Elevator Business Operations Disaster Recovery Program

Disaster can strike a business at any moment and disruptions (from disasters) can lead to lost revenue, brand damage and dissatisfied customers — and the longer the recovery time, the greater the adverse impact it could have on your elevator business. Therefore, a good operations disaster recovery program should enable rapid recovery from disruptions, regardless of the source of the disruption. 

Understanding Operations Disaster 

A disaster is an event that severely disrupts normal business operations. Disasters affecting the elevator industry encompass a wide range of events, including: 

• Natural events such as earthquakes or hurricanes 

• Equipment or infrastructure failures like power outages or hard disk failures 

• Human errors like accidental data erasure or equipment loss 

• Cyberattacks by hackers or malicious insiders 

What is a Disaster Recovery Plan? 

Disaster recovery involves anticipating, planning for, surviving, and recovering from events that can disrupt a business. A disaster recovery plan helps elevator businesses respond quickly, minimize damage, and resume operations as soon as possible. 

An operations disaster recovery plan typically includes: 

• Emergency procedures for staff 

• Identification of critical IT assets and their maximum allowed outage time 

• Tools and technologies for recovery 

• A disaster recovery team with contact information and communication procedures 

Importance of Operations Disaster Recovery Program

Having a disaster recovery plan and the right team to execute it offers several benefits: 

Minimize interruption – Your elevator business can continue with minimal interruption during unexpected disasters, ensuring building tenants and users experience less downtime. 

Limit damages – You can control the extent of damage. For instance, in areas prone to earthquakes, critical components of elevator systems can be secured or relocated to safer areas. 

Training and preparation – Staff are trained to react during a disaster, reducing stress and providing a clear action plan, which is crucial in maintaining safety standards. 

Restoration of services – Critical services, such as elevator operations and maintenance, can be restored quickly, according to your Recovery Time Objective (RTO). 

Building an Operations Disaster Recovery Program for Your Elevator Business 

Here are key steps to help guide you through the process of creating a disaster recovery plan:

1. Risk Assessment 

Start with a business impact analysis (BIA) and risk assessment to address potential disasters specific to the elevator industry. Consider: 

• Analyzing all functional areas, including installation, maintenance, and customer service, to identify possible consequences 

• Evaluating risks and defining goals for business continuity 

• Considering geographical and infrastructure risk factors to prepare a suitable recovery strategy, such as backup power sources and remote monitoring systems 

2. Evaluate Critical Needs 

After the risk assessment, evaluate the critical needs of each department and set priorities. This involves: 

• Creating agreements for alternatives and specifying details like security procedures, availability, and compatibility 

• Defining scenarios considered emergencies and setting up system testing and notification procedures 

3. Set Disaster Recovery Plan Objectives 

Key aspects include: 

• Listing mission-critical operations needed for business continuity, such as elevator monitoring systems and customer support 

• Documenting RTO and RPO for each critical asset, including IT systems and physical components 

• Considering service level agreements (SLAs) for stakeholders, such as building owners and tenants 

4. Collect Data and Create the Written Document 

Collect relevant data to inform your disaster recovery plan, such as: 

• Contact lists, vendor lists, and backup employee listings 

• Inventories of equipment and documentation, including spare parts and tools 

• Backup schedules and system restore procedures for elevator control systems 

• Locations for temporary disaster recovery 

**Organize and include this data in a written, documented plan. 

5. Test and Revise 

Regular testing and revisions ensure your disaster recovery plan remains effective. Testing helps: 

• Ensure feasible backup procedures and facilities for elevator operations 

• Identify areas needing modification 

• Train your team for implementation 

• Demonstrate the plan’s value and effectiveness 

Types of tests include checklist tests, parallel tests, full interruption tests, and simulation tests. Always conduct an initial dry run to correct issues, ideally outside normal business hours to avoid disruptions. 

Increasing Elevator Business Continuity with Operations Disaster Recovery Program 

The goal of an operations disaster recovery program is to achieve business resilience. The elevator industry faces unique challenges and threats. A disaster recovery plan enables quick response to disruptions and ensures preparedness. Assess potential threats and develop a business continuity plan to maintain normal operations, regardless of the type of disaster. This preparation ensures the safety and reliability of elevator services, keeping buildings operational and customers satisfied.