Has this ever happened to you?
You are working on an important document, a proposal for a client or a customer report. All of a sudden, everything goes blank, and your computer shuts off. The power has gone off.
After a few mumbled words under your breath, you think back to the last time you hit the save button. Seconds before? Minutes before? Did you hit save at all?
Power outages may seem infrequent; maybe a few have occurred in your office and your home this year. But what about other forms of power interruption? There are four main types of power disturbances:
- Voltage dips
- Electromagnetic interference
- Radio frequency interference
- Power surges
Power surges are considered to be the most destruction of them all. They are brief, lasting only milliseconds. And they can vary from unnoticeable to completely destroying everything in its path. They can originate from an electric company making switches to a power grid, from a lightning strike, or from a large appliance like an air conditioning unit turning on and off.
None is out of the question. All can happen and impact your business any day of the year. The question is: are you prepared?
Surge Protection
As a business owner, there are three simple steps you can take to ensure you are ready for any power surge that threatens your business.
- Use point of use surge protectors for every piece of equipment you own. Be aware that these can wear out as they take on surges; replace often.
- Install a heavy duty surge suppressor at your main service panel. This will deal with large transient voltages that enter your building.
- Make sure you are protected with insurance. Your agent can recommend coverage that will ensure all equipment is protected for both repair and replacement.
Regular Backup
No matter how careful you are, there is always a risk of your hardware being destroyed, leaving your data vulnerable. Backing up regularly is the only way to ensure you don’t lose valuable resources if the unthinkable happens. Regular backup ensures:
- Simple recovery. Mistakes happen all the time. Whether you forget to hit save, or a power surge destroys your equipment, having a backup system in place ensures that every word is saved off site and is available whenever you need it.
- Avoiding downtime. Studies show that up to 43 percent of all businesses that shut down after losing major data loss never reopen. Not only can it impact your relationship with your customers, but it can ruin your reputation as well.
- Never do work twice. Nothing is more frustrating than having to recreate something you got right the first time. Editing is easy. Recreating is time consuming and difficult. With a solid backup system in place, you’ll never have to worry about that again.
What’s your security plan for power interruption?
