Disaster Recovery Vs Business Continuity – What Are The Differences?
Disaster recovery vs business continuity: Which one is important? – The short answer is “Both.” It depends on the situation you are dealing with.
Most companies operate by assuming that their workplaces will maintain their consistent state with changing times. Hence, they try to find comfort in daily routines and rhythm of work. However, there are certain events when a business might face disruption.
Hence, businesses need to have a disaster recovery plan and a business continuity plan in place to ensure that the business recovers faster when it comes across a negative situation.
In this article, you will learn about disaster recovery and business continuity in general. However, the focus of the article will be on the differences between the two. Apart from those differences, we will also discuss the major similarities between them as well. In addition to this, we will, in brief, share with you how each of these works and how to implement them. Hence, to learn more, read on through to the end of the article.
Disaster Recovery Vs Business Continuity – What Are They?
If you want to prepare for disruptions in business, you will need to create various strategies and plans, following which you will be able to ensure that the core business functions are intact. This can help the business to come back faster from the uncertain negative consequences it just faced.
What Is Disaster Recovery?
Amazon Web Services defines disaster recovery as such –
“Disaster recovery is the process by which an organization anticipates and addresses technology-related disasters. The process of preparing for and recovering from any event that prevents a workload or system from fulfilling its business objectives in its primary deployed location, such as power outages, natural events, or security issues.”
To measure the targets of disaster recovery, two factors are taken – Recovery Point Objectives (RPO) and Recovery Time Objectives (RTO). The failures for which companies make disaster recovery plans are mostly larger-scale disaster events. The plan includes various procedures and policies for the company so that it can recover quickly from the disaster by following them.
What Is Business Continuity?
According to the Business Continuity Institute,
“Business continuity is about having a plan to deal with difficult situations so your organization can continue to function with as little disruption as possible. Whether it’s a business, public sector organization, or charity, you need to know how you can keep going under any circumstances.”
You will need a business continuity plan, too, in case of a disaster situation. However, the continuity plan is to deal with the disaster situation so that the organization is able to continue its functioning with little to no disruption.
However, you will need to understand here that a business continuity plan does not work at times of a large program or a disaster, which affects the company a lot. It also does not work when a large number of people are associated with a single plan. Hence, many big companies make business continuity plans for each of their departments. This makes each department implement the plan as per its needs.
Disaster Recovery Vs Business Continuity – Major Differences
| Disaster Recovery | Business Continuity |
|---|---|
| Focuses on restoring access to data and IT infrastructure after the impact of the disaster.Involves the creation of additional safety measures for employees. Here, the company creates safety drills and stays prepared with emergency supplies.Disaster recovery is created for disruptions of higher levels, especially when many personnel are involved.Involves the limitation of abnormal or inefficient functioning of the system.Ensures that the organization can return to full functionality following a disaster situation. | Focuses on keeping the business operations running even during disasters.It consists of plans and procedures on how to continue business operations. The plans also include who should do what at the time of any disruption.Business continuity planning does not work in situations when many people are involved.Involves limitation of operational downtime.Ensures that all the communication methods of the organization continue working during a crisis. |
You can see from this table that both disaster recovery and business continuity are complementary to each other. Businesses need to combine both plans to ensure they are prepared for disastrous events.
Disaster Recovery Vs Business Continuity – Major Similarities
The following are some of the major similarities that you will find between disaster recovery and business continuity:
- Both are proactive strategies that enable a business to stay prepared for uncertain and disastrous events.
- Both plans allow the company to minimize the effects of the disaster before it actually occurs and affects the business.
- Both work quite well in situations of natural and man-made disasters. However, the result of their implementation depends on the situation.
- Professionals need to review both plans on a regular basis, and some of them need revision with the evolving situation of the organization.
How Do Disaster Recovery And Business Continuity Work?
According to the University of Central Florida,
“Having business continuity and disaster recovery plans in place can help companies minimize the consequences of a catastrophic event. They can also provide peace of mind; employees and business owners alike may feel more comfortable in a work setting where there are clear policies for how to respond to disasters.”
