Disaster Recovery Journal

For a manager or senior team member in any public sector organisation, the forecast of snow or extreme weather brings some headaches. The severity of the disruption depends on the job the organisation does, but when providing a service to the public, it is vital that a swift, seamless service is resumed as soon as possible.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/public-leaders-network/2013/apr/23/public-managers-prepare-severe-weather

The economic justification for outsourcing in mortgage originations is generally thought of in terms of the historic cyclicality of the underlying mortgage business. The source of this historical variation in mortgage originations emanates from the seasonality in the home purchase market and interest rate moves in the refinancing market. But the business has experienced radical changes in the last decade and the historic behavior of the market has been overwhelmed by periods of paucity and demand from the financial crisis and the responses to it. As we absorb ongoing industry changes such as HARP 2.0, and its impending demise, to the risks inherent in pending qualified residential mortgage (QRM) rules, the horizon is full of unforeseeable shocks in mortgage origination demand. With these changes in the market have come new demands on market participants. Economic and policy shocks have brought the role of outsourcing to a new and distinct level.

http://nationalmortgageprofessional.com/news36388/outsourcing-prescription-continuity-and-risk-management-mortgage-banking

Enterprise rights management? What does that even mean?! You’re using security speak!” exclaimed my colleague TJ Keitt.

TJ sits on a research team serving CIOs, and covers collaboration software. We were having a discussion around collaboration software and data security considerations for collaboration. “Security speak” got in the way. It wasn’t the first time, and it will likely not be the last, but it is a good reminder to remember to communicate clearly using non security speak – and not just to fellow S&R pros, but to the rest of the business (in this case – the CIO) – to talk about what we really mean. That’s how collaboration starts.

http://blogs.forrester.com/heidi_shey/13-04-23-collaborate_with_your_non_security_peers_to_see_how_objectives_intersect_hint_mobile_context_for_mobile

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. ––STORServer
<http://storserver.com/>®, the leading provider of proven data backup
solutions for the mid-market, announces today a partnership with
Front-safe <http://www.front-safe.dk/english>, a cloud backup enabling
web portal, to deliver secure cloud backup and recovery services to
managed service providers (MSPs) using public, private and hybrid clouds.

STORServer’s new MSP Appliance consists of a STORServer Backup Appliance
installed at the datacenter of a certified MSP partner and Front-safe’s
portal software, which manages and charges incoming customers. The
solution has everything a partner needs to offer data protection as a
service. End users buy the service through STORServer resellers, and the
company then connects the orders to a certified MSP that provides first
level support to the customer. STORServer offers support of Front-safe,
IBM® Tivoli® Storage Manager (TSM), STORServer Console (SSC) and any
necessary hardware to the MSP.

“This software makes it easier than ever for customers to use the cloud
as a viable way to perform backup and recovery,” said Jarrett Potts,
director of strategic marketing for STORServer. “It’s easy to use and
hides all complexities from the end users. All they need to see is the
front-end of the portal, and that’s it.”

Built on IBM TSM, STORServer offers a complete suite of enterprise
backup appliances, software and services that solve today’s backup,
archive and disaster recovery challenges.

Front-safe is the largest provider of public cloud backup services to
businesses in Denmark. The award-winning Front-safe TSM Portal enables
IT service providers to deliver their own IBM TSM infrastructure as a
cloud service both directly to end customers and/or through OEM branded
resellers. At the same time, the Front-safe TSM Portal enables large
enterprises to deliver their IBM TSM infrastructure to remote locations
in a private cloud.**

For more information on the STORServer MSP Appliance, contact
<http://www.storserver.com/contact-me/> an authorized STORServer
reseller or call (800) 550-5121. For more information on the company’s
complete line of data backup solutions, visit http://www.storserver.com.

Larson Electronics announced today the release of the EXP-EMG-EXT-12W-1LX Explosion Proof Emergency Exit Sign designed to provide failsafe operation and continued to safety in the event of unexpected power failures.  This Class 1 Division 1, Class 2 Division 1 & 2 approved exit sign complies with all safety and hazardous location regulations for emergency explosion proof lighting and will run for the standard 90 minutes when its main power source is unexpectedly shut down. 

 The EXP-EMG-EXT-12W-1LX explosion proof emergency exit sign from Larson Electronics features an LED powered exit sign and high performance Nickel-Cadmium battery pack to provide operators with a failsafe lighting solution that ideal for hazardous locations where maximum safety and compliance with exit marking standards is required. This emergency backup power equipped exit sign is designed to act as a standard exit indicator in hazardous locations under normal operating conditions, but if power is interrupted, such as during blackouts or plant wide power failures, the unit automatically switches to an internal battery backup system which provides continued operation for up to 90 minutes. The battery backup system on this explosion proof exit sign includes an internal Nickel-Cadmium with a 7 to 10 year operational life and a built in charging system which maintains the battery at a ready state. The fixture is constructed of copper free aluminum for light weight and high durability and has been powder coated to provide resistance to corrosion. The high visibility exit sign is a three sided design that is illuminated by a single 10 watt LED lamp. This LED light has a 50,000 hour operational life and produces more light than a comparable 100 watt incandescent bulb while using only a tenth as much current. This LED lamp also runs much cooler, and can withstand extremes of temperature and impacts and vibrations that would cause ordinary incandescent and fluorescent lamps to fail. The entire housing is IP67 rated waterproof for resistance to wet conditions and designed to be easily mounted to flat surfaces such as walls. This explosion proof light can run from universal voltages ranging from 110 to 277 VAC, making it extremely versatile and easy to install in a variety of locations. This explosion proof exit sign also meets NFPA101 (Life Safety Code), UL844 and UL924 compliance, and is ideal for hazardous locations where operators require the security of fail safe operation combined with the reliability and effectiveness of LED lighting technology.

