Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
Resource Type: Risk eNews
Topic: Business Continuity Planning, Data Privacy, Tech Risk, Cybersecurity
For most of us, the word “disaster” usually brings to mind a natural disaster like a hurricane or a tsunami, but in the risk management world technology disasters immediately come to mind. An unexpected loss of data or communication can bring an entire organization to a halt if power, internet, email, or cell service is compromised. Today, Information Technology professionals use the word “disaster” to refer to data loss—a disaster because the traumatic loss of records, websites, files, and other data is devastating to organizations. Data loss can be caused by internal mishaps like an employee losing a laptop, a sprinkler system going off in a server room, or a colleague accidentally wiping a financial record. Losses also come from outside an organization in the form of ransomware, phishing attacks, or other cybersecurity threats.
Unfortunately, many nonprofit leaders are unaware of where their data lives, much less what steps to take should it be lost. To combat technology risks thoughtful organizations develop disaster recovery plans to map out recovery strategies for various types of data loss, and business continuity plans that prepare the organization’s critical operations to continue running smoothly through a technology mishap.
Rather than anticipate every technology disaster that could occur, at NRMC we encourage nonprofit leaders to delve into tech risks by focusing on three areas of vulnerability: data, communication, and technology personnel. Here are some basic questions to ask yourself as you start to build your disaster recovery and business continuity plans with respect to technology:
If your answer is ‘no’ or worse, “I don’t know,” resolve to get up to speed with the answers before the data is lost, the phone lines are down, or the webmaster gets the measles! You don’t want to be taking care of your technology on the fly in mission critical situations.
A bit of good news is that since technology concerns and risks are virtually universal—regardless of organization type or size—there are countless resources, advisors, and tools to help organizations of any size anticipate and prepare for technology mishaps. With so much critical information being sent back and forth on the internet today, technology providers are motivated to provide secure data solutions. With the help of a knowledgeable IT professional, affordable plans can usually be created to prepare for most types of technology loss.
After identifying assets and exposures related to data, communication and personnel, it’s time to put a plan in place that will reduce the time it takes to get back up and running with your regular IT assets and resources. Don’t forget to test and reinforce your recovery and back up plans. Organizations that conduct emergency drills and tests are much more likely to find calm in the storm of a true crisis. Reinforcing your policies and practices can be as simple as reminding employees where an emergency handbook can be found, including your plan as part of new employee orientation sessions, or conducting periodic data recovery exercises. A robust, tested plan will be well worth it when a real technology disaster arrives.
For additional information on risks related to technology use, see these additional NRMC resources:
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