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Planning how to provide communications connectivity based on the assumption that the entire network is inoperable is a sound business practice, especially for organizations in areas of the country that can suffer widespread damage from hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes. Whole nodes may have to be replaced to get the network back into proper operation, requiring advance arrangements with suppliers so the necessary equipment can be obtained on very short notice instead of when it comes off a production run.
Many vendors of switches, hubs, routers, and multiplexers offer network recovery services at a reasonable cost and guarantee equipment delivery within 24 hours of the request. Even carriers offer disaster recovery services. AT&T Global Information Solutions, for example, offers crisis management services designed to allow customers to occupy a regional AT&T crisis center within two to four hours after a disaster. The customer gets fully restored voice and data communications and computer-ready floor space.
Some companies specialize in disaster recovery services. SunGard Recovery Services Inc., for instance, offers customers a hotsite backup center for mainframe computers. The company also addresses the needs of PC-based environments and offers PC software that helps identify which services are critical to operations. Its overnight assistance program rushes equipment PCs, servers, and modems, as well as bridges, multiplexers, and routers to any customer site. As part of its mobile recovery program, SunGard maintains a fleet of trailers that are ready for dispatch to customer sites for use as temporary workspace.
Often overlooked in the disaster recovery plan are provisions for training, essential because in an emergency reactions to impending disaster must be automatic. End users must save data and shut down applications at the first sign of trouble. Network managers must be able to assess quickly the criticality of numerous alarms and respond appropriately. Help desk operators must be able to determine the nature and magnitude of the problem to address end user concerns. LAN administrators must be able to determine the impact of the problem on local networks.
The disaster recovery plan should provide for the periodic review of the organizations insurance policy. Of particular concern is to what extent information systems, network components, and applications software are covered in the event of a disaster. The policy should be very specific about what the insurance company does and does not cover. Ambiguities must be resolved before a disaster occurs, not after.
Reviews also provide an opportunity to add provisions for system or network upgrades and expansions that occurred in the time since the policy was initially written. Though this may add to the policys cost, it is still much less compared to the wholesale replacement of equipment that falls outside of the insurance contract.
The disaster recovery plan should include a review of the physical layout of data centers, wiring closets, floor and overhead conduits, and individual offices that contain computers and data communications equipment. All equipment and cabling should be kept in a relatively safe place and not exposed to objects that are likely to fall and cause damage should disaster strike. Desks, tables, shelves, and cabinets should be solid enough to safely fasten equipment to them, to survive minor earthquakes. Whenever possible, equipment should not be positioned under water sprinklers. These and other precautions can even lower insurance costs.
The methods mentioned in this chapter are only a few of the many network restoration and data protection options available from carriers, equipment vendors, and third-party firms. As more businesses become aware of the strategic value of their networks, these capabilities are significantly important to organizations. A variety of link-restoration and data-protection methods can provide effective ways to meet the diverse requirements of todays information-intensive corporations that are both efficient and economical. Choosing wisely from among the available alternatives ensures that companies are not forced into making cost/benefit tradeoffs that jeopardize their information networks and, ultimately, their competitive positions.
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