When disaster strikes, time is everything.
Whether it’s a cybersecurity attack, a system failure, or the sudden loss of a key leader, the impact on your business can be immediate and severe. Without a disaster recovery plan, it’s easy for operations to spiral into confusion.
At LEAP Managed IT, we’ve seen organizations across industries—from municipalities to small businesses—face these moments. And one truth always stands out: those with a plan recover faster and more effectively.
Why Disaster Recovery Is a Business Imperative
Disaster recovery planning isn’t just about protecting data—it’s about protecting your entire business.
Without a clear plan in place, businesses often find themselves asking urgent questions in the middle of a crisis:
- How will our team access key systems?
- Where can we work if our location is compromised?
- Who will communicate with customers, vendors, and insurance providers?
These questions aren’t technical—they’re operational. And they can’t wait until after something goes wrong.
The Most Common Mistake: Waiting Too Long
Many leaders put off disaster recovery planning. It feels complex, time-consuming, or just not urgent—until it’s too late.
But here’s the truth: getting started doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
Even a simple, working plan gives your business a foundation to respond and adapt in a crisis. At LEAP, we often help businesses develop a first draft in just a few hours. It’s not about perfection—it’s about preparation.
The Role of Insurance in Disaster Recovery
Insurance is often overlooked in recovery planning—but it plays a critical role.
We spoke with Lori Rowan, Partner at Zeller Insurance in Columbus, Indiana, to get her perspective. With decades of experience advising Midwest businesses, she sees recurring gaps in coverage that could derail recovery efforts.
“One of the biggest issues I see is the lack of business income or loss of rent coverage,” Lori says. “And many businesses don’t realize their tech equipment is only partially covered under standard policies.”
Her top recommendations:
- Cyber liability coverage is essential in today’s digital environment.
- Key person life insurance protects continuity when leadership changes unexpectedly.
- Document everything—maintain current inventories of your equipment and systems.
- Create a video walkthrough of your space to simplify insurance claims.
- Use password managers for secure, centralized access to critical tools.
“Business income coverage is usually affordable,” she adds. “But without it, recovery can be delayed by weeks or months.”
6 Essential Steps to Building a Disaster Recovery Plan
Want to get started? Here’s a proven framework we use with clients:
- Assess Your Risks – Identify the threats most likely to impact your operations
- Inventory Your Systems – Make a list of all critical IT systems, software, equipment, and business processes that keep things running
- Define Roles and Responsibilities – Establish a chain of command. Assign specific recovery tasks so there’s no confusion in an emergency
- Create a Communication Plan – Plan how you’ll notify staff, clients, vendors, and stakeholders during and after a disaster
- Develop and Test the Plan – Write down recovery steps and test them regularly through tabletop exercises or simulated scenarios
- Keep It Updated – Review and update your plan annually
Final Thoughts
Disaster recovery planning isn’t something to push off until “later.” The sooner you start, the more resilient your business becomes.
Even a basic plan can help you maintain operations, support your team, and protect your customers when challenges arise. It’s not about predicting every risk—it’s about being ready when one hits.
If you need any assistance with formulating a disaster recovery plan, we are here to help. Visit us at leapmanagedit.com.
