If you want your business to be prepared, it needs to have a disaster recovery plan in place. That disaster recovery plan should include an internet connection backup, just in case your primary connection to the internet goes down.
But how exactly does abusiness connection backup work? And how do you integrate it into your business cost effectively?
The Devastation of an Internet Outage
Intuitively, you probably know that an internet outage is bad for your business. But it's hard to overstate just how impactful even a relatively minor outage can be for a sufficiently large business.
Consider:
- Service. Without an internet connection, you may find yourself unable to provide basic products and services to your customers. If you rely on cloud service providers, this may not be the case, or the impact of your outage may be mitigated.
- Communication. These days, most forms of communication rely on an internet connection. If you lose that connection, you'll lose the ability to communicate internally and externally. This can be devastating, especially if you have other aspects of this disaster to contend with.
- Information. Most of us rely on online interactions to gather information and do basic research. Many people in your organization will be unable to do their jobs without this connection.
- Responsiveness. There are certain business functions that can continue even during an outage, but they'll likely be slower and less reliable. Without a backup, your responsiveness is going to suffer.
- Idle downtime. Downtime is also a problem because you'll likely have several employees on the clock who are simply unable to do any productive work. For larger organizations, downtime cancost upwards of $9,000 per minute.
Backup Internet Options
Fortunately, there are several backup internet options that can be part of your disaster recovery plan. One option is to enlist the services of a cellular network, so you can continue exchanging data without necessarily resorting to your primary mode of internet connection. These days, cellular networks are reliable and fast, and they can serve as a suitable substitute for your primary online services. However, you'll need to review your provider options carefully to find the right fit for your needs.
Another option is to use satellite internet, which comes with some drawbacks but is generally quite reliable. If you want the ultimate backup for your business, consider both cellular and satellite internet connection backups.
The Benefits of Backup Internet
Having even a single backup internet connection can be enormously beneficial for your business:
- Less downtime. The obvious benefit here is less downtime. You can keep your business running even if your primary internet connection goes down.
- Cost savings. Having a backup is going to save you a lot of money in the long run. Even a single mitigated disaster means your backup service will pay for itself.
- Uninterrupted service. Backup connections practically guarantee uninterrupted service. This is especially important for certain industries, like healthcare, which cansuffer catastrophic consequences if services are interrupted.
- A smooth transition. With a backup option already in place, you can have a smooth transition if there are issues with your primary service provider.
- Peace of mind. Simply having a backup option in place can give you peace of mind, as you'll know that no single interruption will be able to disrupt your business.
- Reputation. Being able to continue your business after an outage can support a good reputation with customers as well.
Choosing the Right Backup Internet
So how do you choose the right backup internet for your needs?
- Budget. Obviously, your decision is going to be partially restrained by your budget. You can think of backup online services as a kind of insurance policy – so how much are you willing to spend on that insurance?
- Speed. As you might imagine, some forms of backup internet are faster than others. How much speed do you really need and what are you willing to pay for it? Because it's only a backup option, you probably won't need internet as fast as your primary option.
- Reliability. You do, however, need to find a backup option that's incredibly reliable. If it's not available for you when you need it, it's going to be a functional waste of money. Do your due diligence to make sure you have a reliable backup.
- Flexibility and scalability. You may also need to consider flexibility and scalability, especially if your organization continues to grow. Will this continue to be an adequate solution as your company changes?
- Carrier diversity. Finally, consider investing in a backup option from a carrier different than your primary option. This way, if you encounter carrier-specific problems, you'll be insulated from them.
Choosing a backup internet connection for your business is one of the best things you can do for your disaster recovery plan. Every sufficiently large business should have at least one backup option in place.