Disaster Recovery Journal

Columbus, Ohio – Data center managers are valuing visibility into their IT network and infrastructure more than ever before according to a recent survey from Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson (NYSE: EMR) and the global leader in maximizing availability, capacity and efficiency of critical infrastructure.

The biannual survey polled members of the Data Center Users’ Group® (DCUG), an association of influential data center, IT and facility managers sponsored by Emerson Network Power, and captured input from more than 120 respondents across North America. The questions covered a variety of data center topics including data center monitoring and management, power density and management, precision cooling and energy efficiency.

According to the survey, 56 percent of the respondents listed adequate monitoring and data center management capabilities among their three biggest concerns—making it the top concern among this year’s survey respondents and marking the highest percentage for the monitoring/management response in the history of the DCUG survey, which is now seven years running. In fact, in the five most recent DCUG surveys—all conducted over the past three years—no other concern topped that 56 percent mark. In the spring 2012 survey, 52 percent of respondents listed availability among their top three concerns, ranking second in the survey, and 45 percent listed energy efficiency.

“Clearly, visibility into the network is of critical concern to today’s data center professionals, and with good reason,” said Bob Miller, vice president, Emerson Network Power’s Liebert products business in North America, and a member of the Data Center Users’ Group board of directors. “Today’s data center is an incredibly complex, dynamic environment and increasingly critical to the success of most businesses. Those businesses are consolidating and virtualizing servers and putting a premium on flexibility and scalability for their IT systems, and that requires a level of visibility into the data center infrastructure that only recently became possible.”

An overwhelming majority of respondents have overseen recent consolidation and/or virtualization projects in their data centers with more of the same on the immediate horizon. Eighty-nine percent of those surveyed said they had implemented some server consolidation or virtualization in the last 18 months and 87 percent of those respondents indicated they expected to start another such project within the year.

The trend toward consolidation and virtualization is reflected in a sharp increase in average power density in the facilities of those surveyed. The average reported power density was 7.89 kW per rack, compared to just 6.0 kW per rack a year ago. DCUG members do not see that trend slowing, as respondents predicted densities of 12.17 kW per rack in just two years. Already, when asked what the maximum power density per rack was in their data centers, respondents indicated an average of 12.67 kW.

Additional results include the following:

• Fifty-six percent believe their existing data center capacity will suffice for three years or less.
• Thirty-one percent already have implemented wireless technologies in their data centers and another 21 percent are considering doing so.
• Seventy-six percent of the respondents who had consolidated and/or virtualized servers experienced some type of problem in the aftermath. Those problems included asset management, hot spots and power capacity.

 

Emerson Network Power uses the data from the DCUG survey to track market issues and inform programming at future DCUG and industry events, such as the upcoming California TECHSymposium, September 18, 2012 in San Jose, California. That event, co-sponsored by Emerson Network Power and the DCUG, is focused on the future of the data center. The DCUG Fall Conference is scheduled for Nov. 12-14 in Orlando.

Founded in 2003, the DCUG contains approximately 1,000 members in North America; the group meets semi-annually to collaboratively discuss best practices, share experiences and address the most relevant issues affecting the reliability, availability and cost of operation for critical installations. The group’s membership comprises executives with a wide variety of IT and facilities management expertise from numerous companies and industries, including board member companies Cincinnati Bell Technology Solutions, JPMorgan Chase and Meijer, among others.

For more information on the DCUG, visit www.datacenterug.org. For more information on technologies and services from Emerson Network Power, visit www.EmersonNetworkPower.com.

Westborough, Mass. — ExaGrid Systems, Inc., the leader in cost-effective and scalable disk backup solutions with data deduplication, today announced that 50 companies and organizations previously using EMC Data Domain have selected ExaGrid’s disk backup with deduplication to either replace their Data Domain system or to handle new growth and projects where they needed more cost-effective scalability. The key milestone of Data Domain systems displaced underscores growing awareness of the scalability and cost of ownership problems over time associated with Data Domain’s front-end server architecture, which are solved by ExaGrid’s GRID architecture and unique approach to disk backup scalability.

