< 1 MIN READ
Published 08/06/2018
In today’s digital world, companies are frequently focused on cyber risks and data protection—and rightfully so. But there are other vulnerabilities that are equally important and should not be ignored. Follow our checklist to ensure that you don’t miss any critical areas.
- Systems infrastructure
What happens if the power goes out? Will you be able access data and records? What about accounts payable? Do you have alarms in place to alert you to any failures, damage, or break-ins? Make sure that your company has backup systems and contingencies in place for any failures. - Exits and evacuation
Do you have safe, stairways, hallways, and egresses for all employees and visitors—that are also up-to-code? Ensure that hallways are well-lit (even in a power outage) and clear of obstacles. You should have clearly marked exits which filter into safe outdoor places. Last, evacuation plans should be posted in multiple places, and drills should be conducted to make sure employees know exactly what to do. - Security
Security is a wide-ranging vulnerability that encompasses protecting your company from monetary damages, your building from physical damages, and your staff from harm. What protections do you have in place to prevent theft (cyber, employee, external, and copyright), physical break-ins, and/or threats to your employees and customers? - Business continuity
Is your company prepared to operate in the event of a power outage or other business interruption? At a minimum, you should have a business continuity plan that includes suppliers, off-site resources or stations, backup data or file storage, and steps for disaster recovery. - Natural catastrophes
Natural disasters are on the rise, but is your company prepared? Preparations should be covered in your business continuity plan (discussed above), but you should also evaluate your region for extreme weather risks of all types, including floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, snowstorms, hail, lightning, fires, explosions, and more—and then make special provisions. - Communication
How will you warn employees, family members, customers, and vendors during an emergency? You’ll need to establish a way to communicate—a plan that everyone knows and practices—as well as a clear chain of command and backup methods in case of communication failures. - Workplace violence
Are you conducting background checks on all new hires? Do you have a threat assessment and management team—and plan? In this day and age, protecting against workplace violence or even terrorism is something that businesses cannot ignore.
While this checklist offers an overview of the seven primary areas of business vulnerability, it only scratches the surface of the deeper evaluation and planning that your company should undertake to be fully prepared. For a more in-depth look at how to get started with creating a business continuity plan, read our short guide, Are you prepared for a business interruption? 7 steps to creating a business continuity plan for any disaster.
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