Eight Key Steps to

Business Continuity

Managing the Eight R’sRich Schiesser

Sr. Technical Planner

I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII.

ResponseRecoveryResourcesRelocationRestorationResumptionRemediationRelationships

The Eight R’s

A. During an Event1. Response2. Recovery3. Resources4. Relocation5. Restoration

B. After an Event6. Resumption

7. RemediationC. Before, During and After an Event

8. Relationships

Sequencing the Eight R’s

I. Response

C. Employee Safety and Notification to Others

A. Initial Reaction to an Event

B. Normally a Human Response, but could be Automated

D. Includes Initial Assessment

5.8 earthquake in Southern California, USA in October,

1987

Epicenter within five miles of huge

N G defense contractor facility Needed to evacuate 12,000

employees Damage to classified computer

center was of major concern

Real Life ExperienceCalifornia Earthquake

II. Recovery

Based on Initial Assessment, Determine:

LocationTime-frameAmount of Restoration Required

Should be Based on the Prioritization of Systems

Conducted at DirecTV

Managers initially defensive of their processes and systems

Emphasizing “Urgency” over “Importance” helped move the analysis forward

Agreeing on consistent criteria improved the prioritisation process

Real Life ExperienceBusiness Impact Analysis

II. Recovery

Type ofEvent

Location Time-Frame

Amount ofRestoratio

n

Minor Same Site Minutes Small

MajorAlternateLocal Site

Hours Medium

Catastrophic

Alternate Remote

Site

Days Large

III. Resources

A. Hardware

B. Software

C.Human

III. Resources

A. Hardware

Processors

Disk Devices

Tape Equipment

Network Components

Desktops

Operational recovery test of ERP system at major USA mortgage company

Rapid growth of company and ERP caused frequent upgrades of servers Initial tests attempted identical

server configuration

Re-building servers and software from

scratch resulted in server independence

Real Life ExperienceServer Independence

III. Resources

B. Software Operating Systems

Backups and Restores

DB Management Systems

Applications

Databases

Desktop Support

III. Resources

C. Human

System Administrators

Network Administrators Database Administrators Application Support

Help Desk

Supervisory

IV. Relocation

A. Data Center

B. Support Services

C. Business Staff

N G tested re-locating in Chicago with Sungard

TCF tested re-locating in New Jersey with Comdisco (TCF previously did an actual

disaster recovery with IBM)

Option One Mortgage tested re-locating in Wood Dale

(outside Chicago) with

Comdisco/Sungard

Real Life ExperienceRe-locating Critical

Systems

V. Restoration

A. Processor Environment

B. Database Management Systems

C. Application Systems

D. Databases

E. Network Connectivity

F. Desktop Environment

TCF entered lucrative home entertainment business in 1994, using IBM AS/400

Transformer explosion in 1995 damaged the AS/400s beyond repair, and TCF had no DR plan

IBM re-located TCF’s processing to their Cypress, CA facility, 40 miles away, and successfully restored all systems within 3 days

Seven days later the transformer and computers were replaced, and IT executives committed to a full business continuity plan

Real Life ExperienceDisaster at a Movie Studio

VI. Resumption

A. Reversing Much of the Recovery Process

B. Re-deploying Resources for the Resumption Process

C. Reverting Back to the Original Site or Reconciling Issues for a New Site

D. Restoring Site to a Production Status

VII. Remediation

A.Review Entire Event in Light of the First Six R’s

B. Identify Lessons LearnedC. Propose Suggestions for Improvement

D.Transition from a Reactive to a Proactive Environment

6.7 earthquake in Southern California on January 17, 1994.

Plans, processes, and procedures

developed at N G as a result of the 1987 earthquake all worked

flawlessly. No major outages occurred to any online

systems.

Real Life ExperienceCalifornia Earthquakes Re-

visited

VIII. RelationshipsA. Key Internal Customers

B. Key External Customers

C. Key Internal Suppliers

D. Key External Suppliers

VIII. Relationships

A. Key Internal Customers

1. Supervisors

2. Business Analysts

3. Software Developers

4. Help Desk Personnel

5. IT Staff

VIII. Relationships

B. Key External Customers

1. Business Users

2. Company Users

3. Company Partners

4. Corporate Headquarters5. Outside Media

VIII. Relationships

C. Key Internal Suppliers

1. Infrastructure Staff

2. Application Developers3. Supervisors

4. Help Desk Personnel

5. Telecommunications

VIII. Relationships

D. Key External Suppliers

1. Facilities Department

2. Health and Safety

3. Physical Security

4. Human Resources

5. Police and Fire

6. Outside Media

TWC had extensive relationships with: - IT suppliers

- Local police and fire departments - Red Cross - Fed’l Emergency Mgmt Agency

(FEMA) - National Hurricane Center - National Weather Service

Real Life ExperienceSupport at The Weather

Channel

I. Response – Initial reaction and assessment II. Recovery – Determine location and level

III. Resources – Hardware, software, human

IV. Relocation – Data center, support, staff

V. Restoration – Programs, data, network

VI. Resumption – Reverse recovery, revert back VII. Remediation – Suggest improvements

VIII. Relationships – Customers and suppliers

Summary of the Eight R’s

Questions?

For Your Participation

Thank You