 

With solutions that have a controller/disk shelf architecture such as Data Domain, organizations must add disk shelves as data grows, which means backup windows expand because there are not more deduplication processing resources added to support the increased workload, only more disk. Eventually, backup windows grow to the point where the front-end controller can no longer support the workload and must be replaced with a more powerful controller through a costly forklift upgrade.

In contrast, ExaGrid’s scalable GRID architecture adds full servers—including memory, processor, disk, and bandwidth—to maintain consistently fast backup performance and a fixed length backup window as data increases. Customers can confidently purchase a system that will scale to handle future data growth, keep the backup window from expanding and avoid costly forklift upgrades associated with the front-end server/disk shelf architecture. In many system configurations, ExaGrid disk backup with deduplication is about 50% the cost of EMC Data Domain in system and maintenance costs over a 3-year period.

Among the 50 organizations that have either replaced their Data Domain system with ExaGrid, or have added ExaGrid’s appliance to an existing backup environment still using Data Domain, are the following companies:

• Bollinger Inc.: The insurance broker had been backing up its data with an EMC Data Domain solution. The company needed to be able to retain 12 weeks of data for disaster recovery, but could only keep two weeks of data on its system. Realizing that expansion of the Data Domain system would be cost prohibitive, Bollinger decided to install two ExaGrid systems to back up its data. The company achieved superior data deduplication ratios and offsite replication performance with the ExaGrid system, and ExaGrid’s scalable approach ensures that Bollinger can meet its backup needs without costly forklift upgrades in the future.
• Greenwich Central School District: The storage needs of the school district outgrew its existing Data Domain system, and the IT team could only achieve five to seven days of data retention. After replacing the Data Domain system with ExaGrid, the IT team saw deduplication ratios as high as 40:1, and increased its retention to about 25 days.
• RFI Communications and Security Systems: The IT team at RFI was backing up data to a Data Domain unit, but when data grew to the point where it required an expansion of the system, the company was facing a costly “forklift upgrade.”  Instead, RFI replaced the Data Domain system with ExaGrid, reaching deduplication ratios of as much as 63:1. In addition, the system can scale as data grows. 

Supporting Quotes:

• Bill Andrews, president and CEO of ExaGrid Systems: “These 50 organizations share many of the same pain points that make ExaGrid’s approach more attractive compared to EMC Data Domain. As data grows and the front-end server of the Data Domain system can’t keep up, the forklift upgrades to higher performance systems become increasingly costly. Because ExaGrid’s GRID-based system grows seamlessly with you, the total costs over just 3 years can be 50% less with ExaGrid compared EMC Data Domain, which frees up valuable budget dollars you can use for other important IT initiatives.”
• Tom Godon, Assistant Vice President and Network Engineer for Bollinger Inc.: “Retention was a major issue for us, and when we realized we would need to add more disk to our Data Domain system, we decided to look for alternatives. The ExaGrid system was about half the cost of a new, comparable EMC Data Domain system. In addition to the improved retention and better transmission speeds between sites, the ExaGrid system is easy to maintain and has a user-friendly interface compared to the more complex UI of the Data Domain system. With the ExaGrid’s scalability, our backup needs are met for the foreseeable future.”

 

About ExaGrid’s Technology:
The ExaGrid system is a plug-and-play disk backup appliance that works with existing backup applications and enables faster and more reliable backups and restores. Customers report that backup time is reduced by 30 to 90 percent over traditional tape backup. ExaGrid’s patented zone-level data deduplication technology and most recent backup compression reduces the amount of disk space needed by a range of 10:1 to as high as 50:1 or more, resulting in a cost comparable to traditional tape-based backup.

About ExaGrid Systems, Inc.:

ExaGrid offers the only disk-based backup appliance with data deduplication purpose-built for backup that leverages a unique architecture optimized for performance, scalability and price. The combination of post-process deduplication, most recent backup cache, and GRID scalability enables IT departments to achieve the shortest backup window and the fastest, most reliable restores and disaster recovery without backup window expansion or forklift upgrades as data grows. With offices and distribution worldwide, ExaGrid has more than 4,500 systems installed at more than 1,400 customers, and over 300 published customer success stories.

