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Unforeseen disasters and tech failures can sometimes be so severe that they temporarily stop a business from being able to operate. This is known as downtime and it can have very negative consequences – an inability to serve customers could result in financial loss and it could tarnish your reputation as a reliable company.
Fortunately, you can often prevent downtime by taking preventative measures. Here are just several leading causes of business downtime, as well as the measures you can take to prevent them.
Power cuts
Without electricity, few modern businesses can function. Power cuts can occur for a variety of reasons – often they can be an external problem such as a damaged power cable or power station failure. Investing in a backup power source could allow your company to keep running in these scenarios. Many companies use generators that automatically take over when the mains electricity fails. There are all kinds of generators on the market from diesel generators to solar generators.
Wi-fi failure
A lot of modern companies also rely on internet connection for communication and file sharing. You’re more likely to experience shaky wifi when using a cheap internet provider – upgrading to a premium broadband service could result in a stronger connection. Some companies take the alternative option of setting up a backup wi-fi source such as a pay-as-you-go service.
Hardware failure
Certain hardware could be necessary to your business. For instance, a coffee bar can’t operate if its coffee machine isn’t working. Buying backup machines may be an option, however with some expensive machines this isn’t a possibility. Often the best way to prevent such failures is through thorough maintenance – by keeping machinery serviced, you can spot faults early and get them fixed before they cause a major failure. Once faults start occurring regularly, it could be worth buying a replacement machine preemptively before it breaks down completely.
Software failure
When software crashes or starts to develop bugs, this too can result in downtime for businesses. You can prevent software from failing by installing regular updates when needed and by shutting down programs properly when turning off your computer to avoid corruption. That said, bugs may still appear in certain cases – outsourcing managed IT services could help you to always have a technician on call. Make sure to also read reviews before downloading software to check that it is reliable.
Burglary/cybercrime
Stolen data and machinery may not only cause downtime – it could be enough to close your business for good. You can prevent burglary and cybercrime by improving your company security. There are so many ways in which you can do this – conducting a security audit with the help of experts could help you to identify the most important security measures that you ought to be taking.
Natural disasters
Natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes and earthquakes can also bring down businesses. To keep your business alive, make sure that your most important company information is stored on the cloud. This means that if an earthquake destroys your office and all your computers, you’ll still be able to access key data from your home computer. Of course, you can also take measures to protect your premises from weather damage if you’re in a high-risk zone.
