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Veterinary Disaster Recovery and What this Storm Teaches Us About...

Posted by Computer Solutions on January 26, 2026 While most of the region stayed home sipping cocoa during this week’s

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Posted by Computer Solutions on January 26, 2026

While most of the region stayed home sipping cocoa during this week’s snowstorm, emergency veterinary clinics stayed open. For 24/7 hospitals and critical care teams, there’s no such thing as a snow day because, unfortunately, sick and injured animals don’t wait for the roads to clear.

But while the team shows up no matter the weather, the same can’t always be said for your clinic’s technology.

Power outages, internet failures, and inaccessible systems don’t just inconvenience veterinary teams during a winter storm, they can prevent you from accessing medical records, communicating with clients, or billing for services. That’s why clinics need a clear, tested plan for technology downtime.

Let’s talk about what the recent storm should remind us about veterinary disaster recovery, and what steps clinics can take to stay resilient through snow, wind, and anything else the season brings.

When the Weather Shuts Down the World, Your Systems Still Need to Work

During extreme weather, your clinic faces more than just late staff and icy parking lots. You’re also up against:

Internet outages from downed lines or overloaded providers
Power loss that takes out servers, routers, and VoIP phone systems
Cloud software you can’t reach without connectivity
Critical files stored on local machines you can’t physically access

When your systems go dark, even for an hour, patient care and business operations take a hit.

This is why veterinary disaster recovery planning matters. It’s not just about backing up data. It’s about ensuring your clinic can continue running in a meaningful way even if your main systems are offline.

What a Good Veterinary Disaster Recovery Plan Looks Like

Disaster recovery planning doesn’t have to be complicated but it must be specific.

Here are five key things every veterinary clinic’s plan should include:

1. Offsite, Automated Backups

Backups should run automatically, store offsite, and update frequently. If your server floods or a workstation crashes, your data stays safe.

2. Power Contingencies

Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) help you shut down devices safely or keep your router running long enough to maintain service. Backup generators protect high-priority systems during extended outages.

3. Internet Failover

Secondary internet connections (like LTE backups or a second provider) keep phones and cloud software online if your main connection goes down.

4. Emergency Access to Records

Whether you use Cornerstone, ezyVet, or another PIMS, make sure you can access critical data if systems fail. A trusted IT partner can help you plan secure offline access or fast recovery from backups.

5. Communication Workarounds

If your VoIP phones fail, how do clients reach you? A secondary phone number, texting system, or social media update plan keeps communication flowing.

Why Emergency Clinics Need Extra Resilience

Clinics that operate 24/7 can’t delay appointments or reschedule patients. Your team must deliver care even when the systems don’t cooperate.

We recommend emergency clinics test their veterinary disaster recovery plans quarterly, run critical hardware on backup power, and ensure IT support is available during nights, weekends, and holidays, not just business hours.

If your systems struggled during this storm, let that be your sign to take recovery seriously. Fix the gaps now before the next disruption hits.

How We Help Clinics Weather the Storm

At Computer Solutions, we help veterinary clinics across the United States build realistic, functional veterinary disaster recovery plans. That includes:

Offsite, automated backups
Network diagrams and system mapping
Emergency internet failover setup
Staff training for outages and response
PIMS access planning for emergencies

We’ve helped practices stay online during snowstorms, floods, ransomware attacks, and even utility outages caused by nearby construction.

Winter Is Just One Risk

Storms are a visible reminder of how fragile tech systems can be, but they’re not the only threat. We’ve seen data lost to power surges, hard drive failures, and human error. A smart recovery plan doesn’t try to predict every possible issue, it makes sure your clinic can bounce back from any of them.

Your tech should be as reliable as your team. Because pets can’t wait for power to come back on.

Need to Build or Test Your Clinic’s Recovery Plan?

Let’s make sure your practice is ready for the next snowstorm or anything else that comes your way.

Call 609.514.0100 or visit welinku.com to schedule a no-pressure consultation.
Because when the snow falls, your systems shouldn’t.

