How to Protect Your Business from Downtime

Published on: 14 November 2018 Last Updated on: 13 September 2024

One of the costliest experiences your business can face is network downtime. It can result in tremendous loss of profit if contracts are not fulfilled or services are not provided simply because you cannot access the relevant information you need.

While there are many advantages to moving to a cloud network, there are also some things that can go wrong. As with any business practice, it is important to plan for what can go wrong and protect yourself when this happens.

Expect the Unexpected:

Downtime can occur at any point with little notice. When this happens, it can fully interrupt your daily business plan and can leave you spinning and looking for something to do until you can get online.

To minimize the loss in this time, it is imperative that you develop a full continuity plan to be utilized in the event of downtime. You may also need to check any service level agreements (or SLAs) that you may have with a third party to make sure that you are protected from any action from then during downtime.

Appreciate That It Might Sometimes Be You:

These frustrating periods of downtime are not always caused by the cloud provider. Sometimes it might be as simple as a dodgy script or piece of code causing your cloud to go down. In this scenario, the onus is on you to fix it and not upon the cloud provider since the problem originated from you.

Check everything frequently to ensure that you are completing things to the best of your ability. Any coding needs to be properly checked before it goes live on the site and bugs need to be found and fixed as quickly as possible. If you are introducing something from a third-party developer, make sure that is from a reputable source so that it does not damage any of the structure that you have worked so hard to build. Do not add anything to your cloud unless you know exactly what it is and where it has come from.

Use a Multi-Cloud Structure:

By using a multi-cloud structure which operates across different accessibility zones, you are decreasing the likelihood of your business being completely cut off from its work. This may not eliminate your downtime risk but it can certainly help to minimize it.

Check that the individual cloud providers you are using for your hybrid structure aren’t using the same data centre and the same resources. If this is the case, having a multi-cloud structure for the purpose of reducing downtime is completely redundant.

Prepare for Recovery:

Sudden downtime can result in some awful loss of data and projects if you are not careful. Sometimes, this loss can occur even if you follow the best online practices. To best recover from downtime and data loss, you will need to use some proactive measures and potentially contact an expert to help.

Disaster Recover as a Service (or DRaaS) is a service which can be implemented as part of your overall cloud package from the right provider. Along with other services like infrastructure or software, many should be able to offer disaster recovery. Find out more about DRaaS from ukcloud.com; these experts know all about it.

Downtime may seem like a scary prospect which can seriously affect your performance depending on how you handle it. Like many aspects of business, you will be able to weather even periods of unexpected downtime if you have a proactive business plan in place. Be sensible, and you will be able to protect your company properly no matter what is thrown at it.

Read More:

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

Platform Companies: What They Are And How They’re Used

Platform companies, also called platform acquisitions, are key steps in a private equity firm’s expansion into a new industry. The firm will first target a large, established business in the industry. From there, it will strategically acquire multiple smaller businesses, using them to expand its reach within the industry. Platform acquisitions don’t just benefit the private equity firm — they also have surprising benefits for owners of smaller companies. Here’s a quick primer on platform companies and how they work. How Does a Platform Acquisition Work? Breaking into a new industry can be tough, especially if you start by opening a new business. Private equity firms skip that step. Instead, a private equity firm will start by acquiring an established, successful business in the field. When selecting a company to purchase, private equity firms generally look for a few characteristics: Status as a Market Leader: For the best chance at success in the given industry, equity firms will typically target companies that stand out — even if it’s just within a certain geographical location or in a very specific market niche A Strong Management Team: When equity firms acquire platform companies, they typically want to keep the existing higher-level employees to ensure the company’s continued success and improve the business practices of new acquisitions Multiple Locations: A business with multiple locations has already expanded its reach, and equity firms can build on that with further acquisitions Established Standard Operating Procedures: When expanding the platform company, the equity firm can simply apply these operating procedures to new acquisitions After the purchase, the platform company serves as a kind of home base for the firm within the industry. The private equity firm will usually then expand that business through bolt-on purchases (also called roll-up purchases or roll-up acquisitions). Bolt-on purchases are different from another kind of acquisition called a tuck-in acquisition. With a bolt-on acquisition, the newly purchased smaller company will usually keep its name and identity. With a tuck-in acquisition, the smaller company is completely absorbed into the larger platform company. Why Would an Investment Firm Acquire a Platform Company? When private equity companies purchase a platform company and begin to expand into a new industry, they aren’t doing so with the intent of keeping the company forever. Instead, platform acquisition is a long-game investment strategy. It takes a significant amount of time, but it can generate a massive profit. In a nutshell, equity companies buy and expand platform companies in hopes of eventually selling the expanded company to an even larger investor. Selling the companies as a conglomerate is almost always more profitable than selling each one separately. For example, suppose that a private equity company wants to break into the fitness industry. The company might start by purchasing a regional chain of gyms. As it purchases other, smaller gyms, it will use the management expertise and existing operating procedures of the first acquisition to improve each of the smaller gyms. It will also invest money in smaller gyms to increase their value. When the company finally sells the expanded network of gyms, it will have created a profitable business venture that runs smoothly. This type of purchase is an attractive one for larger investors, so the equity company will be able to turn a significant profit. How Platform Companies Can Impact Business Owners At first, the idea of a larger company buying up smaller companies might not sound that advantageous to owners of small businesses. However, as a platform expands and acquires multiple smaller companies, those companies can see some surprising benefits. For one, platform companies will usually invest significant capital in the new company soon after purchase. After all, the whole point of the acquisition is to increase the total platform’s valuation. But money isn’t the only investment that platform companies put into smaller companies. After the acquisition, the equity firm will continue to focus on growing the newly acquired business. The newly purchased business will reap several benefits from the platform: Experience in sales and marketing Experienced professional management Financial acumen Standardized, organized operational procedures In many cases, these smaller acquisitions retain their company name. That makes the acquisition more appealing to many small business owners, especially those who have built their businesses from the ground up. In many cases, an acquisition ends up as a win-win situation: The platform company expands its reach and total value, and the smaller business receives valuable funding and mentorship. Platform Companies Add Value Being acquired by a platform company can transform a smaller business for the better. And for the platform company, each new acquisition has the potential to bring in new customers, expand the company’s market reach, and increase the value of the platform as a whole. On its own, the acquisition of a single small business might not seem like much. But when a firm repeats that process many times over, the result is an expansive, highly organized company that multiplies its value over time. Read Also: A Beginners Guide to Listed Investment Companies 6 Steps to Starting a Business in Michigan How to Start Business Like Swiggy

