When severe weather is in the forecast, most businesses focus on protecting their buildings, equipment, and employees. But what about your technology?
With a powerful nor'easter expected to bring heavy rain, damaging winds, and the potential for widespread power outages across Connecticut and the Northeast, now is the perfect time to review your technology preparedness plans.
While no one can control the weather, every organization can take steps to reduce downtime, protect critical data, and ensure business continuity when unexpected disruptions occur.
Why Storm Preparation Matters
Weather-related outages can impact far more than just electricity. Power loss, internet disruptions, hardware failures, and communication challenges can bring business operations to a standstill. Without proper planning, even a short outage can affect productivity, customer service, and access to critical business data.
The good news? A little preparation can go a long way.
1. Verify Backup Power Systems
If your business relies on on-premises servers, networking equipment, or other critical infrastructure, ensure your Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) devices are functioning properly and fully charged. If you utilize backup generators, confirm they have adequate fuel and have been tested recently.Backup power can provide the time needed to maintain operations or perform a controlled shutdown, reducing the risk of equipment damage and data loss.
2. Confirm Your Backups Are Working
Having backups is important. Knowing they actually completed successfully is even more important.
Take a few moments to review recent backup reports and verify that critical systems and data are being protected. In the event of a prolonged outage or hardware failure, reliable backups can make the difference between a minor inconvenience and a major business disruption.
3. Test Remote Access Capabilities
If road conditions become unsafe or local power disruptions impact your office, employees may need to work remotely.
Before the storm arrives, verify that:
VPN access is functioning properly
Remote desktop solutions are accessible
Employees can securely access critical applications and files
Multi-factor authentication is working as expected
Testing now is much easier than troubleshooting during an outage.
4. Review Your Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plan
A Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) plan provides a roadmap for responding to unexpected events.
Key questions to consider include:
Who should employees contact during an outage?
What systems are most critical to business operations?
How will your team communicate if email or phone services are unavailable? What processes should be followed to restore operations? If your plan hasn't been reviewed recently, severe weather is an excellent reminder to revisit it.
5. Educate Employees About Storm-Related Phishing
Unfortunately, cybercriminals often use emergencies and breaking news events to their advantage.
During severe weather events, employees may encounter phishing emails claiming to contain:
- Weather alerts
- Power outage notifications
- Emergency assistance programs
- Shipping or delivery updates
Remind your team to verify unexpected messages, avoid clicking suspicious links, and report unusual emails to your IT team.
6. Shut Down Systems Properly if Necessary
If prolonged outages appear likely, consider gracefully shutting down non-essential equipment before power is lost.
Abrupt power failures can increase the risk of:
- Data corruption
- Hardware damage
- Incomplete transactions
- Extended recovery times
A planned shutdown is always preferable to an unexpected one.
Preparedness Is the Foundation of Resilience
Storms serve as an important reminder that business continuity is not just an IT concern. It's a business concern.
Organizations that regularly assess their preparedness, test their recovery processes, and educate employees are often better positioned to weather disruptions of all kinds, whether they're caused by severe weather, cyberattacks, or unexpected equipment failures.
As you prepare for this weekend's nor'easter, take a few minutes to evaluate your organization's readiness. The time invested today can help reduce downtime, protect critical data, and keep your business moving forward when the unexpected happens.
Stay safe, stay prepared, and remember: the best time to prepare for an outage is before the lights go out.
At Advanced Computer Technologies we help organizations build comprehensive continuity and recovery strategies designed to keep businesses secure, operational, and resilient no matter what comes their way. Based on internal resources, effective BC/DR planning includes risk assessments, backup and recovery procedures, resilience measures, and routine testing to ensure organizations can continue operating during disruptions and recover quickly afterward.
Curious if your business could withstand a major disruption? Contact Advanced to discuss your Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery readiness. Reach us directly at, 203-663-1040 or visit our contact page and reach out today!