Goodwood is committed to protecting the interests of our clients and employees in the event of a natural disaster or significant business disruption. This policy addresses our efforts to mitigate risks associated with unforeseen business interruptions.
Our goal is to meet existing obligations to clients, even in the event of an emergency or significant business disruption, as quickly as possible given the scope and severity of the disruption.
Key Continuity Processes
Although Goodwood operates out of a single primary facility, many of its employees work remotely in different areas of the country. We have established processes that assure all critical operations can be restored quickly:
- 01Data backup and recovery
- 02Alternative communications with customers, employees, and vendors
- 03Alternate physical location of employees
- 04Periodic verification and testing of the continuity plan
- 05Review of contingency plans of critical suppliers and business partners
Data Backup & Recovery
All critical documents and data are stored on Google Workspaces, accessible from any computer or smartphone with an internet connection. All devices are password protected, as is the Google Workspaces account itself.
Communication Strategy
We utilize multiple strategies to communicate with stakeholders throughout any disruption, including email notices and website updates, telephone and text messaging, and direct outreach to ensure continuity of service.
Alternate Physical Location
In a disruption to our office location, operations transfer to a local alternate site. In a regional disruption, operations transfer to a site outside the affected area. Many employees work remotely across different areas of the country, providing built-in geographic redundancy.
Cloud-Based Infrastructure
All software and systems utilized on a day-to-day basis are either cloud-based or installed on multiple computers accessible with any internet connection. As a result, employees can operate from any location with internet service.
Physical Location Scenarios
Significant business disruptions can vary in scope — from affecting only the office location to impacting the entire region. Within each of these areas, severity can range from minimal to severe.
- Office disruption: Operations transfer to an available local site
- City/regional disruption: Operations transfer to a site outside the affected area
In any of these situations, our intent is to safeguard client data and assets and to restore critical operations as quickly as possible, including access to internet for phone and email communication. Copies of critical written materials are stored on Google Workspaces as well.
Communication During Disruptions
Communication is the key to mitigating confusion caused by a business disruption — for employees, customers, and vendors. We will use multiple methods of communication, with the assumption that one or more methods may be entirely unavailable for some time after a catastrophic event:
- Email notices and website updates
- Telephone and text messaging
- Direct outreach to key stakeholders
Technology Infrastructure
Goodwood utilizes Google Workspaces for electronic storage of documents, accessible from any computer or smartphone with an internet connection. All devices are password protected, as is the Google Workspaces account itself.
All software and systems utilized by Goodwood on a day-to-day basis are either cloud-based or software installed on multiple computers that can be used with any internet connection. As a result, employees can operate from any location with internet service.
Testing & Review
Our Business Continuity Plans are tested periodically to ensure readiness. Recovery time objectives used during testing are not hard deadlines — various external factors surrounding a disruption, such as time of day, scope, and status of critical infrastructure, can affect actual recovery times.
It is expected that as the nature and scope of Goodwood's business expands, this business continuity plan will be amended to reflect additional needs.