5 things your business can learn from the power outage in Spain

The power outage in Spain and Portugal in April lasted up to 18 hours. How long – and how well – can your business operate without electricity? DBI’s resilience expert, Jesper Florin, offers valuable advice on emergency planning and strategies for maintaining operations during a power outage.

1. Economy
   A prolonged, nationwide power outage would be one of the ultimate tests for any business. Very few companies have backup generators that can keep production running – and even if they do, suppliers may fail to deliver, and customers may be unable or unwilling to receive products and services. Ultimately, this could threaten a company’s financial survival. So how long can your business survive financially if operations come to a halt, and do you have a plan to strengthen your finances in such a situation? For example, is it possible to accept cash payments, and would layoffs be considered? This plan is also relevant if production is partially or entirely shut down due to a cyberattack.
2. Communication
   Imagine being unable to send emails, text messages, or make mobile calls. It may seem completely unmanageable not to be able to communicate internally or externally. Nevertheless, a plan is essential. First and foremost, key employees must still be able to communicate during a crisis. Should radio communication be established as a backup? Or is there an agreement that key personnel must report to the company’s location if contact cannot be made? And regarding the outside world: who is responsible for – if possible – placing a banner on the website with information on how to reach the company?
3. Security
   As Jesper Florin points out, there was a reason why Spain’s Ministry of the Interior declared a national state of emergency and deployed 30,000 police officers during the blackout. Vulnerable individuals may see opportunities to enrich themselves or cause harm. Do you have a plan for maintaining your company’s security during a power outage? Some problems solve themselves – electronic locks will stay locked, although this also means you may not be able to access your facilities. Should physical surveillance be established for critical areas when surveillance cameras and alarm systems are not working? May it be necessary to physically move assets off-site? What do your insurance terms say?
4. Suppliers
   What should you expect from your suppliers when they are affected by the same outage? This should be clearly outlined in a Service Level Agreement (SLA). This is especially important for hosting services – how will your company’s data be protected in an emergency? Make sure you understand how your supplier’s contingency plan addresses the recovery of services or systems.
5. Customers
   Just as your suppliers are accountable to you, your company is accountable to its customers or the public. Have you made agreements about what customers can expect during an extended power outage, and how you plan to communicate with them? Regardless of how difficult such agreements may be to establish, they send a strong signal that your company is prepared for continued operations in a crisis.