DS News

74 I N D U S T R Y I N S I G H T / B R I A N F L A H E R T Y Over the course of the past several months, America has been captivated by the slow and steady threat and ultimate impact of some of the most monstrous storms in our histo- ry. Right on the heels of Hurricane Harvey which crippled Houston we, as a nation, were bracing for Irma and then again for Maria, a series of natural disasters whose magnitude would leave in their wake tragic levels of devastation. Hurricanes Harvey, Maria, and Irma left a swath of destruction that not only impacted many of our island neighbors, but also flooded our cities throughout the entire state of Florida, as well as areas of Georgia, Texas, South Caro- lina, and the entire island of Puerto Rico. While many of us were fortunate to not be in the path of the storms, we all felt the pain and tragedy of the widespread impact. It's in times like this that we become of aware of so many things we often take for granted. For those who were spared, it's incumbent to assist those directly impacted. Harvey, Irma, and Maria gave us all a good dose of humility, and helped shed light on just how small we are. No matter your race, creed, sexual orienta- tion, or political position, the power of Mother Nature demonstrates the insignificance of our social differences. A storm can highlight the very worst in us, as indicated by looters, but also the purest resolve of the human spirit on display with our courageous first responders and giving hearts of our neighbors. As these storms were impacting so many of our friends, family, coworkers, and clients, they also highlighted another key factor. ey made us all take stock of what our plan is, and how we might navigate our responsibilities at home or work if we were faced with days, or weeks, of no power, water, or office space. Before the next disaster strikes, ask yourself the following questions: » Do you have a disaster recovery plan? If so, has it been tested? » Do you have a plan to handle increased growth or an unexpected and lengthy interruption in service? » Are you scalable and nimble? PARTNERING FOR PROTECTION e good news is that when preparing for the worst-case scenario, you don't need to go it alone—a trusted outsourcing partner can help see you through any troubled waters. In the days leading up to Hurricane Harvey many of our clients reached out to us to let us know about their concerns. ey called to request assistance in covering their business needs in anticipation of a significant and imminent business disrup- tion. Whether or not they were fully aware of it initially, the additional value that comes with outsourcing became palpable over the past several weeks. A good outsourcing puts all hands on deck and works extended hours during crises to meet the business demands of their business partners. Ultimately, the storms of the past few months taught us that while we will work together to restore order and that life can, and will, go on,

• Cover