For more information, contact ExaGrid at 800-868-6985 or visit www.exagrid.com. Visit “ExaGrid’s Eye on Deduplication” blog: http://blog.exagrid.com/.

Fort Myers, Fla.  – Global freight bill processor, auditor and cost reduction advisor Data2Logistics announces coupled efforts to infuse up-to-date, marketplace-based information with cost-saving freight bill auditing actions. Combined, these services are combined to benefit both inbound and outbound shippers operating domestically and internationally with a multifaceted, ongoing approach to optimize freight transportation and related cost savings.

 

The information component furnishes analytical tools for data mining of timely, actionable information, allowing domestic and international shippers to make more informed decisions on carrier options, along with associated rates, fees and accessorial charges, as well as identifying opportunities, weaknesses and threats. Data2Logistics provides a single source solution allowing users to report on virtually any data element for any market their company serves. Users can create reports that provide insightful information about carrier usage by lane, volume, average cost per pound and service type.

The action aspect reveals actual costs associated with freight shipping, identifies costly errors and inefficiencies, resulting in savings realized. Data2Logistics’ solutions saves time and money by receiving client’s freight invoices from carriers, providing pre-payment auditing related to rates, liability, service performance and duplicate billing, as well as coding and short pays non-compliant transactions. Data2Logistics then provides payment processing for convenience and ease of client’s financial management. Closing the payment loop ensuring maximized savings, Data2Logistics’ performs post-payment auditing, moving quickly to thoroughly review invoices and bills of lading from carriers to identify rate, commodity classification, accessorial charge and discount errors, as well as discovery of any unique circumstance that proves opportunistic.

Data2Logistics’ services enhance organization’s logistics, supply chain, operations, finance and accounting staff, providing information needed to control costs for all modes of transportation for companies who ship products domestically and internationally via LTL, TL, parcel, overnight express, ocean, air and rail carriers. Having a full service operation in Rotterdam, Netherlands since 2004 enables Data2Logistics to support rapidly expanding companies throughout North America, LATAM, EMEA and APAC, with staff attuned to local cultures and unique business environments.

 

Data2Logistics assists Global 1000, Fortune 1000 and SMB companies to reduce their shipping costs by providing an outsourced opportunity to efficiently process, audit, account code and pay their freight at a significantly lower cost than internal processes. Clients also benefit from the identification of more carrier overcharges than their internal systems can identify. The company provides actionable information to better manage and control transportation cost, and supports clients with their carrier bid preparation, benchmarking, proposal analysis and negotiation. As a single source of information for all modes of transportation on a global basis, Data2Logistics identifies and reports opportunities for savings and the reasons for variances in trends. Savings opportunities can be derived from modal shifts, consolidation of shipments, improved carrier utilization, and adjustment to shipment size, as well as monitoring accessorial costs. Reviewing over $15 billion worth of freight bills from thousands of carriers annually, the company provides a single-source solution results in savings averaging 5%-15% of product shipping expenditures per year.

 

For Data2Logistics services information, contact Harold Friedman, +1 609 577 3756 or harold.friedman@data2logistics.com.

 

About Data2Logistics, LLC

Fort Myers, Florida-based Data2Logistics is a leader in supply chain logistics, cost management and freight payment. The company’s Ship Smarter and Save capabilities assist hundreds of clients in the Global 1000, Fortune 1000 and SMB categories, processing hundreds of millions of freight bills annually, valued in excess of $15 billion, saving clients an average of 5%-15% of their product shipping expenditures per year.

 

As an eight-time recipient of Inbound Logistics’ Top 100 Logistics IT Service Providers, their data mining capabilities creates actionable information for current and ongoing shipping cost savings. The company is the only service provider to work with clients and carriers to eliminate billing errors from recurring and to continuously improve and optimize their logistics networks and expenditures, domestically and globally. http://www.data2logistics.com/ + www.twitter.com/Data2Logistics

Huntsville, Ala. – Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson (NYSE:EMR) and a global leader in maximizing availability, capacity and efficiency of critical infrastructure, today introduced a new release of the Avocent^® HMX High Performance KVM switch with features that significantly enhance its functionality and usability.