To implement these plans for the recovery of the business, the organization needs to create/hire crisis management professionals. These professionals will be responsible for developing and implementing such plans. Apart from that, they are also responsible for evaluating and revising them as per needs and training the employees of the organization to stay prepared.
Final Thought
Disaster recovery vs business continuity: Hope this article was helpful for you in getting a better idea of both of these terms and how they operate in the organizational setting.
Disaster recovery works in situations when the disruption is big and many people are involved. On the other hand, business continuity planning is to ensure business operations are continued in disruptions.
Do you have any more recommendations regarding when and how to implement a business continuity plan and a disaster recovery plan? Share your thoughts and ideas with us in the comments section below.
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6 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Hiring A Workplace Cleaning Company
A fresh and well-maintained workplace can improve the mood and productivity of your employees. However, it’s not that easy to maintain a clean work environment. When the day is hectic, it’s impossible not to make a mess.As a business or property owner, the best thing to do is hire a professional cleaning company. Hiring a professional cleaning company is as important as running the 10 panel drug test for new recruitments. Why Hire A Cleaning Company? You could be contemplating whether hiring a professional office cleaning company is worth it. After all, you also have the option to hire employees who can handle cleaning duties instead. Plus, some businesses utilize a chore chart to delegate cleaning duties to their employees on a regular basis. So, what's the point of hiring a professional cleaning service? One significant benefit of hiring a workplace cleaning service is that you don’t have to screen and hire your own cleaning staff. 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Many businesses end up hiring cleaning companies that don't have the right paperwork, licenses, and certifications. Because of this, the cleaning staff and service they get are unsatisfactory. What Should You Do: Double-check the company's certificates and licenses. Inquire about their insurance, experience, expertise, certification, and licensing. In the end, hiring background cleared cleaning services will ensure you only get trained and well-equipped cleaning staff for your workplace. Aside from getting superior cleaning services, you don’t have to worry about possible theft and damages caused by ill-intentioned cleaners. 2. Neglecting To Read And Fully Understand The Service Contract An agreement cannot be deemed void simply because one party did not read or comprehend it. As a business owner, you know how important it is to have a service agreement with another company. Both sides need to know what their responsibilities are and what they can expect. 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Techniques for Boosting Liquidity and Unlocking Cash Flow in Your Business
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Build Cash Reserves Building adequate cash reserves is one of the most fundamental aspects of robust financial management for businesses. It also takes into account the accumulation of surplus funds. As a result, it assists in creating a financial cushion that can be tapped into during times of need or opportunity: 1. Assess Financial Position: First, you need to conduct a thorough assessment of your company's current financial position. Review cash flow statements, balance sheets, and profit and loss statements. This will help you understand your organization's cash inflows, outflows, and overall liquidity position. 2. Set Clear Goals: Secondly, the business needs to establish clear objectives for maintaining cash reserves, which are based on the business's goals, financial projections, and tolerance of risks. Determine the desired level of reserves. Your cash reserves must be enough to cover operating debt obligations, operating expenses, and potential contingencies. 3. Develop A Plan: A structured plan is a must for businesses as it outlines finding accumulation goals for building cash reserves. Moreover, you need to consider factors like frequency, fund sources, amount of contributions, and any restrictions for boosting liquidity and unlocking cash flow. Techniques like premonitions or structured frameworks governing reserve management are also useful. 4. Allocate Profits: You must work to segregate the profits of the organizations towards building cash reserves frequently. Besides, you can do it with the help of retained earnings or by setting aside a predetermined net income percentage after taxes and other expenses. 5. Control Expenses: Organizations need to practice managing rising expenses and making the best use of cash flow. It will help in building reserve accumulation. Hence, you must evaluate and renegotiate contracts with suppliers and discretionary spending. Also, you need to explore opportunities for cost savings across different business operations. 6. Explore Investment Options: Determine the investment vehicle that suits your organizaton. It is important for your cash reserves based on your liquidity needs and risk profile. Also, you must consider investment options like short-term certificates of deposit (CDs), money market accounts, or, say, low-risk investment funds. This helps offer competitive returns while maintaining liquidity. 