How to Retain Your Top Employees While Growing Your Business

Being the CEO of any business enterprise usually requires you to wear lots of different hats — one minute you are in charge of marketing, followed by accounting, and then customer service after lunch. However, the role that most entrepreneurs tend to struggle with above all others is hiring. The hiring process can be tedious and time-consuming, so once you have found the right person for the job it is imperative that you can retain their services for as long as possible. Of course, when you are trying to run a business, this is often easier said than done. Luckily, Victor Mitchell has listed some things that you can do to incentivize your best employees to stick around, such as: Recognition: As an entrepreneur, it is extremely easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the average work week. Before you know it, you have made it all the way to Friday, and you have barely spoken to your employees at all during the week. However, if you want to retain your best employees, you need to make a conscious effort to take some time out of your day to speak with them and let them know that they are doing a good job. A simple pat on the back can go a long way. You can even arrange a larger quarterly or annual awards ceremony where you hand out some certificates or trophies for added recognition. Compensation: Though employees and employers alike often try to ignore the issue, money is always going to be one of the main reasons why a person might decide to join or leave a company. This does not mean that you need to pay your employees way over market value to retain them, but it does mean that you should at least make sure that they are receiving a fair compensation package relative to the work they are doing. Markets shift and employees learn new skills, so make sure that their compensation package reflects their real value or they may begin to look elsewhere. Flexibility: For many skilled positions, it isn't necessary for the employee to be sitting at their desk in the office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. As such, your employees are likely to be appreciative of a little flexibility when it comes to their work schedule. You could allow them to work from home occasionally, or will enable them to create their work schedule (within set parameters). Your employees are likely to find it difficult to replicate this kind of flexibility at another workplace, so they will be much more likely to want to stay in their current jobs instead. Of course, it is important to remember that employee retention is an art, not a science. This means that you will ideally take the time to get to know the specific needs and desires of your employees before launching any retention initiatives. After all, there is little point in offering a raise to an employee who wants to be able to work from home more often. However, by speaking to your employees about their preferences and employing some of the tips contained in this article, you will find that your best employees are much happier and willing to stick around for much longer. Read Also: Is Your Company Offering Enough To Potential Employees? Don’t Do The Math: 5 Reasons Outsourced Bookkeeping Services Are The Right Choice For Your Business

