How to Disaster-Proof Your Technology

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From hurricanes and blizzards to thunderstorms and floods, the biggest threats to your business may not come from your competition, but rather the potential of a disaster that could hit your business. With that in mind, the difference between getting back on your feet after a disaster may come down to the plan you have in place before storms hit.

First and foremost, businesses must make a plan to protect not only their physical belongings, but also their data and technologies. CrashPlan, a leader in data recovery software and services, has compiled a list of the top tips businesses can put in place to prevent damage to their data and technologies. They include:

•Have an alternative power source - When the power goes out, you'll want to have a secondary source of power to charge cellphones and other electronics. The purchase of extra phone batteries or even a small generator could be a priceless purchase.

•Back up! - Sometimes it is inevitable that hardware will be damaged, so back up your data and back up often. This will prevent data loss even if the device itself is destroyed. While there are reasons to be wary of online data storage, it may make sense for people in disaster-prone locales, since you'll be storing your files on remote servers that will be safe from whatever disaster takes down your computer.

•Unplug - As the storm begins, unplug all of your electronics to avoid a power surge. It is also smart to move computers, TVs and any other electronics away from windows and place them on an elevated surface in the event of rising waters.

•Turn off electronics - In any weather-related emergency, it is important to spend time turning off the electricity-powered electronics in your household, like televisions and computers. By shutting down and unplugging sensitive electronics, you help prevent damage that may occur during a lighting storm or power outage. However, it is not necessary to turn off water heaters or other gas appliances.