IT teams must keep their systems up and running to maintain data compliance. Efforts to reduce downtime can help them get closer to that sometimes-daunting goal.
The Link Between Compliance and Downtime
Many IT companies and enterprises that work with data must guarantee their customers a certain amount of uptime.
In such cases, downtime reductions naturally help those businesses remain compliant. However, the reverse is often true — staying in compliance should make downtime less problematic.
It often takes a lot of work for companies to align with compliance measures. However, doing so can pay off.
A study about companies compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) showed they had fewer data breaches with less downtime and a smaller number of records affected than enterprises that were not.
Similarly, company representatives that take steps to stay compliant with the respective regulations or requirements often make process improvements that make them less likely to experience unplanned downtime or outages.
Numerous Things Cause Downtime
A recent study also showed a worrying trend in recent cyberattacks. Researchers confirmed that those events reached a record high in the second quarter of 2022.
There was a 32% rise compared to the same timeframe last year.
However, IT teams that stay compliant usually follow cybersecurity best practices that can make attacks less likely.
A study indicated that 76% of companies experienced downtime due to data loss in 2021. System crashes were the culprit in 52% of those cases, while human error caused 42%.
Also, company leaders that make conscious and ongoing efforts to minimize downtime find it easier to stay compliant.
That’s particularly true when the respective business model revolves around keeping services available.
Consider the video surveillance cameras in casinos. Establishments could lose thousands of dollars in revenue if several camera outages require shutting down a floor.
Strategies for Reducing Downtime and Maintaining Compliance
No single recommendation will eliminate a company’s downtime. However, people can take action to reduce outages and simultaneously strengthen compliance.
Investigate Better Monitoring Solutions
It’s increasingly common for manufacturing companies to use connected sensors that enable predictive maintenance.
They can detect patterns and help leaders improve machine upkeep schedules.
Similar technologies help IT managers gain better visibility into network activity and performance.
That makes it easier to spot issues that could lead to downtime if left unaddressed.
Check Backup Power Options
A recent report showed that 80% of organizations surveyed experienced an outage within the past three years.
About one in five said they’d suffered events causing service disruptions with possible financial losses or compliance breaches. They had significant and damaging service outages with potentially large financial losses.
The research indicated that 43% of the studied outages had power failure as a primary cause.
That’s a good reminder for people to verify their backup power solutions work as expected. Now is also the time to see whether upgrades would make systems even more resilient.
Keep Employees Well-Trained and Highly Engaged
Company leaders often say their team members are among their greatest assets. Statistics indicate downtime costs at least $1 million per hour for 40% of today’s businesses.
That means plenty of reasons to give workers the training and stimulation they need to keep their minds on their jobs and stay productive.
Workplace education should be relevant and frequently updated according to a person’s role and how it changes.
It’s also ideal when workers know they must stay accountable and if supervisors encourage them to grow and improve continually.
These aspects alone can’t eliminate downtime, but they could minimize it.
People who know the right processes and take pride in their work will be more aware of how to keep systems up and avoid outages.
Minimizing Downtime Creates a Resilient, Compliant Company
Setting a goal to reduce downtime is an excellent way for companies to remain strong and compliant in the marketplace.
It can also help enhance it in customers’ eyes’, increasing competitiveness. For these reasons and others, getting serious about reducing downtime makes good business sense.