Recent events in Hawaii are a clear reminder that disruptions can happen when you least expect them. From March 10 through March 16, 2026, a powerful storm system brought record-breaking rainfall across the islands, resulting in widespread flooding and business interruptions. For many small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), this weather event was a real-world test of their preparedness.
If your business continuity plan hasn’t been reviewed recently, now is the right time.
What is a business continuity plan?
A business continuity plan (BCP) outlines how your business will continue operating during and after a disruption. This could include natural disasters, cyber incidents, power outages, or system failures. It’s a roadmap that helps your business stay functional, protect critical data, and reduce downtime when unexpected events occur.
Why regular reviews matter
Many businesses create a continuity plan once and assume it will always work. In reality, your business environment is constantly changing. You may have added new systems or software, shifted to cloud-based tools, expanded your team or locations, or even changed how you serve customers. If your plan doesn’t reflect these changes, it may not support your business when you need it most.
A regularly reviewed plan helps your business:
- Reduce downtime during disruptions
- Protect important data and systems
- Maintain customer trust
- Keep operations running as smoothly as possible
What can go wrong without a review?
If your continuity plan isn’t updated, gaps can appear without you realizing it. For example contact lists may be outdated, backup systems may not cover new data, recovery steps may no longer match your current tools, and employees may not know their roles during an incident. If your system isn’t properly aligned with your current operations, recovery can take longer than expected. That’s why regular reviews are critical.
Best practices for reviewing your continuity plan
Here are five best practices your business should consider:
1. Reassess your risks
Start by identifying what could disrupt your operations today. In Hawaii, this includes weather-related events like storms and flooding, as well as power outages and network issues. Many businesses overlook how quickly risks can evolve. A regular review helps you stay ahead.
2. Update your critical systems and processes
Your plan should clearly outline which systems are essential to keep your business running. This means identifying key applications and platforms, essential business functions, and dependencies between systems. As your business grows, these priorities can change.
3. Ensure backup and recovery systems are working
Data backup is a core part of business continuity. It’s important to confirm that your backups are current, secure, and easily recoverable. Testing your backups is a best practice that helps your business recover faster and avoid data loss.
4. Review roles and responsibilities
During a disruption, your team needs clear direction. Make sure your plan defines:
- Who is responsible for each action
- How communication will be handled
- What steps should be taken first
Clarity about roles reduces confusion and improves response time. When your team knows exactly what to do, they can act quickly and decisively, minimizing the impact of the disruption.
5. Test your plan regularly
A plan that hasn’t been tested may not perform as expected. Run simple drills or simulations, like a tabletop exercise where you walk through a hypothetical cyberattack or a live test of your data backup and recovery process, to see how your team responds. Regular testing helps identify gaps in your strategy, familiarizes your team with their roles, and allows you to improve your plan before a real event occurs.
How to get started
If it’s been a while since your last review, start with a simple check. Ask yourself:
- Does your plan reflect your current systems and operations?
- Are your backups up to date and tested?
- Does your team know what to do during a disruption?
If the answer is unclear, it may be time for a more structured review. Working with an experienced IT provider like Tech Partners Hawaii can help you identify gaps and strengthen your BCP.
Need help reviewing your plan?
Disruptions are a part of doing business, especially in regions where weather events can impact operations, as seen in the recent flooding across Hawaii. A regularly reviewed business continuity plan helps your business stay resilient and continue serving your customers with confidence.
Our experts at Tech Partners Hawaii can help you assess your business continuity strategy and recommend practical steps so you can focus on running your business with greater peace of mind. Contact us today.