BC/DR ICT


#dcsarticle : 21139 : http://dcsuk.info/n/udqq


The lifeblood of your company? How is the choice of data centre, and data centre


connections, key to supporting mission-critical applications – and what should you look for when choosing? Bob Griffiths, MD of Next Connex explains.


ccording to research from the Business Continuity Institute, approximately 20% of companies suffer a major disaster or disruption every five years, including damage caused by natural disasters, fires, IT system failures and power cuts. Of these companies, over three-quarters don’t survive the disaster. Such disruptions cost UK firms almost £4bn each year, and studies show that the average business suffers up to 11 virus attacks on a daily basis.


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IT failures and other disruptive events can have a huge impact on a company’s profit and reputation, so preparing for business continuity is essential. Most companies can’t afford to be offline or not trading for any period of time: which means protecting their IT is critical.


So how do you prepare for business continuity? And what should you look for when choosing a disaster recovery (DR) site, such as a data centre?


Continuity matters


Business continuity plans can ensure that companies remain online and open for business as far as possible. They: £ Support and protect your availability, ensuring you remain in touch with your customers


£ Retain your profitability, allowing normal cash flow activity (wages, online orders)


£ Protect your reputation, as an inconsistent online presence can deter customers and alter their perceptions of the credibility of your business


£ Manage your information by protecting your data security and preventing you from going offline as a result of a virus attack


£ Enabling you to continue working if problems occur that prevent you accessing your usual place of work


Typically, most business continuity plans mean having data and IT infrastructure in a separate, outside facility, such as a data centre. Storing servers within a business premise is often costly, as they require constant electricity for power and cooling, as well as ultra- resilient internet connections. Data centres can also facilitate more regular back-ups, allowing faster and easier retrieval in the case of a system failure. Data centres provide centralised systems and reliable Internet connections, which allow staff to work from different locations if something prevents them from accessing their usual place of work.


They can also support server replication across different centres, further improving recovery capabilities if a problem does arise.


44 www.dcsuk.info I February 2012


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