complete with a VoIP business continuity plan. You need to be there when your customers need you the most, and your employees need to be able to service those clients from anywhere. A report from Forbes cites FEMA data showing that 40 percent of SMBs do not recover after a natural disaster. That statistic is mind-boggling and even more reason to discuss a disaster recovery plan. 

Key Benefits Provided by VoIP Business When Disasters Strike

Before we go any further, let’s have a little thought experiment: If you were to lose power right now, how quickly could you get up and working again?

I challenge you to really think about it.

Do you have a VoIP Business continuity plan?

Now, before you start spiraling into what you need to do, use this article to help ensure you are prepared for when, not if, the unexpected occurs. VoIP business continuity is here to take the questions out of your disaster recovery communication needs.  

Call Forwarding

Your business cannot be down. If your physical office location loses power, your VoIP business continuity plan should include call forwarding to cell phones until users can relocate to a place with an internet connection. Then, they can use soft phones on their computers to take calls until the problem is resolved.  

Mitigation of Downtime / Automatic Failover

A popular option is to have a second internet connection—DSL, fiber, 4G LTE, or 5G—in case your primary ISP goes down. A solid backup will allow for uninterrupted service in any scenario, and for longer outages, it provides a stopgap until more permanent locations can be reached. This valuable step to reduce downtime is critical in your VoIP business continuity plan.

Remote Availability

For extended remote needs, connecting using a home internet connection will do the trick. Since calls can be taken through a desk phone, computer application, or app on a cell phone, you can accommodate any situation that arises.

How to Prepare for Disaster Recovery

Not to sound too much like a school-aged child, but I don’t want to do another disaster drill. Yes, you do, Sally. It’s smart to conduct periodic IT health checks to reduce possible issues.

You need everyone to do their assigned task instinctively if anything unexpected happens. Think of this like a fire safety plan you have with your family: talk it over regularly, be clear on tasks, and rotate tasks occasionally so more people know how to help if obstacles arise.

Create a Business Backup Plan

While VoIP business continuity is baked into your communications needs, other business aspects must be considered. If there is a power outage, how quickly can people get home to get back online? Until everyone is temporarily set up, do calls get routed to cell phones? This is not apocalyptic thinking. With the safeguards and system redundancies put in place, you can be available anytime the unexpected strikes. Create a plan that covers any plausible circumstance for your business.

Evaluate Critical Needs

Discuss with your various vendors their backup plans. You may be able to get yourself back up and running, but if there are things out of your control, you need to work through how your business functions based on your vendors’ setups.

Collect Data

The more information you have about the various systems you use, the more you can save money and frustration. A survey from BigPanda states that a business with 1,000 to 2,500 employees loses, on average, $1,850 per minute it is down due to an IT outage. The impact for a small business varies widely depending on the industry but could ultimately be more catastrophic because it won’t have the capital to cover missed revenue.

Run Regular Drills to Test Effectiveness and Revise

Plan, test, revise, plan, test, revise, and retest. This is not paranoia; it is knowing this plan will be needed at some point, and being prepared could be the difference between your business surviving or not. 

Rest Assured, You Will Be There When You Are Needed the Most

Here in northern Mississippi, the unexpected happens. We can be hit with tornadoes every year, and with Complete Computers, you will be prepared. Our ccVoice, ccWireless and ccService will help you prepare for when Mother Nature strikes. Please reach out today and let your local provider make sure you are set up to thrive when disaster hits.