Create a single entry point: Create a business-continuity portal for employees and partners. If the company has an intranet, this site becomes command central from which employees can access information – HR policies, emergency contacts and a "click here to access SSL VPN" feature. As this intranet would become the main source of information, it is vital to ensure that it is fast and reliable for employees no matter where they are located.
Coordinate a secondary back-up site: Should the primary site be unavailable, companies should have a real-time mirror of data housed at a secure facility. If configured correctly, organizations can provide an automatic failover between locations, so that any forwarding is seamless to employees as they conduct business with no impact to productivity.
Replicate non-real-time data: In the event that the secondary site is unavailable, organizations should plan for multiple layers of failover. If users cannot access real-time data via the back-up location, a third-tier facility with updates, but not real-time data, can provide most of the necessary tools to keep the business operational until the secondary facilities come back online.
Ensure access from any device: With mobile devices and air cards now permeating the executive suite and key employees, IT departments can leverage these tools to ensure complete connectivity in times of emergencies. However, organizations must first conduct a thorough review of remote-access policies in order to protect the data these devices are accessing.
Pre-arrange “on-the-fly” meeting capabilities: In the event of an office closure, employees still need to communicate internally or with external parties (i.e. suppliers, customers). Providing Web and audio conferencing to remote locations and offsite workers keeps the communication lines open, especially with those unaffected by the office closure.
Review number of sites and VPN gateways: Businesses need to have multiple channels for employees to gain access in case of failover. Conducting a yearly audit will provide a complete picture of your network and the ability to address problem areas before a disaster strikes.
Test, test and retest: Typically, companies today test their Disaster Recovery facility (ies) and remote access policies about once per year. These “fire drills” enable companies to see how the current system is working, especially when employees are accessing information from remote locations (i.e. from home, a relative’s house and hotel). Once complete, those in management, IT and human resources can modify their business continuity plans accordingly.
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