 

The Avocent HMX High Performance KVM switch is the market-leading IP matrix KVM switch for the last five years. It provides users with the ability to quickly access remote high-performance work stations or computing equipment with the same user experience they would have if they were connected directly to the equipment in the same room. It allows sites to share expensive specialized equipment between users as needed without having to move the user or the equipment.

 

The new release enhances the Avocent HMX platform with its complex switching capability, improved switching time and validated security features. Avocent HMX now allows multiple receivers and transmitters to be grouped to facilitate complex switching, such as grouping four or more monitors, or controlling a video wall or ceiling mounted projector remotely. And, with a 60 percent switch-time improvement, switching is now even faster, which significantly improves usability. In addition, the new release enables users to switch quickly between multiple computers with different functionality and security classification levels in a secure and reliable manner. This greatly enhances KVM applications in industries that require the most advanced technologies to ensure information security.

 

The new release is available as a free firmware upgrade for existing customers with compatible Avocent HMX Managers.

 

“Emerson’s Avocent business invented the KVM over IP switch market, and has been awarded more than 158 U.S. patents covering KVM and video compression technologies,” said Steve Hassell, president of the Avocent business of Emerson Network Power. “The newly released Avocent HMX High Performance KVM switch demonstrates our continuing investment and innovation in KVM, and is the result of ongoing research and development and listening to our customers.”

 

To learn more about Emerson Network Power’s high-performance KVM switches, please visit http://www.EmersonNetworkPower.com/en-US/Products/KVM/HighPerformanceKVM/Pages/Default.aspx.

 

Orlando, Fla. -- Atlantic.Net, a privately held leading cloud hosting solutions provider, is pleased
to announce a sharp price reduction for its cloud hosting services
for both new and existing customers that utilize its industrial-grade
cloud infrastructure.  Effective immediately, Atlantic.Net cloud
servers are now discounted up to 43% due to efficiencies gained by
leveraging new technologies and a business model based on providing
the best possible value, while maintaining the highest level of
service.
Accommodating high-traffic websites is a specialty of Atlantic.Net.
Therefore, the company is reducing its outbound bandwidth pricing to
only 11 cents per Gigabyte.  In addition, Atlantic.Net has lowered
its in-bound cloud server bandwidth price to zero (FREE), effective
immediately.  Atlantic.Net's Cloud Servers now start as low as 1.3
cents per hour or $9.49 per month.
"This is one more way of saying that we appreciate our clients, as we
give them more for less while continuing to provide speed, quality,
reliability, and value." said Josh Simon, Director of Data Center
Services for Atlantic.Net. "The efficiencies and cost savings we have
gained from adopting the latest technologies have allowed us to
continue to provide the best value at affordable prices for our
customers."
As a hosting solutions provider that owns and operates its own
network, Atlantic.Net prides itself in being able to provide clients
with world-class infrastructure at a competitive price.  The
efficiencies gained from utilizing new technologies have enabled
Atlantic.Net to offer even more benefits to its cloud server
customers, which will be announced in the coming weeks.
For more information about the cloud hosting services offered by
Atlantic.Net, including a risk-free trial, please visit
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Atlantic.NetInc/560da71139/49fb288163/6db84acbd9 or call 1-800-422-2936.

Waltham, Mass. – Sanbolic®, the market leader in data management, today announced that its recently released AppCluster with added public cloud support is now available to customers on the public cloud of Rackspace® Hosting, Inc. (NYSE: RAX), the open cloud company.

