| You know it might happen... and hope it never | | | | that the cost is too high. It may actually be better |
| does. But your disaster recovery plan must | | | | to do an upgrade. |
| anticipate the possible as well as the inevitable. If | | | | You also need to make sure that any contract |
| you're using legacy communication systems and | | | | that you sign with a recovery service provider will |
| network platforms it's just a matter of time. So.. | | | | let you upgrade at little or no cost to the contract |
| what must you do to plan and prepare? | | | | price. You also need to include a clause that will let |
| This is a question that comes up frequently | | | | you know when the recovery service provider will |
| among users of legacy and secondary market | | | | withdraw support so that you can plan your |
| end-users. I find that it is crucial that the | | | | response. |
| end-users receive the necessary technical support | | | | BCP is not a project, so you need to make sure |
| and warranties to keep their network up and | | | | that the plan is reviewed and tested regularly so |
| running at all times. If there ever is downtime, | | | | that problems can be identified and corrected |
| they should have a hardware provider that can | | | | before an emergency or disaster event occurs. |
| overnight new equipment so as to minimize | | | | A disaster recovery plan should include all key |
| inefficiencies. | | | | components necessary to run an enterprise. From |
| At some point in time your legacy systems will no | | | | a network and communications point of view this |
| longer be supported and a failure will severely | | | | may include planning for redundancy not only in |
| impact your operation. | | | | the Local Area Network but with the carriers. I |
| The lack of support could be technical, the | | | | had a WAN at one client where I had automatic |
| company no longer manufactures the product and | | | | roll over should the main gateway fail at any point. |
| parts are harder to find or no longer available, or | | | | Many enterprise have backup plans with |
| the lack of support could be no people with the | | | | secondary carriers and can re-point 800 numbers |
| skills necessary to maintain the equipment. | | | | within minutes. |
| That is one reason that you need to ensure that | | | | DRP planning is different for all enterprises.... but to |
| your plan is tested on a regular basis. These | | | | be effective needs management support from |
| support issues should become evident during the | | | | the top. For more intensive preparation I suggest |
| test. If you are using a third party recovery | | | | you read the excellent "Master of disaster: Basic |
| service provider, they may tell you that they no | | | | primer offers step-by-step recovery planning for |
| longer support the legacy system. They may | | | | the SMB" by Mark Shurr. This is an outstanding |
| make suggestions on what they can do to | | | | step by step general overview on disaster |
| accommodate your systems, but you may find | | | | recovery particularly involving legacy systems. |