DISASTER RECOVERY: A CASE STUDY
Be Prepared and Utilize Facility Management Internet Technology

By Thor Jonsson, SPACE Project Manager and Technology Leader

The events of September 11 captured the attention of all, including Architects, Facility Managers, Business and Real Estate leaders with respect to the state of facilities and business operations.  Although an extreme example, the September 11 event asks the question: How quickly can my business get back on track after a debilitating disaster?  It may not be a terrorist attack, but it could be an earthquake, flood or any lesser event that affects business.  Not only is it important to be prepared in terms of the business, but more importantly for the employees.  If an a plan is put into effect the sooner employees can return to work for the productivity and continuity of the company and to the health of the economy.

There was a great example presented that may be the one to follow in disaster preparedness.  A company on the East Coast had all systems in a Facilities Management Database, from accounting systems to technology.  The data was hosted off site (but Internet accessible) and the company put in place a disaster recovery action plan that included points of contact and alternate leadership contacts if individuals were deceased.  One sunny morning a large water main broke on the 4^th floor, flooding the entire floor as well as the floors beneath, the pressure was so great that some windows were blown out.  Needless to say the company was paralyzed, all the employees were standing outside with no business to do except for putting the disaster action plan in motion.  The out sourced disaster recovery partners were called in, an alternate site was established, furniture was in place, computers were hooked up and even the software licenses were transferred to the new machines.  By the end of that afternoon this business was back in business, employees returned to work at the new location the next morning.  They lost one day!

Here are some key points to effective disaster recovery:  

• ‘Make sure information can be accessed across the board and accessible’. This means having the information is stored offsite and electronically integrated to the other business functions.
• ‘Prioritize business applications and processes’
• ‘Determine the key business processes and information to continue business operations’
• ‘Inventory and classify all required space equipment and connectivity’
• ‘Set up alternate means of recovery’
• ‘Establish technology and business unit points of contacts’
• ‘Design and implement a viable recovery for each application and business process’
• ‘Establish an ongoing reporting preparedness’
• ‘Establish available, up-to-date and easily accessed repository of people, space and equipment’
• ‘Raise the level of awareness’
• Provide a Knowledge Integrated dashboard to senior leaders

Have the business applications and processes established electronically, tie this information as well as the facility information to a Facilities Management Database, provide this information via the Internet. 

SPACE can implement these procedures for you!