Sanbolic’s AppCluster with public cloud support will enable Rackspace customers to create new and/or migrate existing SQL Server clusters to the Rackspace public cloud.  In doing so, it will significantly reduce the cost and complexity of managing SQL Server clusters, as well as dramatically increase management control, application agility, availability, scalability, performance, protection and security.  For any organization – regardless of size, the new Sanbolic service enables them to delegate highly necessary, yet tedious and non-revenue generating tasks, in order to re-focus the highly valuable time and expertise of their IT organization on activities that directly contribute to the bottom-line, speed time-to-market and increase competitive advantage.  For young, rapidly growing business organizations, the new service allows them to quickly and affordably access enterprise-class IT infrastructure, which was previously beyond their reach from both an operational and capital expense perspective – thereby helping to level the playing field between their company and larger more established competitors.

“We provide customers with enterprise-class hosting services to help them meet and exceed their business and IT goals.  To do so, we must provide them with the most advanced, innovative and trustworthy solutions, while delivering Fanatical Support®,” said Christopher Rajiah, vice president of worldwide channel sales at Rackspace.  “We are excited to collaborate with Sanbolic to allow them to make the AppCluster solution available to customers.  This effort will enable existing and future SQL Server users to confidently move this area of their IT infrastructure into the cloud to dramatically lower the associated costs and management burden, while enjoining high availability and on-demand scalability.”

“While increasingly prevalent, Microsoft SQL Server presents virtually unavoidable problems including SQL Server sprawl and the associated management complexity, low resource utilization and escalating increases in expense.  Moreover, highly available SQL Server clusters continue to be painful to configure and administer – especially from a storage viewpoint,” said Momchil “Memo” Michailov, CEO and Co-Founder, Sanbolic.  “By combining the strength of Sanbolic’s AppCluster with Rackspace’s uncompromising service and support, customers will have the ability to easily, securely and affordably access a comprehensive end-to-end solution for creating and managing highly available SQL Server clusters in the public cloud.”

For further information, please email: info@sanbolic.com.

CUPERTINO, Calif. – Intransa, the physical security infrastructure and services company, today announced that 3VR’s comprehensive open Video Management Software (VMS) is SELECT certified and available as an option on Intransa’s server, storage and appliance platforms.

With the ability to forensically search video with the click of a mouse, 3VR’s VMS manages evidence on a centralized interface, views up to 32 channels of video per monitor, easily integrates data, provides a comprehensive range of analytics and allows customers to receive real-time alerts and reports as well as capture, index, catalog and search faces and license plates. comprehensive range of analytics, allowing customers to capture, index, catalog and search faces, license plates, and receive real-time alerts and reports. comprehensive range of analytics, allowing customers to capture, index, catalog and search faces, license plates, and receive real-time alerts and reports.

“Today’s partnership enhances the ability for customers of Intransa’s award-winning server and storage platforms to optimize their infrastructure investments,” said Joe Boissy, chief marketing officer, 3VR.  “We look forward to helping Intransa customers reduce fraud and shrinkage, meet tough federal compliance requirements for reporting fraud and obtain valuable business intelligence.”

3VR’s SELECT certified VMS efficiently manages large amounts of video across the entire enterprise. The open architecture allows partners to quickly and easily integrate video surveillance systems with alarm panel, central station, staffing, merchandising, POS, access control and other business systems.

“We’re always striving to provide customers with the latest in intelligent software built into our platforms,” said Jeff Whitney, VP marketing, Intransa.  “Certifying 3VR’s VMS technology as an option on Intransa’s platforms not only helps to identify performance and integration challenges in advance of installation at a customer site but provides a solution that is efficient while enhancing security and customer service.

Intransa’s video-optimized VideoAppliance, EnterpriseServer and EnterpriseStorage platforms are designed to eliminate the challenges of untested commodity servers and storage designed for IT. Each is built for the 24x7x365 world of video surveillance and other demanding physical security project requirements and integrates with the company’s portfolio of cloud-based support and management services.

Intransa’s platforms include Standard Warranty and Support with 3 years of comprehensive system hardware and software coverage.  Support includes GroundCrew™ phone-home, which monitors the health of fans, drives, power supplies and other system components, and notifies our warranty department to dispatch replacement parts free of charge in the event of a failure.  Customers can choose from two optional upgrades - Advanced or Premium Support. Both include CoPilot™ Video Network Troubleshooting Service and other feature enhancements. Intransa Pilot™ Live Monitoring is a separate service available for busy customers who choose to have Intransa Customer Support monitor their video system health, 24x7x365.

