Perhaps the worst IT scenario an organization can face is an unexpected and forced suspension of all its operations. The downtime that’s experienced in such a situation can lead to financial damages that far exceed those from lost data or hits to reputation. While cyberattacks vary in intensity and approach, downtime and catastrophic loss of data come in many more forms and are equally, if not more, difficult to avoid.

The duty to care for employees and protect them from undue risk has never been more important. Each year, the U.S. experiences an estimated 240 million calls made to 9-1-1. Because of this, lawmakers have enacted federal regulations like Kari’s Law and the RAY BAUM’s Act. These legislations help ensure certain protections are provided during emergency situations.

Recent years have been marked by a series of critical events that have challenged the resilience of organizations across the globe. From cyberattacks to natural disasters, these events have demonstrated the importance of strengthening organizational resilience. Companies that fail to prioritize resilience and prepare for the unexpected can face severe consequences, including lost revenue, damaged reputation, and even failure.

The world around us continues to evolve and as a result, critical events are increasing in frequency and severity. This evolution has created a critical need for organizations to anticipate, mitigate, respond to, and recover quickly when they happen.

In today’s world, where natural disasters, terrorist threats, and cyberattacks are becoming increasingly common, business leaders must prioritize building resilience to ensure the long-term success of their organizations. However, the ways an organization can adapt, recover, and thrive in the face of adversity are often unclear.

Global climate change continues to have a profound impact on businesses worldwide, with chronic hazards such as flooding, wildfires, and extreme weather conditions posing a significant risk to industries. As organizations continue to operate in an increasingly interconnected world, they face a growing range of challenges. One such challenge is the impact of chronic hazards on their operations.

It is no surprise that resilience has become a frequently identified trait for success. McKinsey stated, “To thrive in the coming decade, companies must develop resilience—the ability to withstand unpredictable threat or change and then to emerge stronger. However, how can organizations measure their resilience in the first place? Strengthening resilience requires organizations to take a step back and assess how they measure up to their competitors and what processes need the most attention.

Disaster recovery (DR) plans are not one-size-fits-all. There’s no silver bullet, and without a clear understanding and some level of customization, a DR plan done wrong will have detrimental effects on an organization’s operations and business. And let’s not forget the wrecking ball a bad DR plan delivers to the VAR or MSP who designed and executed it. Loss of business aside, there’s guilt, reputation damage, and potential lawsuits. It’s not a good day.

Resilience is more than just a goal that organizations strive to achieve. With an increased number of critical events, including cyber-attacks, extreme weather and violent crime, resilience is vital for the short-term and long-term success of any operation. Everbridge and Atos sought out to find the links between resilience and success, with a report from Dr. Stefan Vieweg, Director of the Institute for Compliance and Corporate Governance (ICC) at the Rheinische Fachhochschule in Cologne, Germany.