7. Monitor And Reevaluate: You should monitor your progress toward building cash reserves closely. Moreover, you must periodically assess your financial strengths, goals, and objectives. You need to adjust your reserve-building strategy in response to market conditions, business performance, or unexpected events. 8. Stay Disciplined: Adhering to your reserve-building plan must be consistent discipline. Yes, you need to do it even during the period of financial growth and stability. Besides, you must say "No" to putting your hands into reserves for non-essential expenses and prioritizing long-term financial security over short-term gratification. B. Implement Short-Term Liquidity Strategies Short-term strategies on liquidity are helpful in focusing on cash flow optimization within a limited timeframe. It helps to address the shortfalls and address immediate financial needs. Here are some of the points through which businesses can implement short-term liquidity strategies effectively: 1. Negotiate Favorable Payment Terms: Businesses can come to the negotiation table with with suppliers or the payment terms. This can help them secure discounts for early payments. Moreover, by negotiating payment terms, businesses and organizations can steadily uplift the cash flow by deferring outgoing payments. Simultaneously, they can preserve relationships with suppliers. 2. Accelerate Accounts Receivable Collections: Procuring accounts receivable with utmost promptness is the key to enhancing the flow of cash. Businesses can make good use of early customer payments through discounts or penalties for late payments. In addition, businesses can implement automated invoicing and payment reminders. This can help them streamline the collection process and expedite cash inflows. 3. Leverage Short-Term Financing Options: Short-term financing options, such as lines of credit, merchant cash advances, and invoice factoring, can offer adequate liquidity cash flow shortages. These financing options can offer the right flexibility and quick access to funds. As a result, businesses can meet short-term obligations without depletion of cash reserves. 4. Optimize Cash Conversion Cycle: You must look to optimize the cash conversion cycle. It can help businesses pinpoint the organization's weak and inefficient areas in managing working capital. However, by reducing the conversion time from inventory into cash and procuring receivables, business enterprises can free up cash flow and improve organizations' liquidity. 5. Monitor Cash Flow Proactively: Monitoring cash flow is essential for identifying potential liquidity gaps and taking preemptive action. The business organization can optimize the forecasting tools and financial dashboards to provide real-time visibility into cash flow trends. This helps businesses to make the most informed decisions to make the most of the liquidity. 6. Streamline Expense Management: Analyzing and bringing down discretionary expenses can help you free up cash flow in the short term. Besides, businesses can pinpoint cost-saving opportunities by scrutinizing expenditure expenses, which include non-essential purchases, travel, and entertainment. Implementing expense management policies and controls can help enforce cost discipline across different organizations. C. Enhance Operational Cash Flow Operational cash flow is any business's lifeblood. They represent generating cash from businesses' core operating activities. Hence, a business must be proactive in maximizing operational cash flow. This is essential for sustaining daily operations. Moreover, enhancing the flow of cash helps meet financial obligations, which in turn drives business growth. A comprehensive strategy breakdown can help enhance operational cash flow. 1. Optimizing Working Capital Management To enhance operational cash flow, a business must have efficiently managed working capital. This involves effective management of accounts payable, cash receivable, and inventory levels. This can help bring down the cash that is tied up in working capital. Businesses can achieve this by: Streamlining invoice procedure and collection processes. It can help accelerate cash inflows from customers. Negotiating favorable terms of payment with suppliers can extend the payment deadlines. Moreover, it can help in preserving cash. Implementing techniques in inventory management, such as demand forecasting and just-in-time inventory, can help bridge down excess inventory. Moreover, it can help reduce carrying costs. 2. Reducing Inventory Levels Excess inventory can tie up the valuable cash. It can increase storage costs. However, businesses, by optimizing the level of inventory, can free up cash for other operational needs. They can achieve it by: Conducting regular inventory audits to identify slow-moving or obsolete inventory items. Implementing inventory turnover ratios to determine optimal stocking levels and reduce excess inventory. Utilizing inventory management systems and ERP solutions like Odoo or Shopify to automate inventory control processes and optimize inventory turnover. Cleverence, the Inventory and Warehouse Management Software for Your Accounting or ERP System, provides comprehensive solutions for business. It is effective for businesses that want to streamline their inventory management processes. Cleverence's solutions are masters in tracking inventory, managing multiple warehouse locations, scanning barcodes, and mastering complex manufacturing. Businesses are showing their preference for using this easy-to-use solution. With Cleverence, you can extract more value from your existing system. When business inventory moves in and out of your operational workflows, your current system updates automatically. As a result, it gives you the right insight into COGS, the true landed cost, and the cash flow impact. 