Get the Knowledge to plan for disaster

Apr 30 2008 By The Journal

WHEN you consider that over two fifths of the companies which suffer a major loss of computer records never reopen for business, while more than half close within two years and only 6% survive long-term, it is little wonder managers are increasingly planning for disaster as part of their overall business strategy.

According to recent statistics, companies are having to spend significant portions of their budgets on disaster recovery planning, with the intention of avoiding larger losses. And the problem can only continue to grow in the face of increasing industrial espionage, corporate vandalism and terrorist attacks on business facilities and infrastructure.

So it’s against such a backdrop that North East business communications specialist Knowledge IT opened its new North Tyneside Data and Business Recovery Centre, enabling companies to safely and securely store off-site data, back-up copies of electronic documents and other important commercial information.

Customers can access and retrieve these easily, should anything like a flood, fire, human error, terrorist attack or computer virus destroy the original electronic version, enabling them to get their business back up and running as soon as possible.

Security is a top priority at the North Tyneside facility, with physical, electronic and biometric systems conforming to the global standard for information security management systems (ISO 27001) which underpins the advanced protection measures.

State-of-the-art fire detection, suppression and energy efficient environmental systems have been incorporated, while a dedicated electricity sub-station and back-up generator will enable the site to continue to function during a National Grid power failure.

Other on-site facilities include personal access suites, DR recovery accommodation, business services and on-site parking.

The North Tyneside site is one of three such centres Knowledge is investing in as part of a five-year strategy to meet growing market demands for its services and expertise in data protection co-location and recovery.

When the third centre goes live later this year, the three sites will be connected via a high-speed fibre optic network to give optimum security, efficiency and reliability. All will have multiple connections, linking to national voice and data networks.

George Sanger, sales director for Knowledge, said: “It is a fact that most businesses never fully recover from a disaster-level event, so it’s prudent that they have plans in place to protect their assets and ensure they will continue to function.

“We can now help them meet that requirement with the very best standards of quality and service excellence.”

Knowledge is offering free disaster recovery services to new customers of its Flex-IP managed communications packages. Customers will benefit from a managed workspace and servers for up to a month and access to Knowledge’s Business Recovery Planning Tool. This enables them to construct a robust business continuity plan and help towards achieving the business continuity management accreditation, BS 25999.

Knowledge has grown from nine employees in 1991 to become one of the leading regional providers of added value communications technology and solutions including IP telephony, ICT, data storage, internet services and disaster recovery. It employs more than 70 engineers, technical and customer support staff and works for 250 of the biggest firms and organisations across the North of England.