Unexpected power cuts can disrupt your business operations and put your data at risk. Managed IT services help protect your business information during these outages by ensuring systems remain available, data is not lost, and recovery is swift. This means less downtime, fewer interruptions to your team's work, and reduced risk of data corruption or loss.
Why power cuts matter for UK SMEs
For small and medium-sized businesses in the UK, even a short power outage can cause significant problems. Without power, servers and network equipment shut down abruptly, which can corrupt files or interrupt ongoing processes. This not only affects productivity but can also impact customer service and your reputation. Additionally, sudden shutdowns may leave your business vulnerable to cyber risks if security systems go offline or fail to update properly.
A typical scenario
Imagine a 50-person firm based in Manchester that relies on an on-premise server for document storage and email. A local power cut hits during working hours. Without managed IT services, the server shuts down suddenly, causing some files to become corrupted and delaying access to important client information. However, with a managed IT provider in place, the business benefits from uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) that keep critical equipment running long enough for a safe shutdown or automatic failover to cloud services. The provider's monitoring tools alert them immediately, allowing remote intervention and ensuring backups are intact and accessible. This minimises downtime and data loss, helping the business maintain compliance with UK GDPR and other regulations.
Key measures managed IT services use to protect your data
- Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS): These devices provide emergency power to servers and network gear, allowing for controlled shutdowns or continuous operation during short outages.
- Cloud failover and backups: Data is regularly backed up to secure cloud platforms, enabling rapid restoration if local systems fail.
- Remote monitoring and management: IT providers continuously monitor your infrastructure to detect power issues and respond swiftly.
- Disaster recovery planning: Clear procedures ensure your business can recover quickly from outages, including regular testing of backup integrity.
- Security controls: Ensuring security systems remain operational or fail safely during power cuts to prevent vulnerabilities.
What to ask your IT provider
- Do you provide UPS or other power backup solutions for our critical equipment?
- How frequently are backups performed, and where are they stored?
- Can you explain your disaster recovery plan and how it addresses power outages?
- What monitoring tools do you use to detect and respond to power issues?
- How do you ensure compliance with UK data protection laws during outages?
- Are there service level agreements (SLAs) covering response times and uptime guarantees?
Simple checks you can do internally
- Confirm that backups are running as scheduled and test restoring files periodically.
- Check that critical devices have UPS or alternative power sources.
- Review access controls and ensure only authorised staff can manage backup and recovery systems.
- Verify that your IT provider's contact details are up to date and that staff know how to report outages.
Power cuts are an unavoidable reality, but their impact on your business data can be greatly reduced with the right managed IT services in place. Talk to a trusted IT partner or advisor who understands your business needs and can help design a resilient IT setup that safeguards your data, supports compliance, and keeps your operations running smoothly during power interruptions.