3. Streamlining Business Processes Streamlining business approaches can be helpful in improving operational efficiency. Furthermore, it can bring down reduced costs. Besides, it can accelerate cash flow. You consider these approaches effective in boosting liquidity and unlocking cash flow. Businesses can achieve this by: 1. Pinpointing the bottlenecks and the weak areas in business. It is key to the operational processes and implementing improvement processes. 2. Automating the redundant activities and tasks workflows. Furthermore, it can help elevate productivity and lower the cost of labor. 3. Using the right technology solutions, like ERP systems. These developments help integrate and streamline business operations. From order processing to fulfillment, ERP solutions are effective. 4. Negotiating Favorable Payment Terms Negotiating favorable payment terms with customers and suppliers can be the approach to boosting liquidity and unlocking cash flow. It can have quite a significant impact on the flow of cash. Businesses can: 1. Offer huge discounts for early payment. It can help incentivize customers to settle invoices with utmost promptness. 2. Negotiating terms of extending payment with suppliers. It can help to align payment deadlines and cash flows. 3. Establishing clear payment terms and conditions can help evade discrepancies and disputes regarding delays in the payment process. 5. Implementing Cash Flow Monitoring And Analysis Regular monitoring and analysis of cash flow are essential for identifying trends, potential cash flow gaps, and areas for improvement. Businesses can: Utilize cash flow forecasting tools and financial reporting systems to track cash flow trends and projections. Conduct variance analysis to compare actual cash flows with forecasted amounts and identify discrepancies. Implement cash flow monitoring dashboards and reports within ERP systems to provide real-time visibility into cash flow metrics and key performance indicators. Navigating Through Liquidity Crises Even the most well-managed businesses may encounter liquidity crises due to unforeseen circumstances such as economic downturns or supply chain disruptions. During such times, it's crucial to have a robust contingency plan in place to mitigate the impact on cash flow and preserve financial stability. When faced with such challenges, it is imperative to initiate a thorough assessment of cash flow requirements and available resources. This assessment should encompass a meticulous examination of current liabilities, upcoming expenses, and potential sources of liquidity. Once the cash flow landscape is comprehensively understood, the next step involves identifying opportunities for cost reduction and implementing austerity measures where necessary. This may entail scrutinizing operational expenses, renegotiating contracts with suppliers, and optimizing resource allocation to prioritize essential activities. Furthermore, exploring alternative financing options becomes paramount during liquidity crises. Businesses may need to consider tapping into lines of credit, seeking asset-based lending arrangements, or even contemplating equity injections to infuse much-needed liquidity into the organization. Each option should be evaluated meticulously, considering factors such as cost, risk, and impact on long-term financial stability. Continuous monitoring of business liquidity is essential throughout the crisis period. Utilizing sophisticated ERP systems like Infor or Tally enables real-time tracking of cash flow metrics and facilitates data-driven decision-making. By staying vigilant and proactive, businesses can swiftly identify emerging challenges and adjust their strategies accordingly to navigate through the crisis effectively. Conclusion In conclusion, effective liquidity management is essential for sustaining business operations, fueling growth, and ensuring long-term financial stability. 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How To Start An Insurance Company? – Steps You Must Take
How to start a life insurance company? - There is no short answer to this question. It is not a small task to start an insurance company. However, having the right focus and the right steps can help you to turn your new business into a victorious one in a short span of time. To learn more, read on through to the end of the article. The best steps to take on how to create an insurance company would be the ones that are tried and tested by many. Realistically speaking, the risks associated with the insurance sector are so high that a small mistake can cost you a fortune. Hence, you need to take careful steps. Despite that, there are some places you will need to be unique as well. But, to get started, the best option for you would be to stick to the basics. How To Start An Insurance Company? - Major Steps One of the first things that you can do to start an insurance company is to find