Smartphones and wireless-capable netbooks can provide alternate communications methods during a natural disaster.
Natural disasters can rob businesses of productivity and profits, if not prepared for in advance. Quickly recovering communications means you keep in contact with customers, vendors and your staff, and can problem-solve on the fly. Many businesses under-prepare for natural disasters, but with adequate planning and preparation, your business need not lose communications capabilities. Instead, it will simply change temporarily from its primary communications method to its alternative method.
Instructions
1. Prepare a business continuity plan before disaster strikes, developing recovery strategies and mechanisms before you need them.
2. Purchase and install a back-up communications option. Depending on the size and needs of your business, this could include a Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) system, smartphones with PIN-to-PIN and/or unlimited data plans, a WiMax network and netbooks, ham radios or a combination of the above so voice and e-mail access continue.
3. Engage your plan and back-up communications option when a disaster strikes, so your company has continuous communications.
4. Contact your regular communications provider as soon as possible post-disaster to begin the process of restoring your primary communications options. Restoration is generally on a first-come, first-serve basis, addressing the most densely populated areas first.
Tags: back-up communications, back-up communications option, communications option, disaster strikes, primary communications, your business