Intransa will be showcasing its customer support systems at ASIS, September 10-13, 2012 in Philadelphia, PA, booth 3257. To schedule an appointment at the event with Intransa executives please call 1.408.678.8600 or email sales@intransa.com.

Huntsville, Ala. – Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson (NYSE:EMR) and a global leader in maximizing availability, capacity and efficiency of critical infrastructure, has introduced two new models in the Avocent^® Universal Management Gateway family. Available globally, the Avocent Universal Management Gateway is a core component of Emerson’s data center infrastructure management (DCIM) portfolio, combining KVM, serial console, rack PDU, embedded service processor and environmental management into a single appliance.

 

“The Avocent Universal Management Gateway gives us a multi-purpose appliance in our racks,” said Carl McMillon, director of data center services at Duke University. “Its integration with Avocent DSView™ Management Software enables remote access management and console management, as well as real-time data collection. It places at our fingertips the data we need to make more informed decisions in managing our infrastructure.”

 

The appliance reduces the complexity of deploying various hardware systems for alerts, telemetry, environmental sensors, and device access and control that leads to reducing costs and increasing overall data center efficiency. “In this economy, it’s more important than ever that we act as good stewards of the institution’s dollars,” McMillon said. “The Avocent solution will allow us to not only reduce our overhead costs, but also clearly demonstrate those savings to management.”

 

The new models being introduced, the Avocent Universal Management Gateway 4000 and 6000, add support for KVM and environmental sensors while expanding the support for serial consoles and embedded service processors. These models also significantly increase the amount of real-time data the appliance can collect (up to 10,000 data points per minute) to enable effective DCIM.

 

“When combined with DCIM software, this multi-functional device delivers comprehensive, real-time infrastructure management capabilities for the data center,” said Steve Hassell, president of the Avocent business of Emerson Network Power. “And, because it supports access and control for all IT equipment across the data center, the Avocent Universal Management Gateway gives customers the option to use what fits their model and change equipment on the fly without having to worry about ripping and replacing appliances.”

 

To learn more about the Avocent Universal Management Gateway and Emerson Network Power’s DCIM strategy, please visit www.EmersonNetworkPower.com/DCIM.

 

FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Cassidian Communications, an EADS North America company, today announced a contract award for emergency notification services from MainSource Financial Group (NASDAQ National Market “MSFG”), a community-focused, financial holding company with assets of approximately $2.9 billion. Through the multi-year service agreement, Cassidian Communications will provide MainSource and its subsidiaries access to The Communicator!^® NXT^™ SaaS (Software as a Service) emergency notification solution, recognized globally for its performance and reliability in times of crisis.

Archie M. Brown, Jr., chairman, president and CEO of MainSource Financial Group, stated, “In an emergency situation, this notification solution enables MainSource to efficiently and effectively communicate to all employees, instruct on next steps, gather information and keep everyone informed on the status of the crisis.”

 

MainSource Financial Group operates 76 full-service offices throughout Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio through its banking subsidiary, MainSource Bank, headquartered in Greensburg, Ind. Through its non-banking subsidiary, MainSource Title LLC, the company provides various related financial services.

 

The Communicator! NXT solution, which is used by hundreds of public and private sector organizations globally, supports high-volume, multi-modal and increasingly complex communication strategies for business continuity and disaster recovery. The fully hosted application rapidly alerts and intelligently mobilizes key players, including company management, IT personnel, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) and others as required. It also captures essential feedback such as individual arrival times, enabling faster, more informed decision making in contingencies, and provides comprehensive reporting for a full audit trail.

“For MainSource, the benefits of implementing emergency notification technology are many,” said Brown. “Communications to our entire workforce can now be centralized, with pre-programmed scenarios and groupings for a more concise communication plan. In addition, contact information will be more reliable due to the Self-Registration Portal, through which employees will be able to maintain and update their own contact information.”

