Try ShortPoint nowNatural disasters, like typhoons or snowstorms, can occur suddenly. But having the proper measures in place can lessen its impact and help the people affected recover in no time.
The same thing can happen in business operations. Potential threats or disruptive events can come our way. That's why ShortPoint built a comprehensive business continuity strategy to keep data safe and accessible, no matter what. We're committed to protecting the limited operational data we collect (licensing and usage information) and maintaining normal operations through careful risk assessment, detailed planning, regular testing, and proactive preparation.
NOTEShortPoint does not access, store, back up, or transmit customer content or data from your SharePoint environment. All references to “data,” “backups,” or “information recovery” in this article refer only to ShortPoint’s own internal corporate systems, not customer SharePoint data.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Our Blueprint: Clear Plans for Any Situation
- System Categorization
- Regular Testing of Business Continuity Strategies
- Crisis Management: Keeping Data Safe and Accessible
- Disaster Recovery That Works
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What is business continuity, and why is it important?
- What plans does ShortPoint have for business continuity?
- How does ShortPoint prepare for potential threats or disruptions?
- How does ShortPoint ensure data safety and accessibility?
- What role do employees and key team members play in business continuity?
Our Blueprint: Clear Plans for Any Situation
Think of business continuity planning like having a well-rehearsed emergency plan; you hope you'll never need it, but you're prepared if you do. ShortPoint maintains two key plans as part of its business continuity management systems:
Business Continuity Plan (BCP)
This is our comprehensive roadmap for maintaining critical business functions and operations during any business disruption. It outlines exactly how we'll respond to unexpected events and keep serving you without missing a beat, ensuring we can resume normal operations as quickly as possible.
Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP)
This plan kicks into gear during other major business disruptions or emergencies. It prioritizes which business systems and critical services need attention first and maps out step-by-step recovery operations to minimize data loss and downtime.
System Categorization
To make smart decisions about priorities, we perform a Business Impact Analysis (BIA). To put it simply, we analyze how each system affects our ability to serve you. Then, we make plans accordingly based on the analysis. This structured approach ensures that recovery efforts focus on minimizing impact and maintaining mission continuity. We organize our systems into two categories:
Mission-critical systems
These are the systems that support ShortPoint’s internal operations, licensing, support, and availability. They need immediate attention because they handle data directly.
Non-critical systems
Systems that are not categorized as critical are placed here. When a threat occurs, these systems can wait a bit longer.
Regular Testing of Business Continuity Strategies
Have you ever experienced a fire drill? If you have, you know that safety facilitators don't just tell you what to do; you actually have to do it.
The same principle applies to our business continuity strategies. We believe that having plans on paper isn't enough. We put them to the test at least once a year through realistic simulations. Here's how we ensure our business continuity plans are tested regularly and are effective:
Tabletop Exercises
Our key team members gather to walk through emergency scenarios step-by-step. This training ensures everyone understands their responsibilities and can respond quickly when a crisis occurs.
Technical Testing
We practice switching to backup systems and alternate locations. This includes restoring information from data backups and verifying that all communication channels work properly. We don't just assume our backups will work; we prove it.
After each test, we document the potential impact. We note what went well and what needs improvement, then update our plans accordingly. This ongoing cycle of learning helps us develop strategies to protect your service and maintain organizational resilience through any disaster, outage, or cyber attack.
Crisis Management: Keeping Data Safe and Accessible
One of our top priorities is to ensure that ShortPoint’s internal operational systems remain available so your ShortPoint product experience is not disrupted. Here's how we make that happen:
Smart Backup
We use cloud infrastructure with a smart backup strategy. ShortPoint’s internal systems and operational data are backed up across multiple secure locations. If one system has issues, another seamlessly takes over, minimizing downtime and supporting critical business functions. All backups are encrypted for security, and only authorized key personnel can access them, safeguarding sensitive information and meeting the expectations of key stakeholders.
Effective Communication
We're also big believers in transparency. If something does go wrong, you'll see real-time updates on our status page. You won't ever have to wonder what's happening or when things will be back to normal. Behind the scenes, automated monitoring systems keep watch 24/7. If something looks off, our dedicated team gets notified immediately so we can jump into action and get things back on track fast.
NOTEThis does not include customer SharePoint content, as ShortPoint does not store or transmit any customer data.
Disaster Recovery That Works
ShortPoint's approach to business continuity isn't just about reacting to problems; it's about being proactive. Our business continuity plans focus heavily on preventing issues before they arise, preparing thoroughly for any potential threats, and minimizing any impact if disruptions do occur. Through well-documented plans, regular testing, and robust solutions for data backup and recovery, we work every day to ensure that your business operations remain uninterrupted. Your company can count on us no matter what challenges arise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is business continuity, and why is it important?
Business continuity refers to an organization's ability to maintain critical business functions and resume normal operations during and after a disruptive event. It is essential to ensure minimal downtime, protect data, and maintain service for customers and key stakeholders.
What plans does ShortPoint have for business continuity?
ShortPoint maintains a comprehensive business continuity plan (BCP) and a disaster recovery plan (DRP). The BCP focuses on maintaining normal business processes during disruptions, while the DRP prioritizes recovery of business systems and critical services to minimize data loss and downtime.
How does ShortPoint prepare for potential threats or disruptions?
We conduct thorough risk assessment and business impact analysis (BIA) to identify and prioritize critical business functions. Our plans are tested regularly through tabletop exercises and technical testing to ensure effectiveness and readiness.
How does ShortPoint ensure data safety and accessibility?
For ShortPoint’s internal operational systems, we use secure cloud infrastructure with geographically redundant backups to ensure business continuity. These internal backups are encrypted and accessible only to authorized personnel, supporting resilience without ever touching or transferring customer SharePoint data.
ShortPoint does not access, store, or back up customer SharePoint content. Your data always remains within your own Microsoft 365 environment, where it is protected by Microsoft’s enterprise-grade security and redundancy.
What role do employees and key team members play in business continuity?
Employees and key team members are trained and assigned specific responsibilities in our crisis management process. Regular training and simulations ensure everyone understands their roles in the processes.
Related articles:
- How ShortPoint Classifies and Encrypts Data
- Continuous Defense: ShortPoint’s Program for Proactive Data Security
- Security by Design: How ShortPoint Protects Data
- Zero Trust Access: How ShortPoint Keeps Data Safe with Smart Security
- Security in Software Development Life Cycle: How ShortPoint Keeps the Development Lifecycle Safe and Secure
- Creating a Company Culture for Security: How ShortPoint Builds a Culture of Compliance
- SOC Compliance: How ShortPoint is Committed to Validating its Security Measures
- Privacy by Design: How ShortPoint Complies with the General Data Protection Regulation
