So far we have identified pre-emptive actions, if executed, will prevent Business Discontinuity. Or will they?

So far you have planned for, created and implemented solutions dealing with prolonged internet availability, missing/ransomed files and even total failure of "the cloud"; so what else could possibly go wrong.

In words often repeated, once you have executed and tested precautions against known points of failure what remains are the unknown points of failure. These are unknown and render taking precautions as an impossibility. So to do?

From the editorial desk the answer is plain and simple. Acknowledge that systems will fail in ways yet to be discovered; let alone planned for even if they were knowable. These failures when they occur will without doubt adversely affect your business in ways wide and varied; and expensive and quite probably terminal.

You must expect the unexpected events to happen. Planning for the unknowable is easy; assume it will happen.

Create a fail proof means of contacting your customer base in a timely manner, via snail mail if that is what it takes, and let them know the situation and the plan going forward.

Many many businesses, perhaps most, do not have any form of paper based set of client records. Some don't even know how to contact the Chairman of the Board without access to the online address book. Failure proof records will both save your business and provide the base to get you going again. Expect the worst; it will happen; and when it does reach for the paper based rescue kit. It will tell you phone numbers, emergency contacts and if well prepared even have a recovery checklist.

Remember: 

a) Put the paper records in multiple places where they can be readily accessed and

b) Keep them reasonably up to date; and brief key staff on their existence.