WHAT IS BUSINESS CONTINUITY

TRYING TO DEFINE BUSINESS CONTINUITY ISN’T ALWAYS EASY. Everyone seems to have a unique definition these days. Depending on how your business operates, you may think about it a lot differently than the guy next to you.

SO WHAT’S A GENERAL DEFINITION? IS THERE ONE? DO MORE THAN ONE APPLY TO YOU?Let’s start by defining what business continuity is NOT.

BUSINESS CONTINUITY ≠ DATA BACKUP

A data backup is the result of copying or archiving files and folders for the purpose of being able to restore them in case of data loss. Data loss can be caused by many things ranging from computer viruses to hardware failures to file corruption to fire, flood, or theft (etc). Mar 10, 2015

BUSINESS CONTINUITY ≠ DISASTER RECOVERY

Disaster recovery is the area of security planning that deals with protecting an organization from the effects of significant negative events.

You may be scratching your head at this point, saying, “BUT THOSE THINGS MAKE UP MY BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLAN?!”You are 100% correct, data backup and disaster recovery most certainly contribute to your business continuity plan. But the two should never stand alone!

NOT SURE WHAT KIND OF DATA BACKUP IS THE YING TO YOUR DISASTER RECOVERY YANG?

To help alleviate the head scratching, we’ve asked managed service providers to give us their best definition of business continuity!

MATTHEW HAHNVice President of Network ServicesSWK Technologies, Inc.

Business continuity is, quite simply, the ability to keep one’s IT operations up and running while experiencing minimal impacts during events that would normally disrupt operations in their entirety.

ZACHARY RAMSEYTechnical Sales EngineerSolutions, Inc.

Business continuity is the ability to keep your business up and running in times of user error, hardware error, and natural disasters. In times like these, businesses want to make sure they can keep running with minimal impact on day-to-day operations.

MICHAEL PATRICKSolutions ArchitectMirazon

Business continuity is the ability to continue accessing company data even when the primary business servers are offline or totally destroyed.

SERGIO ESPINOSASupport EngineerFlexible Systems

Business continuity is about building resiliency into a business’s core functions. It’s about identifying and mitigating risk. It’s about making the operations that are business-critical bulletproof.

STEVE WEEKSPresidentNetcetera Consulting, Inc.

Business continuity is the capability for an organization to continue to deliver products and services at an acceptable and predefined level following a disruptive incident. It is common sense, peace of mind and the ability to keep calm and ‘Datto on’ in the face of major adversity.

KEEP CALM

AND

DATTO ON

CHAD KEMPTOwnerFast Computers

Business continuity is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the ability to continue operating your business in the midst of a technical disaster; Datto’s technology makes this possible for businesses of any size.

MICHAEL BATTAGLIABackup and Disaster Recovery EngineerFlexible Systems

Business continuity is about protecting your essential business operations. The goal is to minimize negative consequences of a disaster from occurring. To identify threats that would cause turmoil to your business and take appropriate steps to remedy them. It’s all about being pre-pared and taking a proper course of action.

Business continuity is about inspiring confidence that your organization can continue to operate in the event of a technical crisis. It is proactive protection against the inherent risk all companies have given the heavy reliance on the technology we use to service our clients.

MICHAEL SIROTADirector of Sales & ServicesRational Business Solutions

JAY WINKSSenior Systems ArchitectInCare Technologies

Business continuity: a conceptual construct describing how an organization maintains a defined minimum operational capacity in the face of unplanned disruption of standard, day-to-day processing systems and operating procedures. An effective business continuity plan is a multi-faceted and living, breathing process that must grow with the organization to remain effective.

ON A LIGHTER NOTE…

Business continuity = The ability to continue working when sh*t hits the fan. Sh*t hits the fan = Hardware failures, viruses, theft, natural disasters, flustered people that hit their electronics when things don’t work.

GABRIEL ZEVALLOS-CROWEOwnerTotal Computer Solutions, LLC

STUART SACKSOwnerStrategic Data Systems

Business continuity means your business stays operating when the computer gods (primarily Satan) attempt to help your competitors close your business, steal your spouse, and eat your lunch.

AND TO SUM IT ALL UP…

TONY SHANNONSystems EngineerConverged Communication Solutions Ltd

Business continuity is keeping the lights on, the wheels turning and the phones ringing, no matter what the day brings.

HOW’S THAT FOR DEFINING BUSINESS CONTINUITY? We can’t argue with any of these, because as a managed service provider, no one understands the needs of your clients better than YOU.

So we ask you now:

What’s YOUR best definition of business continuity? Tweet @datto and let us know!

If you need some extra inspiration, or just some help getting the words out, we recommend checking out this eBook. Identifying what makes a business continuity plan effective is the first step in defining what true business continuity is.