#business-continuity

#business-continuity

It has become cliché to say that the cloud is the backbone of digital transformation, but cloud outages like the recent AWS incident make enterprise dependence on the cloud painfully clear. Last week's AWS outage impacted thousands of businesses worldwide, from SaaS providers to e-commerce companies. Revenue streams paused or evaporated, customer experiences soured, and brand reputations were at stake. For enterprises that suffer direct financial losses from any outage, the frustration runs deep.

Google is trying to capitalize on what it calls "frequent and severe" Microsoft 365 outages by offering up services like email, storage, and videoconferencing to businesses in the event of a Microsoft outage. The search giant's new Business Continuity plan runs a Google Workspace in parallel with Microsoft 365, so if there's an outage then businesses just switch over to Gmail and Google Meet instead of Outlook and Microsoft Teams.

Winter brings unique difficulties for commercial property owners in Tunbridge Wells. As temperatures drop and harsh weather sets in, roofing systems face increased stress from rain, snow, and freezing conditions. These seasonal pressures can reveal weaknesses that might go unnoticed during milder months. Smart business owners realise that preventative maintenance is far more cost-effective than emergency repairs. A minor leak left unchecked can quickly escalate into serious structural damage, inventory losses, and business disruption.

A Business Continuity Plan (BCP) is often something that many professionals do not pay close attention to. History has shown us that even industry giants can be humbled and collapse or lose significant income when they overlook critical vulnerabilities in their preparation for crises. This can range from overconfidence in their abilities and technologies used to geopolitical unawareness. If the blind spots are not managed carefully, severe crises can be escalated, which can even threaten the future of the business.

"Too many organizations assume they're more resilient than they actually are. This research makes clear that real resilience isn't about where your systems live - it's about how well you've prepared to keep them running."

"Disaster recovery must be viewed as more than a compliance checkbox; it's a business viability issue," says Darrel Kent, field CTO for storage and recovery at GigaOm.

"During a period of transition, organizations often struggle to maintain momentum when a vital leadership position is left vacant. This can lead to stagnation and lost results."

A recent study found that 58% of small business owners prioritize business continuity and safeguarding the business's values over financial considerations.

ISO 22301 transforms business continuity from a luxury for large corporations into an essential strategy for SMEs to enhance resilience and ensure long-term viability.

In today's digitally-driven business landscape, maintaining the seamless operation of applications and services is paramount. Even brief downtime can result in significant financial losses.