June first is the start of hurricane season. Every year, we prepare our homes and lives for hazardous weather and an important part of your prep is to have a specific disaster plan in place for your tech and office.
2020 was a heightened year for hurricanes with 30 named systems, and while experts don’t foresee 2021 to be quite at that level, this season is still predicted to be more active than usual. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), predicts a likely range of 13 to 20 named storms this year. Preparation and proactive planning are the best ways to limit loss and disruption.
Below are tech preparations just in time for hurricane season:
Data Backups: Data can be easily lost in the event of severe weather, so it is important to have a backup plan before the season starts to protect your business. When assessing backup plans, we can help you make the choice between onsite and off-site locations, and physical, cloud, or hybrid styles. The 321 rule is also a great outline to follow for a secure backup structure.
Cradle Points: Weather events can take out physical lines to and from buildings and this can affect your primary internet. Having a Cradle Point (a device that connects to your edge router/firewall that provides a redundant internet connection over cellular towers), will keep you afloat in this scenario.
Power Supply: In the event you lose power, combining a Cradle Point as listed above with a battery backup is a good way to cover all of your bases. If your business is one that doesn’t have to stay online, unplugging your devices is the best way to avoid damage from lightning hits and electrical surges.
Remember to always have a plan in place and proper supplies to keep you and your family safe and healthy. Many national and state resources exist for more information about hurricane safety beyond the tech sector. You can find printable NC guides in English and Spanish here at ReadyNC.
Have questions regarding hurricane tech safety tips? Drop us a line at Solutions@thetek.com
