Info-Tech Research Group's latest blueprint delivers
essential strategies for organizations to maintain continuity
during power outages, emphasizing the importance of preparedness
for operational resilience. This research outlines proactive
measures to safeguard operations against the increasing frequency
of electrical disruptions, enhancing both strategic planning and
crisis response capabilities.
TORONTO, May 3, 2024
/CNW/ - In today's digital
landscape, having uninterrupted operations during power
outages is critical for any organization, as disruptions can lead
to significant operational and financial losses. To assist
organizations in enhancing their resilience against power
disruptions, Info-Tech Research Group has released a new blueprint,
Maintain Continuity in a Power Outage. This newly published
research highlights the importance of preparing for specific outage
scenarios, conducting regular tests, and performing comprehensive
business impact analyses to safeguard operations and reduce the
risk of significant downtime.
"There is a significant risk of rolling blackouts
around the world due to potential natural gas shortages and weather
events such as hurricanes, floods, droughts, and wildfires, as well
as crumbling power grids in some developing
countries," says Mark
Tauschek, Vice President, Research Fellowships and
Distinguished Analyst at Info-Tech Research Group. "We
generally discuss disaster response planning (DRP) and business
continuity planning (BCP) as comprehensive plans that cover all
technology domains and business processes. However, it is advisable
to narrow the scope to a single incident or event if there is a
materially higher risk of it happening."
Info-Tech's blueprint details how organizations can specifically
prepare for and manage power outages to maintain operational
continuity. It emphasizes the need for organizations to undertake
thorough business impact analyses and develop focused disaster
response strategies that address the most likely scenarios, such as
power interruptions. This approach includes crafting detailed,
scenario-specific recovery workflows and regularly testing these
plans to ensure readiness.
Our guidance is to prepare for power outages as if they were
a near certainty. If you don't have a documented DRP or BCP or if
they are dated and untested, take this opportunity to laser focus
on a single event – a loss of electricity," explains Tauschek.
"Understand the business impact and risk, conduct comprehensive
and honest tabletop planning, develop recovery workflows, and test
your capability to maintain business continuity during a power
outage.
The firm also stresses the importance of a layered backup power
strategy, incorporating solutions like uninterruptible power supply
(UPS) systems, generators, and possibly renewable energy options to
ensure resilience during prolonged outages. This multifaceted
approach can help organizations respond effectively to immediate
disruptions and sustain critical operations during extended power
failures, aligning with best practices for business continuity in
unpredictable environments.
Every organization should maintain comprehensive disaster
recovery and business continuity plans. However, Info-Tech advises
that organizations in areas particularly vulnerable to power
outages prioritize refining the following processes to enhance
their ability to respond to and sustain operations during such
disruptions:
1. Conducting a business impact analysis
(BIA):
- Understand the dependencies and impacts and define recovery
time and recovery point objectives for a power outage.
2. Execute tabletop planning:
- Tabletop exercises are the most effective ways to test and
increase business confidence in business recovery
capabilities.
3. Make recovery workflows practical:
- Document the steps identified in the tabletop exercises to
create a draft recovery workflow.
4. Pull the plug – test backup and recovery:
- Real-world testing of recovery workflows is essential to ensure
the process is effective.
By implementing the strategies outlined in Info-Tech's
blueprint, organizations can maintain critical functions even under
adverse conditions, thereby protecting assets, minimizing downtime,
and upholding service reliability. This strategic preparedness is
invaluable for fostering resilience and confidence among
stakeholders, positioning organizations for sustained success in an
unpredictable environment.
For exclusive and timely commentary on this topic from
Info-Tech's experts and access to the complete Maintain
Continuity in a Power Outage blueprint, please
contact pr@infotech.com.
Info-Tech LIVE 2024
Registration is now open for Info-Tech Research Group's annual
IT conference, Info-Tech LIVE 2024, taking place September 17 to 19, 2024, at the iconic Bellagio
in Las Vegas. This premier event
offers journalists, podcasters, and media influencers access to
exclusive content, the latest IT research and trends, and the
opportunity to interview industry experts, analysts, and speakers.
To apply for media passes to attend the event or gain access to
research and expert insights on trending topics, please contact
pr@infotech.com.
About Info-Tech Research
Group
Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading
research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT and HR
professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant
research and provides advisory services to help leaders make
strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30
years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them
with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst
guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their
organizations.
To learn more about Info-Tech's divisions, visit McLean &
Company for HR research and advisory
services and SoftwareReviews for software buying
insights.
Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to
research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry
analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access,
contact pr@infotech.com.
For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the
latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via
LinkedIn and X.
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SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group