"It is apparent that many organisations have not yet managed to comprehend the value that their IT infrastructures hold in business terms. Very many organisations are totally dependent on their IT systems to operate a number of critical business services. It is essential that these systems have business continuity plans appropriate to the needs of the business."
So says Chief Analyst of UK-based Bloor Research, Tony Lock. He states it is vital that companies find the time to understand what IT data they need to protect and how this can achieved.
In the research undertaken by Bloor, on behalf of Unisys, it was found that some 54% of companies across Europe do not have a formal disaster recovery (DR) plan to cover all their existing IT infrastructure, and 18% do not have a formal DR plan in place at all.
Interestingly, the survey goes on to report:
That 67% of CIOs find it difficult to calculate the cost of losing data and 30% of them were unaware if their DR plan was tested.
Closer to home, a similar independent survey commissioned by Backup Storage Facilities, SA`s first off-site data asset storage company, bears out what the Bloom research indicated for Europe.
In terms of DR planning locally, the BSF research suggests that many company executives may not be examining their IT setup as closely as they should. The value that IT infrastructures intrinsically possess is vastly underestimated.
Some 60% of financial directors surveyed indicated that their computer backups are stored on site, at the bank or even at IT managers` homes.
Kendall Williams, General Manager of BSF, agrees with Lock`s comments: "With the escalation in corporate governance, managers need to respond to more demanding regulations, or find themselves in trouble. Storing a company`s data in your study at home is a risk you may not have assessed. Directors and officers of the company who have direct responsibility for these functions, are also duty bound to the corporation and their fellow corporate officers. Those within information technology roles should be aware of the relevant corporate governance policies, procedures and organisational requirements so that they may catch potential risks and violations and take corrective action. It is essential that companies have business continuity plans appropriate to the needs of the unit."
In other words, executives storing company data on-site or at home, may be discounting the value and commensurate risk of losing one of their establishment`s most valuable assets. Williams draws attention to the following facts:
* Fireproof safes will protect paper but do not prevent tapes and CDs from warping in excessive heat.
* IT managers` cars are not magnetic media friendly (audio speakers, heat and dust add undue risks to the vital data media). The same danger is inherent when storing the data in a residential home.
* Vehicle theft is pandemic in SA and the same danger of theft is inherent when storing the data in a residential home.
* When using a bank, your needs must now revolve around banking hours and your banker`s convenience. After an IT crash, speed of recovery is of utmost importance (not your banker`s terms).
"These are obvious and logical issues to probe when considering the perils of not storing valuable data off-site with a reputable company. These risks are enormous. The dangers are invisible if the `it-can-never-happen-to-us` belief exists and businesses incautious about the storage of their valuable data assets off-site, could end up sounding a death knell for their companies," states Williams.
With over half of European business lacking a formal DR plan and SA statistics looking not much better, BSF has embraced the task of delineating the gamble of ignoring proper data storage.
A company that has purposefully played a low-key game, BSF has been invisible for 18 years. In the business of off-site data storage, the protection of client data is crucial and not being noticed is part of that plan.
BSF sites are unknown, out of flight paths, away from residential developments and nowhere near gas or water. Vehicles are unmarked and both driver and courier are well trained in data safekeeping. Tapes are collected in specially designed tamper-proof canisters. These metal containers are completely padded for extra protection. In addition, visitors to BSF sites (as infrequent as they are) are required to obtain police clearance before being allowed access to the premises.
Williams believes this deliberately invisible service delivery has enabled BSF to do exactly what was required: keep data safe. "After 18 years of quietly being in this business, we continue to increase our presence in the marketplace. Our updated branding, dynamic marketing and enlarged sales staff (put in place to cope with the demand for our services) all dovetail with our expansion to national branches and a fully operational electronic storage division - e-Storage Direct," he continues.
"We`re confident that BSF`s persistent communication to its market will patently illuminate the risks of on-site storage. And while the marketing message noisily beams out, BSF will unobtrusively proceed to store tapes, CDs, hard drives, servers, security tapes and microfilm of corporate SA, off-site.
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