Want to learn more about veterinary IT and cybersecurity? Check out last week’s article and subscribe here, or follow along with our LinkedIn newsletter here!

Veterinary IT Policy That Every Practice Should Put in Writing

Posted by Computer Solutions on January 19, 2026 Veterinary practices are full of written policies for client communication, controlled substances,

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Posted by Computer Solutions on January 19, 2026

Veterinary practices are full of written policies for client communication, controlled substances, scheduling, and staff conduct. But when it comes to IT, many clinics are still running on verbal guidelines, assumptions, and “ask Jamie how we usually do it.”

That might work… until it doesn’t.

If your team doesn’t have a clear, written plan for how to handle the tech they use every day, it only takes one misstep like an accidental click, an outdated password, or a shared login to create a major problem.

The good news? You don’t need a binder full of rules. One simple, well-written veterinary IT policy can help protect your clinic, support your team, and make your day-to-day operations smoother.

Let’s walk through why this matters and what your policy should actually include.

Why a Written IT Policy Matters

Even small clinics rely on a dozen or more tech tools every day: your PIMS, cloud storage, email accounts, internet, backups, and all the devices that tie it together. And most problems don’t come from “the system being down.” They come from avoidable missteps that snowball:

A team member installs unauthorized software on the front desk computer
Someone shares a password to save time, but forgets to revoke it after turnover
Clinics hand out Wi-fi passwords to clients, slowing down internal systems
Staff use personal email to log into shared tools because it’s easier in the moment
No one knows who to contact (or how) when there’s a system issue

A written veterinary IT policy sets expectations clearly. It removes the guesswork. It gives your team confidence, and it helps your IT provider respond faster and more effectively when you need help.

Start Simple: What to Include

You don’t need legal jargon or corporate language. The best IT policies are short, clear, and tailored to how your clinic actually works.

Here’s a framework to start with:

1. Device Use Guidelines

Who is allowed to install software or make changes to clinic devices?
Can personal devices be used to access clinic tools? If so, when and how?
Should mobile phones be connected to clinic Wi-Fi?

2. Password and Login Policies

Are shared logins allowed? (Spoiler: they shouldn’t be.)
Where are passwords stored? Are staff using a password manager?
When should passwords be changed and who updates shared access when someone leaves?

3. Internet Use and Security

Who has access to clinic Wi-Fi and guest Wi-Fi?
Are staff allowed to browse personal sites on clinic devices?
How should the team respond to phishing emails, pop-up warnings, or system alerts?

4. Support and Escalation

Who should staff contact when something breaks or slows down?
How should issues be reported? Email, phone, or ticket system?
What’s the process when the primary contact is off that day?

5. Backups and Data Responsibility

Are team members saving files locally or on cloud drives?
Who is responsible for checking that backups are running?
What should the team do when a file is missing or inaccessible?

Tips for Making It Stick

Policies don’t work if no one reads them. Here’s how to get buy-in and keep things running smoothly:

Keep it short. One or two pages is plenty.
Walk through it together. Use a staff meeting to explain why it matters.
Make it accessible. Store it in a shared drive or post it in the break room.
Review it once a year. Tech changes and so should your policy.

You don’t need to enforce it like a rulebook. The goal is to create clarity and consistency, not control.

How We Help Clinics Create Real-World IT Policies

At Computer Solutions, we help veterinary clinics across the United States create written veterinary IT policy that matches their systems, workflows, and team structure. We build simple, usable guides that staff actually follow, for systems that are cloud-based, server-based, or somewhere in between, .

It’s not about rules. It’s about reducing friction, saving time, and making sure your clinic’s tech works for you, not against you.

Want Help Getting It Written?

If your IT expectations are still floating around in verbal form or stuck in one person’s head, we can help you get them written down in a way that makes sense for your team.

Call 609.514.0100 or visit welinku.com to schedule a quick IT policy consult.
Let’s build something that works, so your team doesn’t have to guess.

Want to learn more about veterinary IT and cybersecurity? Check out last week’s post and subscribe here! You can also follow along with our LinkedIn newsletter here.

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