15°F
Heat halves UPS battery life
Sealed lead acid UPS batteries are rated at 77°F. Roughly every 15°F above that halves their life, so a warm comms cupboard quietly shortens runtime.
Source: battery manufacturer guidance
- Home
- On Premises Infrastructure
- Hurricane season IT preparedness
IT ready before the season starts.
Hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November. The firms that recover fastest decide in May what shuts down, what keeps running and how staff will work if the office is closed.
What it covers
Hurricane season IT preparedness
Power protection
UPS capacity and battery health checked, generator integration tested and runtime confirmed against real load.
Orderly shutdown
Automated shutdown configured so systems power down safely when batteries run low.
Cooling and environment
Server room temperature and humidity monitored, with alerts to someone who can act.
Offsite data and remote work
Backups offsite and staff able to work securely from elsewhere if the office is closed.
Pre season checklist
Tasks and owners for the run up to a storm and the return afterwards.
Recovery testing
A recovery test before the season starts, with results on record.
- UPS
- Generator integration
- Environmental monitoring
- Business continuity
How we do it
Check
Power, cooling and backups assessed in spring.
Fix
Batteries, configuration and gaps addressed.
Rehearse
Shutdown and recovery tested.
Brief
Staff and management briefed on the plan.
Field notes
Worth knowing
1June
The season has a start date
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November. Preparation done in May costs less than recovery done in October.
Source: NOAA
What you receive
- Pre season IT checklist with owners
- UPS and power assessment
- Shutdown configuration
- Remote working readiness check
- Recovery test report
Questions
When should we start hurricane preparation for IT?
In April or May, so fixes are in place before 1 June.
Should we shut servers down before a storm?
Usually, yes, in a planned order once data is replicated offsite. The plan should say when and who decides.
How long will our UPS last?
It depends on the load and battery age. We measure it rather than trusting the label.
More on On Premises Infrastructure
Talk to us about hurricane season IT preparedness
Tell us what you're working on. We'll listen, ask the right questions and recommend a practical next step. No obligation.
info@gabcoenterprises.com+1 345 769 4222