When power outages occur, whether due to lightning strikes, the risk to your business information can be significant. Without a proper backup automation plan, you could lose days of productivity or even critical operations. Creating a backup automation plan specifically designed for power outages is not just a industry standard—it’s a non-negotiable requirement for any team relying on networked systems.
Start by identifying which applications and datasets are most vital. This might include website content. Prioritize these assets so your backup strategy focuses first on what has the highest impact. Once you know what needs protection, choose backup solutions that can operate without interruption on the main power source. External hard drives with battery backup are all viable options.
Next, automate the backup process. Manual backups are unreliable during emergencies because you may not be on-site when the power goes out. Use scripted workflows to run backups at every 15 minutes—especially if your data is updated frequently. Make sure your automation software is configured to retry failed transfers even if the power flickers. Some systems can initiate emergency shutdown sequences and trigger an immediate backup before shutting down.
Pair your automation with a enterprise-grade uninterruptible power supply. An UPS provides short-term energy during outages, giving your systems enough time to finalize data writes. Configure your UPS to trigger an alert to your computer or server to initiate a backup sequence when it enters emergency power. This ensures that even if the outage extends beyond normal duration, your data is maintained.
Test your plan quarterly. Simulate a power outage by disabling the main power and watch how your automation responds. Does the backup start immediately? Does it complete before the battery runs out? Are metadata included? Refine your setup based on what you observe. Also, verify that your backups can be recovered. A backup is pointless if you can’t access your files.
Store copies of your backups in several physical sites. Keep one on site for immediate restore and another off site; skyglass.io,. This protects against local disaster. encrypted web repositories are especially valuable during extended outages because they can be recovered remotely, even if your local hardware is damaged.
Finally, document your entire plan. Include detailed procedures for hardware connection, how to check sync status, what to do if a backup is incomplete, and contact information for assistance. Share this documentation with delegates so they know the escalation path when power fails.
Power outages are unpredictable, but your response to them doesn’t have to be. With a professionally implemented backup automation plan, you can maintain operational integrity even when the lights go out.
