Wildfire Preparedness: Business Technology Guide

Living in California has so many perks! Then the first signs of wildfire season emerge, and it quickly becomes clear why there might be some apprehension when considering buying a home or operating a business here.

It’s impossible to predict exactly what will happen when a wildfire spreads, but we want to help you prepare to the best of our abilities. In this guide, we’ll cover important technology considerations to keep your business operating in the event of a wildfire.

Wildfire spreading through a forest

Going Remote for a Wildfire

Events like wildfires can force businesses to determine whether they can run their operations remotely. IT teams must ensure that VPNs, Remote Desktops, and cloud services are up and running for their employers and customers. This readiness can help businesses stay prepared for wildfire season.

Here’s a quick checklist of considerations for going remote:

• Email: Is it cloud-based or on-premise?
• Line of business applications: Hosted in the cloud or on-premise? If on-premise, what remote connectivity is available?
• Shared Data: Cloud storage or local servers?
• Team Collaboration: Do you use Microsoft Teams, Email, or rely on in-person communication?
• Phone Calls: Do you use a traditional phone system or VoIP?
• Physical Servers: If your servers are on-site, what’s your remote access plan?
• Microsoft Gateway Service: Is it in place and configured?
• SSL VPN: Are there enough licenses? Can your firewall handle increased traffic?
• Connectivity: Do you have secure remote tools set up?

Actionable Steps to Take Leading Up to Wildfire Season

We have compiled some actionable steps and technology considerations that you should think about before wildfire season:

• Develop a disaster recovery plan specific to wildfires.
• Inventory all the technology and critical data in your office.
• Network Documentation: Ensure this is up to date and accessible remotely.
• Offsite Data Backup: In addition to onsite backups, offsite backups are crucial for wildfire scenarios.
• Test your backups to confirm data can be recovered after a disaster.
• Identify which business operations can be managed remotely.
• Prepare users for remote work if necessary.
• Communicate clear procedures to staff for extended remote work periods.
• Distribute a computer equipment checklist to employees.
• Practice remote work to troubleshoot any issues in advance.
• Prepare your IT team to handle server outages and tech recovery post-wildfire.
• Establish relationships with larger IT entities for rapid response in emergencies.
• Ensure phone systems are set up to forward to mobile devices or softphones.

Considerations For the Days Leading Up to Wildfire Threats

• Protect computers and tech equipment from potential smoke and ash damage by covering them with plastic bags.
• Back up data regularly and ensure it is stored offsite.
• Shut down and unplug non-essential equipment.
• Disconnect Ethernet cables to avoid electrical damage from potential power outages.
• Coordinate with IT for the safe shutdown of servers if needed.
• Consider a wireless internet backup option, as traditional lines may be disrupted during wildfires.