Preventive measures against blackouts: how to protect your company
Blackouts or power failures can have far-reaching consequences for companies of all sizes - from production stoppages and data loss to significant financial losses. The good news is that there are numerous preventative measures that companies can take to arm themselves against the unexpected effects of a blackout.
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We take a detailed look at the most important strategies and also place a special focus on the role of alerting and crisis management software.
Table of content
Detailed risk analysis
A thorough risk analysis is the first step in preparing for a blackout. This should not only assess the likelihood of a power outage, but also analyse its potential impact on specific areas of the business.
This analysis should be updated regularly to take into account new risks that could arise due to changes in the operating environment or new business processes.
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Emergency power supply
Emergency power generators should be dimensioned in such a way that they can supply critical systems and processes for the duration of an average power outage. This usually includes the IT infrastructure, important production lines and critical cold chains. These critical systems and processes can vary from company to company, depending on the business purpose.
The power units must be tested under different environmental conditions and regularly maintained to ensure optimum performance.
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Uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
A UPS (uninterruptible power supply) protects sensitive electronics from the immediate effects of a power failure and bridges the time until the emergency power generator kicks in. For critical data centres or server rooms, a UPS system should be sufficiently dimensioned to enable seamless operation.
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Diversification of energy sources
Utilising alternative energy sources such as solar or wind power can help to reduce dependence on a single energy supplier and increase energy autonomy. These systems can be combined with traditional energy sources to ensure greater resilience.
▶︎ Read more: Business Impact Analysis
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IT alerting, fire alarms, alerting company first responders and much more. ISO-certified server infrastructure. Used by SMEs, corporations, authorities and public organisations.
Infrastructural adjustments
Check your organisation's physical infrastructure for vulnerabilities that could be exacerbated by power outages. This includes checking electrical wiring, installing surge protection and ensuring that all critical systems are easily accessible to allow for quick repairs.
▶︎ Read more: What is an emergency plan
Alerting and crisis management software
In times of blackout, fast and clear communication is crucial. Specialised alerting and crisis management software, such as that from safeREACH, can be invaluable here. These systems make it possible to send automated emergency notifications to all employees, customers or other stakeholders.
They also provide platforms for crisis communication and coordination, including mobile apps that work even when the power and network infrastructure is down. They also support the crisis management team in monitoring the situation and coordinating response measures in real time.
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1.666 alarms per second
safeREACH as your powerful emergency notification system with up to 100.000 alarms per minute. Successfully used by multinational corporations, medium-sized companies and public authorities. ISO-certified server infrastructure.
Training and exercises
Regular training and emergency drills are essential to ensure that all employees are familiar with emergency procedures and can react appropriately in the event of a blackout. Drills should be as realistic as possible and cover all aspects of a blackout, from the initial response to the resumption of normal operations.
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Preventive blackout measures promote resilience
A proactive approach to preparing for a blackout can significantly increase the resilience of your organisation. There are many different possible causes of a blackout, but there are also a variety of preventative measures. By implementing the above measures and technologies, you can ensure business continuity and minimise the negative impact of a blackout.
In particular, investing in robust alerting and crisis management software is a wise decision that can prove its effectiveness not only in the event of a blackout, but in all types of emergencies. Those who can react quickly in an emergency can also begin to prevent damage at an early stage.
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Over 20 years of experience in alerting
IT alerting, fire alarms, alerting company first responders and much more. ISO-certified server infrastructure. Used by SMEs, corporations, authorities and public organisations.
Reliable alerting and crisis management with safeREACH
Find out how you can use safeREACH for better emergency and crisis management in your organisation. We would be happy to show you the benefits of our trusted systems.
Michael Mayer
Chief Product Officer and Customer Support