Why It Makes Sense to Create a Written Plan for when Disaster Strikes

When natural disasters happen, people tend to rely on a very clear set of instructions to help mitigate the damage that the emergency might cause. It only makes sense that you should have a written plan when it comes to technology emergencies, too. The benefits of doing so are many, and it could make a tremendous difference in the continuity of your company.

Why You Need a Disaster Recovery Planning Project

You’d never drive your car without insurance since you wouldn’t be covered in the event of an emergency. If your company’s IT department doesn’t have a disaster recovery plan, it’s just like driving without insurance. If something happens, whether that something is a fire, a flood, an earthquake, or even a complete system failure, you will have nothing to fall back on and your company would come to a screeching halt. It’s imperative to put together a written disaster recovery plan that is easy to understand. This way, when the worst happens, everyone knows exactly what to do to help ensure that your business is able to not only survive, but thrive as if nothing ever happened.

People Will Have to Work Somewhere

If a disaster is physical in nature, such as a fire or a severe weather event, then your employees won’t be able to carry out their jobs on-site. Part of your disaster recovery plan should include a list of the most critical jobs in your business – the ones that are vital to its continuity. As an example, while you might consider your accountant and your customer service team critical parts of your company, your telemarketing team is not. Aside from deciding which jobs you’ll need to relocate, you should also decide where they will work. Setting up an alternative location before an emergency strikes can make a huge difference.

Losing Data Is Bad News

Finally, one of the worst possible things that could happen in a disaster is the loss of your data. If you store your servers on-site, then this risk is multiplied tenfold. If those servers go down and you don’t have a backup, think of all of the information you will lose. Your customers’ names and addresses, your shipping and warehouse data, and so much more would be affected. Recovering from such a thing would be next to impossible. Fortunately, you can hire companies to help you with data redundancy. These companies keep backups of all of your server information off-site, so when disaster strikes, your information is protected.

You Must Prevent Downtime

Finally, perhaps the most important reason for creating a written disaster plan has to do with the prevention of downtime. When your servers go offline and you don’t have backups, it’s almost like your company ceases to exist. Your website will display errors, your telephone systems may not work, and your customers won’t be able to reach your sales or customer service agents. It doesn’t take long before your entire brand is affected, either. That’s why you need redundancy – to minimize downtime and keep your reputation solid.

Just as being able to act immediately in the event of an emergency could save lives, a written disaster recovery plan can save your business. It defines the steps that everyone must take in such a way that they are easily understood, and all of these steps can help keep your business up and running.

Common IT Security Compliance Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

June 17, 2025
Meeting IT security compliance standards is crucial for businesses that handle sensitive data, particularly in industries such as healthcare, finance, defense, and e-commerce. Regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA, CMMC, PCI-DSS, and GDPR exist to help ensure businesses protect customer information and maintain robust cybersecurity practices. Unfortunately, many organizations fall short of these requirements, often due to common, avoidable mistakes. These gaps can result in costly fines, data breaches, and reputational damage, which can significantly impact the business's bottom line and customer trust. 1. Failing to Conduct Regular Risk Assessments The Pitfall: Many businesses overlook the importance of conducting routine risk assessments. Without these, it’s challenging to identify vulnerabilities or evaluate whether your current cybersecurity controls meet compliance standards. How to Avoid It: Implement a regular risk assessment schedule. Work with a qualified IT provider to evaluate your systems, identify weaknesses, and document remediation plans. These assessments should be performed at least annually, or whenever significant changes to the system occur. 2. Inadequate Employee Training The Pitfall: Your employees are your first line of defense—and often your most significant vulnerability. A common compliance issue arises when businesses fail to train staff on cybersecurity best practices or on handling sensitive data appropriately. How to Avoid It: Invest in ongoing cybersecurity awareness training. Ensure employees understand how to recognize phishing emails, create strong passwords, and report any suspicious activity. Training should be updated regularly to reflect current threats and compliance requirements. 3. Improper Data Handling and Storage The Pitfall: Storing sensitive data in unsecured locations, failing to encrypt information, or retaining data longer than necessary are significant compliance risks. These practices are often flagged during audits. How to Avoid It: Adopt data classification policies that define how different types of data should be handled; encrypt sensitive data both at rest and in transit. Establish clear data retention policies and ensure that obsolete data is disposed of securely. 4. Lack of Incident Response Planning The Pitfall: When a security incident occurs, time is of the essence. Many businesses lack a documented incident response plan, or their existing plan hasn’t been thoroughly tested. This can lead to delayed responses, increased damage, and regulatory penalties. How to Avoid It: Develop a formal incident response plan that includes roles, responsibilities, communication protocols, and steps for containment and recovery. Run simulated breach scenarios with your IT team to ensure everyone knows how to respond effectively. 5. Using Outdated Software or Systems The Pitfall: Running outdated operating systems, software, or firmware is a common issue that can lead to compliance failures. Unsupported technologies are more vulnerable to exploitation. How to Avoid It: Keep all systems and applications up to date with the latest patches. Use automated tools to track software versions and receive alerts about end-of-life technologies. Schedule regular maintenance windows to apply updates and upgrades. 6. Insufficient Access Controls The Pitfall: Allowing too many employees access to sensitive data—or failing to revoke access when it’s no longer needed—can lead to data breaches and non-compliance. How to Avoid It: Implement role-based access controls and follow the principle of least privilege. This principle means that each user should have the minimum level of access necessary to perform their job. Regularly audit user accounts and permissions to ensure access is current and appropriate. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an additional layer of protection. 7. Neglecting Third-Party Vendor Risks The Pitfall: Businesses often overlook the fact that their compliance responsibilities extend to third-party vendors. If a vendor mishandles your data, you could still be held accountable. How to Avoid It: Vet third-party vendors carefully. Ensure they meet the same compliance standards as your business and include security requirements in your contracts. Conduct periodic audits or request compliance certifications from your vendors. 8. Failing to Document Policies and Procedures The Pitfall: Even if your security practices are strong, failing to document your compliance policies can result in audit failures. Regulators want to see evidence that you have formal processes in place. How to Avoid It: Create and maintain clear documentation for all compliance-related policies, including data protection, access control, incident response, and employee training. Make these documents easily accessible for audits and regularly review them to ensure updates are current. Conclusion Compliance with IT security standards is not a one-time project—it requires ongoing attention, regular updates, and a proactive approach to maintain effectiveness. By understanding and addressing these common pitfalls, your business can stay ahead of regulatory requirements, strengthen its security posture, and reduce the risk of costly incidents. This ongoing attention is crucial to maintaining your business's security and audit readiness. If you’re unsure whether your business is meeting current IT compliance standards, professional support can help. Contact SDTEK today to schedule a compliance assessment and learn how our IT services can keep your business secure and audit-ready. With our support, you can navigate the complex landscape of IT security compliance with confidence.

Why Cybersecurity and Business IT Support Are Crucial for Fort Wayne Businesses

April 9, 2025
In today’s digital-first world, cybersecurity isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether you run a small startup or a growing enterprise in Fort Wayne , protecting your business’s data, systems, and clients is essential for long-term success. From ransomware attacks to phishing scams, cyber threats are evolving every day, and the best way to stay ahead of them is by partnering with a reliable IT services provider that understands the unique needs of local businesses. Here’s why investing in professional business IT support is one of the smartest decisions Fort Wayne businesses can make—and how working with SDTEK helps protect your operations, your data, and your reputation.