INNOVATION | 49
will happen. A clear resolution framework minimises disruption:
request incident reports for thorough exploration of what went wrong l track recovery progress and update stakeholders regularly l after resolution, conduct a root cause analysis with the provider to strengthen future resilience. 5. Post-incident review: l document lessons learned and update your continuity plan l assess whether additional investments in redundancy or vendor diversification are needed l share findings with leadership to secure buy-in for resilience initiatives. The reality: no system is immune to a full blackout Despite best efforts, businesses must accept that 100% uptime is unattainable. Global outages, whether due to DNS failures, cyberattacks or infrastructure breakdowns, can affect even the largest providers. The goal isn’t to eliminate risk but to minimise impact and maintain trust. Payments resilience: a broader business imperative Payroll continuity is part of a larger conversation: payments resilience. Over the past 12 months, multiple payment
systems have experienced failures, from bank outages to fintech disruptions. These incidents underscore the need for businesses to: 1. Diversify payment methods: use a mix of traditional banking rails, fintech platforms and card networks. 2. Engage multiple suppliers: avoid reliance on a single payment processor. 3. Adopt real-time monitoring: track payment flows and detect anomalies early. 4. Plan for cross-border contingencies: global businesses should maintain regional payment options to navigate localised outages. Payments resilience isn’t just about technology, it’s about strategic redundancy. By combining robust payroll continuity planning with diversified payment strategies, businesses can safeguard their most critical obligation: paying people on time. Closing thought Cloud-based payroll systems offer efficiency and scalability, but they also introduce new risks. Prevention and resolution strategies are essential, yet businesses must acknowledge that outages are inevitable. The ultimate safeguard lies in resilience, across payroll and payments alike. In an era of increasing digital dependency, redundancy isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity.
1. Activate your incident response plan: l define roles: decide who communicates with the provider and who’ll manage internal updates l use pre-approved messaging templates for employees to maintain transparency l log all actions for compliance and post- incident review. 2. Communicate early and honestly: l inform employees promptly about potential delays and expected timelines l provide reassurance that contingency plans are in place l avoid technical jargon and focus on what employees need to know: For example, “Your payment will be processed by X date.” 3. Switch to backup systems: l if your primary payroll platform is down, initiate manual or secondary system processing l validate data integrity before executing payments to prevent errors l prioritise critical payments (e.g., salaries) over non-urgent transactions.
4. Engage with your provider: l escalate through official channels and
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker