Hurricane season is a period of the year when people in the coastal regions of the United States brace themselves for possible natural disasters. Such disasters may lead to damage of property and loss of lives, but it may also cause disruption to businesses and the economy. As a CEO of a business, it is imperative to take proactive measures to prepare your IT infrastructure and cybersecurity protocols for the hurricane season.

In this blog post, we provide you with information on how you can prepare for the hurricane season in regards to your IT systems and cybersecurity.

Backup and disaster recovery solutions: In the event of a hurricane and subsequent flooding, there could be damage to the critical IT infrastructure of your business, including servers, computers, and data centers. The best way to prepare for this probability is to have a backup plan in place. Companies should back-up all essential business data on a regular basis, using both on-site and off-site data backups. This will ensure that your data is safe and secure and that it can be retrieved in the event of any physical damage to the primary IT infrastructure.

Cybersecurity protocols: Many companies focus on physical infrastructure and forget that a hurricane also poses a cybersecurity risk. After a hurricane, there are usually phishing scams, spam emails, and malware attacks targeted at victims of disasters. Most of these emails and scams are disguised as offers of assistance, claiming to provide aid or assistance during the recovery. As a Business Owner, it is essential that you inform your employees about the risks of such scams and give them clear instructions on how to identify and report suspicious emails.

Power backup: Hurricane season may cause prolonged power outages, and such outages pose a significant threat to business operations. As a Business Owner, you should consider investing in power backup solutions such as generators that can keep your IT infrastructure up and running even during electric outages. With a reliable backup power solution, your company can resist the negative effects of power outage and conduct businesses as usual.

Secure remote access: In some cases, companies may have to relocate their employees to safer areas if hurricane risks increase. In such cases, the IT department may need to enable employees to access the central network securely from remote locations. VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) or secure remote desktop access that are based on strong encryption methods are the safest ways to provide remote systems and employee access without increased risk.

Rehearsed emergency plan: Preparing for hurricane season for your IT infrastructure and cybersecurity protocols also involves having a rehearsed emergency plan. Your employees should be aware of what they must do in the event of any emergency situation, such as data loss or a physical disaster. The emergency plan should include details on how each employee can secure company data and systems, maintain essential operations, and continue communication during a crisis.

The importance of preparing for hurricane season in regards to IT infrastructure and cybersecurity protocols cannot be overstated. With proper planning, businesses can prevent data loss, damage to their IT infrastructure, and place themselves in an ideal position to function and serve their customers during and after the hurricane season. As a CEO, take proactive measures to back up data, invest in secure remote access, communicate with your employees, and establish a rehearsed emergency plan. These actions will ensure that your IT infrastructure and cyber protocols are secure, and you can maintain business continuity despite the seasonal risks.

Learn More