In the past two weeks, we have been dealing with devastating fires and a crisis we never imagined would affect us at this scale. We are assisting clients with their IT needs—many of whom have lost their homes and home offices to the fires or have been forced to evacuate or relocate due to damage caused by smoke, water, fire retardant, and other elements.

We encountered a similar experience during the Northridge Earthquake exactly 31 years ago. While there are parallels, the affected areas in this disaster are significantly more extensive. However, there are valuable IT-related lessons from this fire and other disasters that we would like to share with you:

Lesson 1: It Can Happen to You

The first and perhaps most important lesson we’ve learned is that disasters can strike anyone, anywhere, at any time. It’s easy to assume that your business or home is immune to such events, especially when they seem rare or unlikely. However, the reality is that fires, natural disasters, cyberattacks, and other unexpected incidents can happen to anyone—including you.

Avoid making critical decisions based on the belief that these events won’t affect you. Instead, adopt a proactive mindset. Invest in disaster preparedness, such as fire prevention measures and emergency response plans. While you hope such events never happen, being prepared can make all the difference when they do.

Lesson 2: Insufficient Time to Respond

One of the most common experiences shared by our clients who suffered damages was a lack of time to respond. Many only managed to take a few essential items, leaving their computers and IT equipment behind.

Lesson 3: Backup is Your Lifeline

A critical factor that eased recovery for some of our clients was having an online backup. Backup is the cornerstone of any disaster recovery plan. The golden rule is to have your data backed up across three different media: two physical backups (e.g., external hard drives or flash drives) and one online backup.

Among these, online backup is the most important as it ensures your data remains accessible, even if physical backups are destroyed.

Lesson 4: Cloud Solutions are Game-Changers

Hosting your main applications—such as files, emails, and primary business software—on the cloud allows you to continue operations from any device connected to the internet.

Cloud-based solutions offer unparalleled resilience during disasters. Unlike on-premises servers and paper records, they are not susceptible to physical damage or loss.

Lesson 5: Review Your Insurance Coverage

Insurance is not just about having coverage; it’s about having the right coverage. Work closely with an insurance professional who understands your unique needs. Ensure your policy accounts for various scenarios, including fires, floods, cybersecurity breaches, and other unforeseen events.

Trust their expertise and heed their recommendations—they can provide the safety net your business or practice needs to recover after a disaster.

The aftermath of any disaster underscores the importance of proactive preparedness, the value of cloud-based software for business continuity, and the significance of having the right insurance coverage and trusted partners.

As your IT partner, it’s our responsibility to share our experiences and take concrete steps to protect your operations and ensure the well-being of our clients. By doing so, we can help your businesses remain resilient and capable of providing quality support or care, even in the face of unexpected challenges. If you have any additional tips you’d like to share that may help others, please feel free to email them to info@ceocomputers.com