 

Together, Cassidian Communications field engineers and representatives of MainSource Financial Group finalized the deployment and testing of The Communicator! NXT solution for the company in mid-July. Employees of the consumer and commercial financial services organizations took part in Cassidian Communications University, a comprehensive user training program, in August.

MainSource Financial Group initially plans to build emergency notification scenarios for situations such as inclement weather and IT disruptions. Like other clients of Cassidian Communications, the company will expand The Communicator! NXT solution to include other communications¾emergency and non-emergency alike¾over time.

“Having supported the emergency notification needs of so many financial organizations throughout our company’s history, it is both an honor and a privilege to add MainSource Financial Group to our continually growing list of clients,” said Mary Wathen, chief operating officer, Cassidian Communications. “We are ready to assist this dynamic organization with its business continuity strategy and ultimately its mission to be the premier community financial services company in the Midwest.”

 

Cassidian Communications continues to serve clients ranging from public safety operations to Fortune 1000 corporations to federal agencies. Collectively, the company has more than 40 years of experience deploying 9-1-1 call processing solutions, emergency notification systems and first-responder digital trunked radio networks.

 

About Cassidian Communications

As the largest and most trusted source of mission critical communications solutions, Cassidian Communications, an EADS North America company, is leading the way in standards-based NG9-1-1 call center applications, notification solutions and services, and P25 land mobile radio systems.

About EADS North America

EADS North America is the U.S.-based operation of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defense, and related services. EADS contributes more than $12 billion to the U.S. economy annually and supports over 220,000 American jobs through its network of suppliers. EADS North America, headquartered in Herndon, Va., offers a broad array of advanced solutions to meet U.S. military and commercial requirements, including fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, homeland security systems, public safety communications, defense electronics and avionics, and threat detection systems.

 

 

HARTFORD, Conn., August 31, 2012 – The National Center for Disaster Preparedness reports that 51 percent of families do not have an emergency preparedness plan. Travelers has also recently found that 48 percent of business owners surveyed do not have a written business continuity plan or disaster recovery document that identifies and mitigates potential threats to their business. As National Preparedness Month begins on September 1, Travelers is urging home and business owners to create plans now to help prevent damage when things go wrong and prepare for severe weather and other disasters that could impact their business and family.



“Despite the fact that wildfires, tornadoes and severe thunderstorms persist, and major storms continue to impact Coastal States, the numbers indicate that many families and businesses have not taken the steps to be prepared to handle a disaster,” said Marty Henry, Vice President, Travelers Risk Control. “Now is the time to avoid being complacent and take the necessary steps to get your home and business ready.”



Travelers recommends three steps to help families and business owners prepare for disaster:



·         Make a survival kit – Pack enough supplies to last between three and seven days for your family and pet(s). For businesses, make sure you have copies of important documents and contact lists that you can find and reference after the storm.

·         Map out an evacuation plan – Have a plan for where your family will evacuate. A solid business continuity plan should include information to share with employees about steps the business would take if it were impacted by a disaster.

·         Create an inventory – Be sure to have a copy of your home’s inventory in a separate location. The Insurance Information Institute offers a home inventory app, making it easy for families to create one. For businesses, Travelers’ alliance with the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety has Open for Business®, a comprehensive toolkit to help plan ahead.   

“While many may think the large-scale catastrophe may not happen to them, even pop-up thunderstorms can cause significant property damage and they occurred 28 times more frequently than hurricanes in the first half of 2012,” added Henry. “This is just one example of how vulnerable individuals and business owners may be if they are not prepared.”



For additional information on ways to get prepared, visit the Prepare & Prevent and Protect Your Business pages on Travelers.com.





About Travelers

The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business. The company’s diverse business lines offer its global customers a wide range of coverage sold primarily through independent agents and brokers. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Travelers has more than 30,000 employees and operations in the United States and selected international markets. The company generated revenues of approximately $25 billion in 2011. For more information, visit www.travelers.com.