natural disaster - 使えるねっと

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought renewed attention to the importance of business continuity planning (BCP). In this article, we will explain the significance of BCP for small and medium-sized businesses and why cloud solutions are recommended for BCP implementation.

What is BCP? Why is it essential for small and medium-sized companies?

BCP (Business Continuity Plan) refers to plans and measures that are formulated in advance so that business activities can be quickly resumed in the event of a disaster, cyber attack, or other contingency.

With proper BCP measures, business operations can be continued without delay even in the event of unforeseen circumstances such as the following:

・Natural disasters such as massive earthquakes and floods
・Cyber attacks such as ransomware
・Fires in offices and other business locations
・Prolonged pandemics

Without BCP in place, it will be difficult to quickly restore and resume operations in the event of the above problems or disasters due to issues such as the loss of important documents and data necessary, damage to internal servers and computer systems that will take time to repair, or unusable or unsecure office space. This can result in a loss of trust from business partners, customers, and consumers, a risk that a small or medium-sized company or startup cannot accept.

While many people have the perception that BCP is something only for large companies, in fact, it is important for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with concerns regarding their management capabilities to prepare for and respond to emergencies.

In fact, both the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the recent pandemic conditions have caused a series of bankruptcies among SMEs in Japan, highlighting the importance of emergency preparedness.

Cloud computing: The best BCP choice for SMEs

One common obstacle for SME implementation of BCP measures are budget and time constraints. This is why we recommend a BCP cloud solution.

Implementing a cloud solution as part of your BCP offers the following advantages:

・Data can be quickly recovered from the secure cloud server if computers or systems are damaged.
・Remote work can be easily implemented if the physical office space is damaged or compromised.

In addition, cloud-based BCP measures are inexpensive and affordable, can be implemented immediately, and do not require specialized knowledge or complicated settings, all of which makes them relatively easy to implement with limited time and investment capital.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has been offering BCP promotion subsidies for some time. However, the subsidy rate has been increased for the sixth round of applications in January 2021 in order to subsidize the cost of required BCP equipment, including countermeasures against infectious diseases such as COVID-19. These subsidies also include cloud servers and backup systems for data management due to loss of business premises or inability to come to work.

Easy and affordable crisis management with Tsukaeru Cloud Backup+

Tsukaeru Cloud Backup+, a cloud solution from Tsukaeru.net, is a new service recommended for implementing BCP measures for small and medium-sized businesses. The introduction of this service makes it possible to simply and centrally manage security measures and data backup, key elements of effective and efficient BCP. As a cloud service, there is no need for huge initial or capital investments.

Tsukeru Cloud Backup+ features

・Securely backs up applications, systems, and data on any device
・Fast and reliable restore function
・Advanced ransomware and malware protection based on the latest AI
・Intuitive operation with easy-to-understand management screen
・Simple and centralized management of all devices
・Save time and money by remotely managing end-user devices
・Visualize hard disk status in advance and predict problems before they occur

To experience all the Tsukaeru Cloud Backup+ can offer, please feel free to contact us for a free trial.

Click here for more information about Tsukaeru Cloud Backup+

Contact us at Tsukaeru

You may have noticed an increase in the frequency of natural disasters of the past few years. As the number of disasters grows every year due to climate change and other factors, small and medium-sized businesses are entering a phase where they need to be more seriously prepared.

Increasing occurrence of floods are a potential risk to businesses

Last month’s torrential downpours in Kumamoto are a recent reminder of one of the most damaging natural disasters of all. As a result, at the end of this month, the consideration of “flood risk” will be added to the “important matters” explanatory documents which are mandatory in the real estate purchasing process.

Record-breaking downpours occur in many areas every year, and in many cases, local small- and medium-sized businesses have been flooded and severely affected. Flooding is a potential risk that businesses need to seriously consider where and when it might happen.

Now is the time to use the cloud to build a disaster-resistant company

The cloud is an effective way to mitigate any damage to your office or servers from natural disaster damage. By routinely storing your files in the cloud, you can quickly resume operations because your data is protected in a remote, secure data center even if your physical assets are compromised.

Also, if your business data is in the cloud, you can smoothly switch to remote work and continue your operations from a safe location. Promoting the use of the cloud will not only improve productivity and reform the world of work, but it will also lead to the creation of companies that are more resilient in the face of disasters.

Tsukaeru brings file sharing and storage into the cloud

Here are two of Tsukaeru’s cloud services that are ideal for disaster preparation.

First up is Tsukaeru Filebako, a file server type cloud storage service, allowing the storage of any file on a secure, dedicated cloud server. Just by sending a link, instead of attaching them to an email, files and folders can easily be shared within your company. It is also very convenient for sharing files between multiple locations.

For example, for a shared folder for a collaborative work project on Filebako, all file updates and changes by all members will be automatically synchronized via the cloud, making teamwork more smoother. No more sending files back and forth; no more cumbersome version control!

While Filebako is an excellent cloud storage service that stores files in the cloud, it can also function as a file server just like a local environment. It is recommended for first-time cloud users because it provides file storage in the cloud with exactly the same ease of use as usual. It can also be used for remote work, which is increasingly needed as a countermeasure against the Novel Coronavirus.

Click here for more information on Tsukaeru Filebako.

Tsukaeru Cloud Backup for backing up all of your data in its entirety

Tsukaeru Cloud Backup is a popular service that allows the backing up of all your data to the cloud. With Tsukaeru Cloud Backup installed, the entire system, including the OS, is automatically backed up, and all data can be restored in a short time. Because it is a cloud-based service, there is no initial cost or need for specialized knowledge, and operating costs are reduced. It is ideal for disaster countermeasures and, of course, protecting against the recently increasing threat of ransomware.

