Risk Mitigation Tools

-Tools and processes used to “fortify” your business by developing defenses ahead of time.
Alternate Data Centers
Contracting secondary locations will enable an organization to recover critical technologies if the primary technology infrastructure fails.

Alternate Suppliers
Seeking out and documenting contingency agreements with alternate suppliers for your organization’s critical inputs will allow you to continue normal activities in the event that one of your critical suppliers experiences an interruption or ceases to supply you for any reason.

Backup Power
Securing backup power will enable your core activities to continue as normal with minimal, if any, downtime or loss in productivity.

Change Management Processes
Initiating and controlling organizational, process, technology or resource adjustments with the end objective of ensuring an appropriate level of performance and availability throughout the transition.
Cross-Trained Personnel
Ensuring that multiple staff members can fulfill the duties of each critical job within your organization will remove any personnel single points of failure and enable regular activities to continue even if an employee is absent, unable to work or is no longer employed by the organization.

Data Backup
Replicating data at an alternate location and/or on alternate media will help protect against the loss of the primary data source and also simplify and expedite recovery efforts, thus minimizing downtime.

Fire Protection Systems
Developing working relationships with your local fire department and other first responders, as well as taking fire protective measures of your own (i.e. using fire retardant file cabinets and ensuring that sprinkler systems work properly), will not only help protect personnel, information and facilities, but also minimize the effects of a fire on your core operational activities.

Insurance
Carrying appropriate insurance can help minimize financial complications as a result of major facility or equipment loss, an inability to deliver products or services or if one or more of your employees are injured in an accident

IT Security Measures
Taking appropriate measures to protect hardware, software, data storage, and communications technology will reduce downtime and organization inefficiency (i.e. access controls, malware protections, etc.).

Media Monitoring
Employing a media monitoring process can provide your organization with early warning regarding reputational issues, as well as other threats that could result in a near-term interruption.

Physical Security Controls
Keeping unauthorized persons out of restricted areas will reduce the potential for data loss or business process disruption due to vandalism, theft or other forms of sabotage.

Safety Stock
Storing an appropriate amount of finished product or raw materials in an off-site location will limit the impact of downtime resulting from a loss of the organization’s primary storage or production capabilities.