Who Is An Intrapreneur? Definition, Characteristics, Pros/Cons, More

Intrapreneurs and Entrepreneurs - they sound similar right? Yeah, they do, but their definition, meaning, and characteristics are totally different from one another. Here is what we know about entrepreneurship. Read the guide till the end to grab some rich insights. Who Is An Intrapreneur? Here is a concise definition. An intrapreneur is the one who is responsible for developing an innovative project or idea within an organization. He/she doesn’t face the outsized risks that an entrepreneur doesn’t. However, he possesses the major access to all the capabilities and resources of an established company. To be very specific, the intrapreneur gets the autonomy to work on projects having a considerable impact on organizational development. The term intrapreneur is an amalgamation of two words like “internal” and “entrepreneur.” In 1978, it was first coined by Elizabeth S. Pinchot and Gifford Pinchot II in a white paper. How Does Intrapreneurship Work? You are now well aware of what is an intrapreneur. They are the employees of an organization who are given the responsibilities of working on special ideas and projects. In addition, they are given the freedom and time to develop and grow the project that an entrepreneur would. Does this sound like they work solo? Well, not really because intrapreneurs have all the capabilities and resources of the firm at their disposal. Additionally, they have different objectives. While an entrepreneur envisions the creation of a company from level 0, the intrapreneur has a broader vision for an established entity. The visions mainly involve radical changes to company processes, products, or traditions. He applies his skills and experiences directly to implement them on the job. What Are The Characteristics Of A Good Intrapreneur I hope, by now the meaning is pretty clear to you? Now, Intrapreneurship has some roles and responsibilities which require some special characteristics. Below, I have listed some of the characteristics an efficient intrapreneur must possess. 1.They Are Passionate About Problem Solving Angels and Intrapreneurs will agree on this one. Focused intrapreneurs are the ones who are passionate about solving problems and set forth to resolve business-oriented issues. 2.They Are Curious, And Adaptable Enough When it’s the start of a business, the intrapreneur has to play roles in several sectors such as product management, engineering, and marketing. Hence, angels look for people who are curious, adaptable, and respond to learning and development. 3. They Are Transparent As an intrapreneur, the fastest and most efficient way to gain the confidence of your sponsors is by showing transparency. If any unwanted circumstance happens, then also, transparency needs to be maintained. 4. They Are Resilient Intrapreneurs starting a business simply have an idea which they have to work super hard to give a shape. That’s why they need to be highly resilient since it’s likely they would come across a plethora of obstacles throughout their journey. Pros And Cons Of Intrapreneurship Here is a critical analysis of Intrapreneurship I have explained through an evaluation of its pros and cons. Take a look at the table below: Pros Of IntrapreneurshipCons of IntrapreneurshipIt decreases the financial risk on the innovatorThe glory you enjoy is not for you only, it’s shared.Makes use of all the organizational talent and resourcesThere is high potential for conflicts with the other members.Increases the delivery of better services, products, or support.Returns are generally less in comparison to the entrepreneurs.Enlarges your reputation and develops your network.There are a myriad of risks pertaining to failureIt’s a stepping stone to entrepreneurshipYou will still have a boss monitoring you Companies Around The World Having Intrapreneurs Here are some leading tech giants around the world who support Intrapreneurship just like different types of entrepreneurs: GoogleMicrosoftShutterstockIntelFacebookAppleGeneral MotorsVirgin Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Q1. What Does Intrapreneur Mean? An Intrapreneur is an employee who is given the support and authority to create a new service or product. Unlike entrepreneurs, they have no concern about whether or not the product would become a revenue source for the company. Q2. What Is Intrapreneur Example? One of the greatest examples of Intrapreneurship is Dreamworks Animation. It’s a media behemoth that gave classic works like Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda. They also offer classes on script writing to the animators. Q3. What Are The Types Of Intrapreneurs? The 3 types of Intrapreneur are as follows:1. Advocate, coming from a customer-facing role 2. The creator coming from an internal-facing role3. The change maker coming from an external-business-facing role. Q4. What Is The Difference Between Intrapreneurs And Entrepreneurs? The main difference between Intrapreneur and Entrepreneur is that an entrepreneur is a ground-up-and-go person when it comes to their own money. On the other hand, an intrapreneur is someone who starts steaming from inside a large company. That’s all about Entrepreneur Vs Intrapreneur. The Bottom Line That’s all we had to say about Intrapreneurs. They are overlooked often in the realm of entrepreneurship. However, with the world-changing innovation coming up, established corporations are prioritizing them. Wanna learn how to become an intrapreneur and Intrapreneur Vs Entrepreneur in more detail? Then keep an eye out on our website as we will be coming up with a guide to that. Read More: What is an Airsoft Gun?How Gun and Security Gear Advanced through the YearsParts of a Gun: All You Need to Know About the Components of Your Firearm

How to Protect Your Business from Downtime

Expect the Unexpected:

Appreciate That It Might Sometimes Be You:

Use a Multi-Cloud Structure:

Prepare for Recovery:

Creative Marketing Strategies to Put Your Small Translation Business

Importance of Flexibility with Business Technology

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Technologies For Creating A Startup Idea

How to Download Facebook Videos on Android?

7 Rules of Effective Ecommerce Web Design

The 10 WordPress Plugins Every Sucessful Blogger Uses

Follow Us

Recent

Cybersecurity Threats In Asset Tracking And Strategies To Mitigate

How To Invest In Yourself For A Stress-Free Daily Life

How Many Jobs Are Available in Consumer Services in 2024?

Top 9 Signs You Will Get The Job After Interview

Related

Platform Companies: What They Are And How They’re Used

How to Retain Your Top Employees While Growing Your Business

Who Is An Intrapreneur? Definition, Characteristics, Pros/Cons, More

How to Protect Your Business from Downtime

Expect the Unexpected:

Appreciate That It Might Sometimes Be You:

Use a Multi-Cloud Structure:

Prepare for Recovery:

Share this Article

Creative Marketing Strategies to Put Your Small Translation Business

Importance of Flexibility with Business Technology

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

Related