“During power outages, this explosion proof led light illuminates the light heads and exit sign for 90 minutes, clearly identifying exit locations to all occupants in case of emergency,” said Robert Bresnahan of Larson Electronics LLC Magnalight.com. “The ability to automatically switch from normal power of 120V to 277V AC to battery back-up in hazardous areas during power outages is a design fit for any hazardous location.”

Larson Electronics produces a full range of industrial and commercial lighting equipment, explosion proof work lights, hazardous locations lights, intrinsically safe lighting, and LED work lights. To view the entire Larson Electronics line of industrial grade lighting solutions, visit them on the web at Larsonelectronics.com. You can also call 1-800-369-6671 to learn more about all of Larson Electronics’ lighting products or call 1-214-616-6180 for international inquires.

WASHINGTON, D.C. --– Rimhub, Inc.
<http://trk.cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?5dugv-7wrsc-jnemwa8&_v=2>, a leading
provider of Outsourced Managed Services for telecoms, announces today
the launch of its newest managed service offering, Sales-as-a-Service
<http://trk.cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?5dugv-7wrsd-jnemwa9&_v=2>, for
wholesale carriers.   The 100% performance-based service engagement is
designed for wholesale carriers to generate incremental revenues and
profits without incurring upfront costs in sales and marketing. The
opportunities available include unaddressed customer segments, uncovered
territories, additional higher-margin services, and adding interconnects
between new buyers and suppliers.

The compensation for Rimhub is 100% performance-based, meaning that
wholesale carrier clients do not incur any costs until incremental
profit is realized. Rimhub has hired highly experienced sales and
marketing personnel with a proven track record of sales performance in
the global wholesale voice and data business.

“We are excited to debut our newest offering of managed services for
wholesale carriers looking to expand beyond their current business
reach, especially to currently unaddressed customers, suppliers, and
geographical segments,” states Srinath Narayan
<http://trk.cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?5dugv-7wrse-jnemwa0&_v=2>, CEO of
Rimhub. “Common challenges facing these carriers today include not
having the funds to staff account managers or buyers, or feeling the
need to enhance profit margins by wholesaling other non-voice services,
among others. Rimhub’s new Sales-as-a-Service offering leverages a
proprietary sales and marketing process designed to meet these
challenges and allows wholesale carriers the opportunity to organically
grow their revenues and profit margins.”

To learn more about Rimhub’s Sales-as-a-Service offering for carriers,
visit http://www.rimhub.com/carrier
<http://trk.cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?5dugv-7wrsf-jnemwa1&_v=2>.

Columbus, Ohio – Heat density is once again becoming
a top-of-mind issue for data center managers, according to a spring
survey of data center users from Emerson Network Power, a business of
Emerson (NYSE:EMR) and a global leader in maximizing availability,
capacity and efficiency of critical infrastructure.

The spring installment of the biannual survey, sponsored by Emerson
Network Power, polled members of the Data Center Users’ Group^® (DCUG),
an association of influential data center, IT and facility managers, and
captured input from more than 100 respondents across North America. The
questions covered a variety of data center topics including data center
monitoring and management, capacity constraints, third-party colocation
providers, energy efficiency and heat and power density.

The survey results show that, for the first time in two years, heat
density is again one of the three biggest concerns for data center
professionals.When asked to identify their top three facility/network
concerns, 42 percent of respondents cited heat density, ranking it
third, behind energy efficiency (49 percent) and adequate monitoring (51
percent). Heat density was cited as the number one concern for the first
four years of the survey, starting in 2005. In the spring 2012 survey,
it dropped to fourth place, and adequate monitoring, availability and
energy efficiency remained in the top three until this spring’s survey.

“Throughout the past few years, much emphasis has been placed on
availability, infrastructure monitoring and efficiency; and rightly so,”
said Bob Miller, vice president, Liebert global solutions, Emerson
Network Power in North America, and a member of the DCUG board of
directors. “As data center professionals continue to struggle with
growing capacity needs and tightened budgets, attention is turning back
to one of the most fundamental aspects of the data center infrastructure
– effectively and efficiently managing heat. If not addressed, heat
density issues threaten to negatively impact performance levels of the
data center.”

