Protect Businesses from Flood Damage with Offsite Document Storage

Norcross, Ga. (PRWEB) February 27, 2014

Globally, severe weather seems to be more frequent than ever. The storms that have swept across Britain have begun to subside, but the Environment Agency has warned that there is still a high risk of floods occurring. There are over 70 flood alerts in place across England, with many rivers expected to rise. Flooding is one of the most frequent natural disasters that occur, and here in the UK, there has been at least one severe flood every year since 1998. In 2012, floods cost the UK economy nearly £600 million, with each affected business being set back an average of £60,000. If a business is flooded, it can cause major setbacks, including property damage and loss of staff working days.

Flooding can cause an unprecedented level of damage to a business, particularly when the loss of important documents is involved. That is why it is crucial to back up documents in a secure location where they can’t be destroyed by flood damage.

The Importance Of Protecting Documents With Offsite Document Storage
Floods can occur at any time, which is why it is vital to be prepared for them in order to minimize financial losses. Creating a flood plan for when disaster strikes will help businesses recover faster and it makes accessing information easier.If a business is located in a flood risk area, keep an eye on weather conditions and water levels. However, because floods can occur suddenly and the extent of the damage they will cause cannot always be predicted, it is strongly advisable to take further precautions to ensure the safety of the documents.

The weather patterns seem to be changing and buildings that were previously considered as safe are now being seen in a very different light. Many organizations are now reassessing their in-house storage facilities because such locations—which are often below ground¬—are at risk of impact from floods, or other related factors such as loss of power or wind damage. Other major concerns are that of regulatory compliance and the risk of insurance issues where records are being kept in locations with a far higher risk profile than previously assessed. Trends such as site consolidation and mergers are also driving companies to search for additional space to store records. The lack of quality space can inadvertently mean that important information is placed in risky areas such as basements and external, less secure buildings.

While chairs can be replaced and walls can be repainted, valuable records that are crucial for business operations cannot be retrieved if they have been destroyed and were not backed up in a secure location. Studies of businesses that did not have a viable disaster recovery plan showed that less than ten percent recovered from a major data loss. More than 40 percent of these companies never reopened and 50 percent were closed down within two years. However, with offsite document storage, records can be protected and accessed even in the event of a natural disaster. This will enable businesses to continue and recover.

What to Expect from an Offsite Provider
Offsite providers should offer secure document storage solutions so that businesses can recover as quickly as possible, if flooded. To prevent any business disruption, a good provider should offer the following:

   •      Secure information centers that are specifically built to withstand extreme weather, specific to local conditions.
   •     Retrieval of redundant data assets, precise tracking and inventory control
   •     Web access to offsite inventory listings, media return dates, reporting functions and service requests
   •     Secure chain of custody for data transference from the site to an information center.

To learn more about how Recall can solve offsite storage challenges, visit: http://www.recall.com/document-storage

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Sources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25651116
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/150900.aspx
http://a0768b4a8a31e106d8b0-50dc802554eb38a24458b98ff72d550b.r19.cf3.rackcdn.com/LIT_5284_ab06c2.pdf

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/03/prweb11625104.htm