Preparing for natural disasters is one of the most important issues that businesses will have to deal with in the near future. Now is the best time to implement an effective cloud-based disaster preparation plan.

Click here for more information on Tsukaeru Cloud Backup.

Contact us at Tsukaeru.

Recently, the 19th typhoon of the year struck Japan, causing widespread damage and destruction. Natural disasters such as these can disrupt public transportation and cause businesses to shutter their operations. How can companies best plan and prepare for these kind of situations?

Unfortunately, the island nation of Japan often experiences these kinds of disasters which have been increasing in recent years. According to data gathered by the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, there were 12 large-scale disasters, with more than 10 deaths or more than 100 victims, from 1971 to 1975. However, from 2011 to 2015, there were 47 (*1).

Major disasters in Japan include earthquakes, typhoons, and heavy rains. In particular, heavy rains have been increasing recently. According to data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, the annual average number of heavy rains with precipitation of 50 mm/hour or more was 174 from 1976 to 1985. This number increased to 238 from 2008 to 2017 (*1), a remarkable increase of approximately 40 percent.

Furthermore, the risk of natural disaster exists everywhere in Japan, making it basically impossible to say, “This area is safe because there are few disasters.” According to a 2018 White Paper on Disaster Preparation, only four prefectures had no record of applying for the Disaster Relief Act between 1995 and 2017, and significant natural disasters occurred in almost all prefectures from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south. (*1)

In response to this new reality, changes in consciousness are emerging among companies. During the recent typhoon, many companies decided to temporarily close to ensure employee safety. In addition, in recognizing the potential risks of a disaster, some companies have begun to explore ways to handle disaster recovery situations. Currently, remote work is gaining attention as a disaster countermeasure.

Due to the impact of climate change, recent natural disasters have tended to be larger in scope and more devastating, and businesses are more susceptible than ever. However, if the impacts are long-term and business stagnates, this can become a major issue in relation to the survival of small- and medium-sized companies. One of the safest and most reliable ways to mitigate such risks is remote work.

With the right environment and system in place, remote work can allow employees to keep everything running smoothly even if the public transportation system is stopped or in dangerous weather. In addition to creating an excellent disaster countermeasure, it also can be advantageous to promote work style reform.

With Tsukaeru Dokodemo Office, create an easy and safe telework office anywhere

If you want to introduce a remote work environment, Tsukaeru Dokodemo Office is recommended to realize teleworking easily, securely, and at low cost. With the introduction of Dokodemo Office, you can always use Windows applications, regardless of location or device. Also, as security is crucial, advanced security measures, such as the latest SSL encryption and two-factor authentication, are included. If you are a manager or person in charge looking for reasonable, reliable, and effective disaster countermeasures, please visit the Tsukaeru Dokodemo Office website at the link below to learn more.

Natural disasters, fires, system failure, cyber-attacks: these are some of the many brutal risks a company can encounter. How well we respond and how we continue business activities after these unforeseen situations will determine the company’s strength and fate. This is particularly true in Japan, where powerful earthquakes are known to occur. There’s no telling when one might strike. Why not take this opportunity to consider your Business Continuity Plan (BCP) in the event of a disaster?

Companies and BCPs Today

A recent survey conducted has shown only a shocking 15% of companies have developed a BCP. According to this statistical survey, responses that a BCP had been developed, was in the process of being developed or development was being considered totaled to a surprisingly low 45.5%.

The most frequently cited reason for not developing a BCP is not having the necessary skills and not knowing how to go about formulation. Though many companies recognize the need for a BCP, it appears as if most aren’t sure exactly what formulation entails.

So what measures are necessary for business disaster prevention? What can businesses include in their plan for business continuity? Here are some examples:

Develop communication systems for times of disaster.
Identify alternative contact tools and services to the ones used daily, to prepare for the event they are not available during a disaster.
Establish data backup and recovery methods.
Shared use of cloud services.
Establish a disaster prevention manual.
Implement disaster prevention training.
Redundancy of servers and internal systems.

Tips for Improving Your Disaster Recovery Plan

A BCP and disaster recovery plan are pointless if they’re not practical. Here are some tips for creating a successful recovery plan:

Determine the appropriate response for different levels of disaster

Is it a big earthquake that causes massive damage? Or is it system or power failure that strikes unexpectedly? The correct response to these occurrences will vary depending on the scale of damage and the type of disaster. It’s important to consider these different types and levels of disasters, and identify the response that suits each one best.

Review content on a regular basis

Your BCP and recovery plan will not always be up-to-date. As soon as you start introducing new software and communication tools into your company, you’ll need new safety measures to safeguard this data. To ensure your plan is always up-to-date, make sure to review your BCP and recovery plans once every year.

Keep data security in mind

Data security should never be forgotten in your BCP. If your business falls prey to cyber-attacks such as ransomware, you may suffer damage that’s equal to or greater than a natural disaster. Recovery measures should be developed with cyber-attack risks in mind.

Take advantage of the cloud

Cloud solutions are an effective tool for BCP and recovery planning. With the cloud, you can take simple, affordable, and highly effective disaster countermeasures. For example, with Tsukaeru Cloud Backup, business data can be backed up safely in a data center away from the company. And with Tsukaeru Dokodemo Office, employees can continue work from home in the event of a disaster.

If you’re interested in advancing the BCP measures of your business but you don’t know where to start, we highly recommend using these cloud tools.

Learn more about Tsukaeru Cloud Backup here and Tsukaeru Dokodemo Office here.

And as always, please feel free to contact us.