Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami has left the world reeling.
The disaster gave me a much needed wake up call, since I live in earthquake prone Southern California. Prior to this weekend, my family had only a rudimentary disaster preparedness kit, and our emergency plan was hazy at best. There was no excuse for this, given where we live (not to mention my profession.) We are now better prepared.
In the event of a natural disaster, the personal safety of our loved ones is paramount. But what about your business? If your office or work space were obliterated, would you be able to salvage your vital documents and data?
You probably already back up your computer, but if you’re exclusively using an external hard drive, it would most likely be lost in a flood, fire, or other disaster. That’s why I now recommend using an online backup service, such as Carbonite (www.carbonite.com) or Mozy (www.mozy.com). I’ve been using Carbonite for a while, and it’s a great reassurance. It automatically backs up any new files (though you can set your preferences.) Carbonite is currently $54.95 per computer / per year, and worth every penny for the peace of mind.
How about your paper files, documents, and receipts? To what degree would your business be impacted if they all went up in smoke? Consider going (almost) paperless. There are some powerful scanners on the market that can scan multiple pages, receipts, business cards and photos in seconds. Check out Neat Receipts (www.neatco.com) and the ScanSnap (www.fujitsu.com). If you do decide to digitize your business files, remember to back them up—preferably on the cloud.
What else are you doing to protect your business from a disaster? Has Japan’s recent tragedy spurred you to take action, either in your office or at home?
