SMEs can adopt affordable and cost-efficient business continuity plans (BCPs), going by the experience of Transition Systems Asia.
According to chief executive Jonathan Juay, implementing BCP has actually helped Transition systems cut fixed costs.
The company's BCP is underpinned by technological infrastructure that ensures the business will still run during an emergency, such as pandemic outbreak.
A Secure Sockets Layer Virtual Private Network (SSLVPN) allows the storage of information on a virtual private network that can be accessed from different locations via a web browser. Staff have converted to laptops and the SSLVPN can handle up to 50 users simultaneously, allowing safe and secure remote access from any browser.
'Up to 50 per cent of our work force is mobile, so it is important our data is protected,' says Mr Juay. 'SSLVPN is an affordable way to achieve robust protection against application-layer attacks.
'For only about US$1,400, our SonicWALL Network Security Appliance (NSA) Series adds security, reliability, functionality and productivity to branch offices and central sites, while minimising cost and complexity.'
In addition, capacity can be extended with just a phone call to the service provider.
Transition has also built video-conference rooms, so staff can communicate easily with customers that prefer non face-to-face communication. In the event of a global outbreak, this would facilitate communication with customers as well as its regional offices, avoiding travel.
Transition also uses IP telephony, which allows contact as long as Internet access is available. Features of Transition's system include the conversion of voicemail to wav files sent via e-mail, as well as faxes sent to a direct line, converted to pdf format and sent as e-mail. This enables staff to work from home and not miss out on voicemails or faxes at their workplace. Also, staff can answer their phones via their laptops. And if the phone rings five times, the call will be diverted to a different number, ensuring calls do not go unanswered.
However, the convenience came with a price. According to Mr Juay, the toughest challenge is the mindset of management.
'Management likes to have control,' he says. 'It's hard for management to suddenly have to deal with so much staff freedom. Not knowing if the staff are being productive and working is hard to adjust to.'
Wit the implementation of BCP, half of Transition's staff work from home, so the company has moved to a smaller office, reducing fixed costs and preventing human congestion, thereby reducing the chance of any virus spreading rapidly.
And the total cost of Transition's BCP plan? US$8,313.
