Planning for catastrophe

Nov 20 2007 By The Journal

THE day-to-day operations of more and more companies and organisations are becoming increasingly dependent upon their electronic information and communication systems.

While digital technology delivers enormous operational and efficiency benefits, it can expose the organisation to significant, even potentially terminal, threats.

According to statistics produced by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, 80% of businesses that were affected by a major incident, like a fire, flood or a major epidemic, closed within 18 months. 73% of organisations do not have what is known as a Business Continuity Plan.

It’s easy to see why a significant disruption could have a devastating effect on a company’s bottom line. Leave aside the obvious and immediate loss in revenue, disruption could lead to customers migrating to other suppliers while dealing a potentially terminal blow to its reputation.

The importance of planning for disaster is already exercising those responsible for regulating key professions that rely heavily on ICT to deliver their services to customers.

Solicitors have had new regulations requiring them to develop disaster recovery contingencies since July. Accountants, architects, surveyors and estate agents have their somewhat less onerous compliance requirements. Any business that sells insurance or financial services, is a building society or a bank, or is owned by one, also has to comply with new FSA regulations on business recovery and continuity.

A number of businesses, such as call centres, banks and major legal practices may also need to secure access to facilities that would enable them to continue to operate in the event of catastrophe which could prevent a business from accessing its normal facilities for an extended period of time.

Known as a Workplace Recovery Centre, it provides all of the hardware and software required to deliver a seamless response in the event of a disaster.

To meet this need, Onyx has recently invested £2m in the construction of the region’s leading workplace recovery centre based at Team Valley, which opened in July. It provides managed workspace for up to 200 people, adding significant new capacity to Onyx’s Disaster and Workplace Recovery infrastructure.

This new facility is linked to DataBanx, Onyx’s multi-million pound Tier 3 and ISO 27001 accredited data centre in Newcastle, via Onyx’s resilient network which is in the top 1% of connected networks in the world. It is linked to a second workplace recovery facility and data centre in Teesside for added resilience.

Ian Williams, Director of Business and Industry at One NorthEast, said: “The Onyx Recovery Centre is both impressive and innovative and will provide an invaluable addition to the growing business service proposition in the region. Facilities like this are so important to the future development of the region. If we are to stand any chance of meeting the ambitious targets outlined in the Regional Economic Strategy, we need our business communities to think more about self-development and that is exactly what Onyx has done.”

So how can a business develop effective defences to a threat that can strike at any time? Well, like all good management practice, it starts with proper planning. Firstly, you need to ensure that your IT systems are as resilient as they can possibly be. Then you need to develop systems and procedures that will enable you to recover mission-critical data should disaster strike. You then need to lay down plans for a catastrophic event which will enable you and your staff to continue operations with minimum disruption.

All of this requires the input of people with relevant specialist knowledge and expertise and access to an organisation that can provide high quality connectivity, data hosting facilities and effective system security. Which is where the Onyx Group comes in.

Onyx can provide full or part-time Business Continuity Institute-accredited information officers experienced in undertaking a thorough review of your information infrastructure and helping you to develop and maintain effective Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity policies and plans.

Once these policies and plans are in place, the Onyx Group can provide all of the resources required to support them. Onyx has recently launched a website (www.businesscontinuitycentres.net) which features an online database and a Business Continuity Planning Tool providing a step-by-step guide to the creation of an effective Business Continuity Plan which organisations can access securely via an on-line portal.

Onyx is almost unique in its ability to provide a one-stop IT Disaster Recovery solution. The group’s on-going acquisition strategy is focused on providing Onyx Group client companies and organisations with the expertise, skills and resources to enable them to take full advantage of the digital revolution.

Not only does this make good business sense, it will add real value to the company’s worth, whatever the system of measurement.

To arrange a free, face to face consultation to discuss your business continuity needs, or for a tour of our facility call Onyx on (0845) 771-5715 or email sales@businesscontinuitycentres.net

Maitland Hyslop is Chief Operations Officer, Onyx Group and also a founder member of the Dartmouth College (USA) and the Purdue University (USA) Critical Information Infrastructure Team, advising the US government on homeland security. He is an independent adviser to the European Network Information and Security Agency and affiliated to the Disaster and Development Centre at the University of Northumbria.