SME Risk Management for sudden emergencies
18 May 2017
“Internet downtime alone costs SMEs up to $100,000.”

Managing a business is hectic, even without taking into account emergency situations. However, “it is precisely because of their smaller scale that SMEs can ill-afford hefty losses”i , as AIG Singapore's head of SME packages Mr Krishna Moorthi Sri Ramalu highlights.

Here are 4 factors your SME should consider when drawing up your Risk Management framework:

Supply chain vulnerabilities

 

More than 84% of companies in Asia Pacific rely on third-party logistic providers for their supply needs. However, if a disruption should occur due to factors like natural disasters or strikes, these companies risk a delay, or even cessation of their required materials. This means that your SME might not be able to deliver your services and products within the promised timeframe.

“The failure to manage supply chain risks can lead to a sharp downturn in a firm’s share price, which can be slow to recover.” ii

A disruption in provider service could also spell damage in brand reputation and service quality. Solving this requires a Supply Chain Risk Management System; usually a four-pronged approach consisting of risk identification, quantification, mitigation and response.

Cyber-Security breaches

 

Local SMEs have been found to have a high chance of data breach susceptibility, in part because of the high number of BYOD practices in place. “When a consumer technology works, [staff] will use it instead of a corporate-deployed alternative”iii due to its simplicity and familiarity. When employees use personal devices to check emails or make business calls, they open more channels for security breaches that go undetected by their firms.

Changes to the existing Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act (CMCA) have been made to address the growing cybersecurity issue. Discussing the bill, Nominated Member of Parliament Thomas Chua urged businesses to pay special attention to the new clauses, particularly the one which holds accountable “anyone who obtains, retains, sells, creates, supplies or uses methods to commit computer-related offences”.

According to Mr Chua, “businesses must be much more vigilant … to avoid being made use of unwittingly.” iv

Internet Downtime

 

Picture being in the middle of a large file transfer when your internet disconnects. This means that important data is lost, as is the time spent downloading it. This loss could prove to be quite costly. Past data has shown that Singapore businesses can lost up to US$1 billion a year simply from data loss and downtimev.

Ensure your business is always connected by having an alternate source of connection. A backup 4G network is an excellent choice for network diversity as it is not running on the same infrastructure as your broadband connection. With an automatic failover to 4G network, StarHub DualConnect ensures your business operations achieve 100% internet availability.

Mobile Device back-up plan
In the mobile age, your phone is crucial, spelling the difference between a closed deal and a missed opportunity.

Your first step to preparing for unexpected emergencies is to ensure that your data is backed up in the cloud regularly. Most current phones that run on iOS or Android have auto backup options already installed.

Businesses can also gain peace of mind with StarHub’s SmartSupport, a value-added service which ensures that you will get the replacement phone delivered to you within 4 hours* so your business can resume in no time.

 

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