out an idea of what will make your company different from the top companies in the market. Once you have chosen the insurance industry, you will need to do a quick search of the existing companies. According to Business News Daily, “Learn what current brand leaders are doing and figure out how you can do it better. If you think your business can deliver something other companies don’t (or deliver the same thing, only faster and cheaper), you’ve got a solid idea and are ready to create a business plan.” To start with “how to start my own insurance company,” you will need to ensure that your business does not face any legal problems or any other external problems. Hence, you need to make sure that your business is safeguarded as long as external issues are concerned. For that to happen, you need to follow some basic rules. The following are the major steps you must take to start your own insurance company in 2023: 1. Planning To The Core According to The Hartford, “When you create a business plan, you’re describing every aspect of your business in a formal document. This lets other people understand what you do, what your objectives are and what strategies you have in place to achieve your goals.” Furthermore, this document will also be your proof that you are dedicated to the business. This is beneficial for staying clear in front of insurance companies, shareholders, and staff members. However, with time, you will also need to update your business plan with necessary changes as per the demand of the market. Read More: The Types Of Business Insurance Needed For Every Business 2. Decide What Will Be Your Business Structure According to SBA.gov, “The legal structure you choose for your business will impact your business registration requirements, how much you pay in taxes, and your personal liability.” Here are the major types of business structures: Sole Proprietorship Corporation Limited Liability Company (LLC) Partnership S Corporation This depends on your personal responsibility and the setup of your business, as well as the setup of your business. Hence, you will need to choose the business structure that is right in your case. The structure depends upon your personal liability level. 3. Register Your Organization’s Title Registering is important. As per the recommendations of TheHartford.com, “Your business needs to be official. Aside from giving your startup more credibility with potential customers and clients, registering can also help protect your business’ name.” If your business is structured as a sole proprietor, your personal name is automatically the legal name of the company. However, you can give another name in the “doing business as” section. You will need to select and register a suitable name for your business. 4. Get Your TIN (Tax Identification Number) As per IRS regulations, every corporation and partnership needs to use FEIN (Federal Employer Identification Number) while it is filing taxes. This number is also important in the case of opening a bank account or a credit account for your business. However, if your business is structured as a sole proprietor, you will need to use your social security number (SSN). You will get the number after you register your business with the local government and IRS. 5. Ensure That Your Business Is State Registered Once you have received your Tax ID, you will have to connect with the State Insurance Commissioner’s desk. Businesses typically register as “resident business entities” when it comes to purposes related to state and local taxes. Once you register, your state will charge a registration fee from you. They will also give you a checklist, where they will ask you to ensure that you are aware of the state requirements and comply with them. 6. Get The Necessary Local Authorizations And Licenses Getting authorized at the local level and getting all the necessary licenses and permits is crucial to operating your business. Although you are a licensed insurance agent now, you will still need a general business permit at the local level or even a license if you want legal safeguards. However, according to Insureon.com, “The licensing, insurance, and bonding requirements for insurance agents vary by state. Having the right insurance and bonding can help keep you financially protected, and may be required for some jobs within the insurance industry.” 7. Get Insurance To Save Your Company’s Capital Depending on the structure and assets of your business, you will need to purchase insurance. There are a variety of business insurance you can check out to find which one is the right need for the moment. You can also consult with your lawyer, as well as your insurance guide, to find out which insurance is perfect for you now. Read More: Maximizing Home Insurance Coverage For Your At-Home Business With Riders Final Thoughts Hope you have found your answer on how to start an insurance company. Before starting your business and competing in the market, you will need to make sure that your business has all the legal safeguards. This is the most important aspect, as it will help your business in the long run. Share your thoughts about the business safeguards and other ideas in the comments section below. Read Also: What Is Commercial Insurance? And Its Different Types – Let’s Discuss Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance: Is it Worth It? 11 Tips For Saving On Business Insurance
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