Panic. No matter what your belief system tells you to be true about the coronavirus, you can’t ignore the sense of overwhelm that is now a global issue.
With panic comes opportunity.
Princess Cruises just announced that in addition to dealing with outbreaks of coronavirus, it’s also dealing with a data breach.
Mobile phones belonging to government officials in Hong Kong containing personal data on people within the coronavirus quarantine are missing.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Expect more to follow.
When you’re in panic mode, your focus changes. Businesses and events are shutting down all over the globe. The world is coming to a standstill. If at all possible, people are moving back home, working from home, all while being scattered about the future.
Shortages may start with toilet paper and canned goods, but it will quickly spread to all areas of the supply chain. Hardware, security measures, and technical skills will soon follow. While you might be prepared for certain individuals to work outside of the office, what about the majority of your staff? Do you have everything in place to make the transition seamless?
Now ask yourself another question.
What if this takes a year or more to get back to normal?
Not only will you be dealing with cybercriminals finding easy access points, but you’ll also be dealing with disgruntled employees and former workers creating havoc because they can.
Even the World Health Organization has set up a page warning people about the advancement of cybercriminals.
With all of this in mind, what should you be doing right now?
Start by creating a business impact analysis (BIA.) This process will help define and evaluate the potential effects further interruption will cause to your business environment. It enables you to locate critical services and systems within your organization, and identify any reliances on outside resources, vendors, or technology. You can’t secure what you don’t even know is there.
Adapt and respond to changing times by creating a business continuity plan (BCP.) This document will help you outline how you handle unplanned disruption in each service you use. It’s your disaster recovery plan for each of your business processes, assets, human resources, and customer relations. How can you continue to recover with little reliance on outside suppliers or technology?
Businesses that think and plan rather than react are going to be the ones that survive and thrive as we move into a new future.
For IT Strategy, Cloud Conversion, or Help Desk Services reach out to us at Silver Linings Technology 360-450-4759.
