FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite the costly
lessons of Wilma and Katrina, many businesses remain unprepared for the
2006 hurricane season -- especially in safeguarding their critical voice
and data systems. Today, a small business can have the same type of network
safeguards and data recovery system as a Fortune 500 company.
According to Thomas J. Tharrington, president of BroadSmart, a division
of North American Telecom, "Considering the business cost of losing a dial
tone for just one day -- or not being able to access the company's network
-- it's vital to prepare an effective business continuity plan."
BroadSmart's communications solutions allow small and mid-size businesses
to back up their mission-critical data, including customer accounts and
other vital business records, using North American Telecom's private
Internet network and secure facilities in Fort Lauderdale and Long Island,
N.Y. Web site -- http://www.broadsmart.com
After Hurricane Wilma swept through South Florida on October 24,
knocking out power to the region, BroadSmart helped firms like Fort
Lauderdale-based Mediation, Inc. get back into business.
"BroadSmart's immediate availability of lines allowed us to resume
serving our clients right after the hurricane even though our offices were
shut down," says Jim Chaplin, owner of Mediation, Inc. "Our four offices
were able to connect simply by dialing an extension number."
With the start of hurricane season at hand, Tharrington advises
businesses to prepare for a potential disruption by taking the following
steps:
* Secure your company's network and data records using an offsite data
storage location. It's a good idea to back up your data every night
automatically storing it at an offsite location.
* Identify potential locations that will allow your business to operate if
your building is destroyed or damaged by a storm.
* Complete a pre-storm inventory of phones, computers, and other equipment
necessary to continue operations after a hurricane.
* Consider data recovery products that will allow your employees to access
your network and retrieve data from remote locations.
* Obtain up-to-date contact information and addresses for all employees.
* Be sure employees understand their roles and responsibilities, including
any specific post-hurricane tasks.
* Discuss the availability of back-up generator power with your building
manager and obtain all contact numbers.
Tharrington says VoIP should be a fundamental element of business
continuity planning, helping to restart a business after a hurricane or
other disaster. With our hosted IP-PBX, you can take your office anywhere.
Founded in 2000, BroadSmart is a Florida based provider of voice over
Internet protocol (VoIP) telecommunications services and a subsidiary of
Fort Lauderdale-based North American Telecom. BroadSmart serves more than
3,300 business customers, including Northwestern Mutual, the Baltimore
Orioles, Allied Richard Bertram Yacht Group, Burger King and Church's
Chicken.
SOURCE BroadSmart
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.broadsmart.com
CONTACT:
Tricia Rutsis, +1-954-610-388 or
+1-954-566-4759, trutsis@bellsouth.net
|
