Business continuity planning: The overlooked role of physical infrastructure
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Servers, backups and cloud apps are typically what companies consider when developing a continuity plan.
But here’s the truth…
It’s not just firewalls that keep your people and information safe. Physical walls, doors and windows matter too. Hackers can take down your company for days with a cyber attack. But get owned by a break-in, a violent intruder or natural disaster and you could be shut down for weeks…or forever.
And the numbers are alarming.
Pwc’s 2023 Global Crisis and Resilience Survey revealed that 96% of business leaders have faced some sort of disruption in the last two years. 76% of respondents faced medium to high levels of disruption to their operations. That’s a lot of companies who have dealt with issues that could have been mitigated (or prevented) by having the proper physical infrastructure prepared.
That is why forward-thinking businesses are beginning to look at physical infrastructure as part of their business continuity plan. From reinforced doors to ballistic window installation, your infrastructure plays a massive role in your businesses ability to take a hit. Physical hardening can often be the difference between your business opening back up the next morning or being closed for months. Banks, government buildings and other high-risk businesses take it one step further with bullet proof windows to ensure employee and asset safety during these worst case scenarios. But even if your business doesn’t fall into that high-risk category, there are benefits to upgrading to harder glazing as well as better positioning.
Here’s what’s covered:
- Why physical infrastructure matters for continuity
- The biggest physical threats businesses face
- Key physical upgrades that protect operations
- Building a physical continuity checklist
Why physical infrastructure matters for continuity
A business continuity plan is only as strong as its weakest link.
Businesses invest heavily in IT recovery and remediation, cloud backups and cyber security… Yet fail to protect the physical building their business occupies. That’s a big oversight. Physical infrastructure is how you keep your doors open and employees safe when the unexpected happens.
Think about it this way:
Servers can survive a break in overnight, but the store can’t open for business. A busted window during a storm can put an entire building out of commission for weeks. If someone breaches the front door, every employee is in danger.
Physical resilience protects three things every business needs to keep running:
- Staff – employees need to feel safe to actually show up
- Assets – equipment, inventory, and documents that can’t be replaced overnight
- Reputation – customers remember which businesses stayed open through the tough times
Plus, hardware enhancements are one-time fees. There are no monthly subscriptions like you have with software. A good door or reinforced window will continue to function year after year.
The biggest physical threats businesses face
There are more types of physical threats than most owners know. Here are the ones every plan should address.
Break-ins and forced entry
Forced entry is one of the most frequent type of physical breach. Businesses are broken into most frequently at night. One break-in can cost you thousands of dollars worth of stolen merchandise, property damage and lost trading days.
Workplace violence
Nobody likes to discuss this….but the numbers can’t be ignored. OSHA documented 740 workplace deaths due to violent acts in 2023. Over 61% of those deaths were homicides. Emergency preparedness needs to address how your business will react if violence breaches the front door.
Natural disasters and severe weather
Hurricanes, floods, fires and earthquakes don’t discriminate based on how robust your IT environment is. When disaster strikes, physical infrastructure is often the first line of defense. Windows, roofs and building infrastructure separate your business from complete shutdown.
Civil unrest
Riots and protests can occur with very little notice. City centre businesses are particularly at risk. Reinforced entry points and impact resistant windows can mean the difference between keeping your doors open and boarding up.
Key physical upgrades that protect operations
Ok on to the good stuff. These are upgrades that will make the biggest impact on business continuity.
Reinforced doors and access control
The front door is what everyone (good AND bad) sees first. A reinforced door with the right access control keeps the riff-raff out and lets staff sleep soundly at night. Consider the following options:
- Solid-core or steel-reinforced doors
- Electronic keycard or biometric locks
- Automatic locking after hours
- Visitor management systems
Ballistic-rated glazing
Windows are the single weakest link on virtually every commercial structure. Regular glass breaks with one shot… And once you’re window is out, everything is yours.
That’s why more companies are investing in ballistic-rated glass. Designed to withstand high velocity impacts, forced entry, and even gun fire. Bullet proof window installation is no longer just for government facilities. If you want to be serious about withstanding physical threats. It gives you time. And when seconds count.
Note: There are different levels of protection for ballistic glazing (UL 752 ratings). It is important to choose the level of protection that is suitable for the threats faced by your business.
Impact-resistant glazing
Your business may not require full bulletproofing. Impact resistant glazing is an excellent compromise. It keeps intact when impacted, delaying forced entry and providing storm debris protection.
Security film
Security film is one of the least expensive retrofits you can make. Installed on your existing windows, it holds glass together if struck. While it doesn’t provide the strength of complete ballistic glass, it does give you another layer of protection for a fraction of the price.
Surveillance and monitoring
Cameras won’t prevent an incident from happening – but they will deter one from happening and aid in quicker staff response. Today’s systems feature:
- 24/7 remote monitoring
- Motion-triggered alerts
- Cloud-based footage backup
- Integration with alarm systems
Building a physical continuity checklist
Want to beef up the physical aspects of a continuity plan? Try this easy guide applicable to any business.
Step 1: Audit the current setup
Walk around the property and write down every door, window, and weakness. If there is a way for someone to enter, write it down.
Step 2: Rank the risks
All risks are not created equal. A retail store has different risks than a law office. Prioritize the risks that will most affect your operations.
Step 3: Upgrade in layers
Layer your physical security. Outer perimeter first (fencing, lighting), then interior (doors/windows), then critical areas (safes/server rooms). Each layer buys you time.
Step 4: Test And review
Hard facilities have to be tested. Locks, alarms, cameras, and shatter proof glass should be checked frequently. Emergency procedures should also be drilled with employees.
Step 5: Document everything
Your continuity plan should contain hard data as well–where the storm shelters are located, evacuation routes, access codes, vendor phone numbers. Instead of frantically searching for information when the unexpected happens, you’ll have hours (or days) worth of time.
Final word
Servers and software aren’t the only things you need to consider for business continuity planning. Don’t forget about the building itself too — that may be MORE important.
And here’s the best part. The upgrades reimburse themselves the first time you need them.
Assess yourself honestly. Prioritize your risks. Remediating your weakest link should be first on your list. Companies that weather the next catastrophe will not be those who invested in the coolest cloud backup solution. They’ll be the ones who planned for physical security since day one.