A message to all runbiz™ Managed IT Services Customers:
Some customers have started engaging us to assist with COVID-19 preparations. Each customer’s current capability and requirements to operate remotely varies greatly.
While all customers have disaster recovery plans, most don’t have continuity plans to specifically address a quarantine. To effectively implement a solution within a short timeframe, runbiz™ must have clear and realistic expectations from each customer.
If you have remote access in place for users today, rolling it out to 1-2 more users in a limited capacity is realistic. However, creating remote access for a large group or an entire organization is not realistic.
Here is an outline of considerations to assist you in creating a realistic continuity plan:
- Communications Plan – this is a critical element of every incident response plan.
- Phones – Contact phone vendor to determine call routing capabilities of your phone system. If runbiz™ is your phone vendor, we will address this in your plan.
- Email – Many users have access to their email outside work. Take extra care to determine who has/needs access. Have users who won’t have access turn on the Out of Office assistant before they leave.
- Current remote access – Do you have Virtual Private Network (VPN), Terminal Services, or other Remote Access in place?
- Notify Employees
- Notify Customers
- Notify Vendors
- Print hard copies of key contact lists with cell phone numbers.
- Create an employee phone tree for critical communications.
- Physical Limitations – Identify any physical items needed to complete critical processes.
- Printed documents, manuals, instructions, etc.
- Bank authentication token devices
- Checks, check stock, mail, etc.
- Database Application Capability – Determine which applications and processes are essential. Which are currently configured to operate remotely? Standard priority of essential processes are:
- Phone and Email Communications
- Payroll
- Accounts Payable
- Line of Business Systems
- Management Information Systems
- Remote File Access – Which files, folders, drives are essential? Are they currently remotely accessible?
- Terminal Server?
- Datto Workplace?
- Identify Key Roles / Users
- Role
- Name
- Location
- Acceptable Workarounds for Complex Processes - If functionality exists allowing most employees to work remotely, having specific employees go on-site to complete certain processes such as payroll may offer a realistic alternative to retooling these complex processes.
To move forward, please email help@run.biz with the subject line of COVID-19 PLAN and include the following essential information:
- Clear and realistic list of essential applications
- Files that need to be remotely accessed by a list of key users
- Timeline for completion
We’ve set up a separate process to address these as professional service projects. We believe we have the resources and capabilities to deliver your essential requirements in a reasonable timeframe with your cooperation. Once we’ve received your requirements, a runbiz™ project resource will be in touch to clarify and schedule your project.