The trend toward consolidation and growth is reflected in the plans data
center professionals have for their data centers throughout the next 12
months. When asked the question, 65 percent plan to consolidate or
replace existing servers, 64 percent plan to add additional servers, 27
percent plan to consolidate multiple data centers and 19 percent plan to
build a new data center. While 26 percent expressed plans to move at
least part of their operation to colocation or hosting providers, there
are still some perceived drawbacks to the option. Seventy percent cited
lack of control as the primary drawback of utilizing a colocation or
hosting provider; this was followed by increased cost (53 percent),  a
setup not unique to specific needs (29 percent) and security concerns
(22 percent).

When asked how the professional skill set demanded of data center
managers is changing, 75 percent said it’s increasingly important to
understand how various data center systems work together to support
overall objectives. In addition, 73 percent of respondents indicated
that a greater ability to ‘see the big picture’ is a necessary skill.
“It’s no longer enough for data center managers to know that all the
lights in their facilities are green,” said Miller. “They need to
understand the interconnectivity of systems and how they collectively
support the business’ abilty to grow and change. This is also likely why
we’re seeing data center monitoring and management rank as the top
concern, since these data center infrastructure management systems can
provide a window to those valuable business insights.”

Additional results include the following:

  * Fifty-six percent believe their existing data center capacity will
    suffice for three years or less.
  * Twenty-seven percent reported experiencing hot spots within the past
    12 months, while 15 percent reported experiencing an outage.
  * Thirty percent cited a lack of capital expenditure as the primary
    limiting factor on their organization’s ability to accommodate growth.
  * The average power density per rack was 5.94 kW, up slightly from
    5.92 kW in the fall 2012 survey.
  * The top operational and efficiency-related metrics being measured in
    the data center are temperature (93 percent), power utilization (88
    percent), humidity (79 percent) and cooling utilization (72
    percent). Fifty-six percent of respondents currently measure power
    usage effectiveness (PUE).

Founded in 2003, the DCUG consists of approximately 1,000 members across
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 Vanguard,
Cincinnati Bell Technology Solutions and Delta Air Lines, Inc., among
others.

For more information on the DCUG, visit www.DataCenterug.org
<http://www.DataCenterug.org>. For more information on technologies and
services from Emerson Network Power, visit www.EmersonNetworkPower.com
<http://www.EmersonNetworkPower.com>.

Conference: Spring World 2014

Dates: March 30 - April 2, 2014

Location: Disney Coronado Springs Resort

City: Orlando, Florida

Deadline for submissions: October 4, 2013

Ways to submit:

Submit Via Online Form

Email:
To: Patti@drj.com
Subject: ‘Speaker name’ Spring World 2014 submission

Facsimile:
To: (636) 282-5802
Attn: Patti Fitzgerald
Subject: Conference Speaker

By Mail or Courier:
Attn: Patti Fitzgerald
Subject: Conference Speaker
1862 Old LeMay Ferry Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63010

Email, Fax, or Mail - Download The Call For Papers Spring World 2014 PDF here

Disaster Recovery Journal, host and sponsor Spring World 2014 invites you to nominate a speaker and/or topic for our conference. Our conference focuses on all aspects of business continuity planning and is the most comprehensive offered in the industry. Some 1800+ people from countries worldwide will be attending this conference and viewing our extensive exhibit hall.

Location
Spring World 2014 will be held at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida, March 30 - April 2, 2014. The hotel is a spacious resort area featuring nearly 2000 rooms arranged in three themed villages. Expansive meeting areas and ballrooms make this the perfect location for our conference.

Conference Format
The conference begins Sunday afternoon and continues through Wednesday afternoon. Workshop sessions are held on Sunday and Tuesday (2.5 hours) afternoon. General Sessions (1 hour in length) are held on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Breakout sessions (1 hour in length) are held on Monday and Tuesday afternoon in six different tracks: Strategic, Managerial; Technical; Emergency Response; Advanced and Informational. There is also a Solutions Track (1 hour) on Sunday afternoon for service providers.

General session topics are presented to all attendees and should have a broad appeal. Workshop sessions are usually an in-depth study of a particular business continuity issue, problem or solution. These sessions are not lectures. Instead they should feature interactive activities, such as hands-on scenarios, role playing, etc. Breakout sessions are geared toward smaller audiences and the subjects can be smaller in scale. Breakout and workshop sessions are offered for three levels: advanced, intermediate, and novice, or a combination of levels. Novice is appropriate for those in the industry less than 2 years; intermediate is geared toward those in the industry 2 – 5 years; and advanced is for those in the industry more than 5 years.

Audience
Our conference attracts attendees from all areas of the contingency planning industry. These areas include: banking/financial; public utilities; transportation; insurance; communications; manufacturing; government; education; computer services; wholesale; health care; and petroleum. Other industries are also represented.

Session Content
Sessions must be educational in nature with a business continuity or related theme. Specific products, services and companies are not to be endorsed. No dog-and-pony sessions will be accepted. Conference topics in the past have included, but are not limited to, the following subjects:

Benefits
Our speakers are highly regarded as experts in the industry. As a speaker at DRJ’s Spring World 2014, you’ll gain access to more than 1,800 contingency planners. Our conference speakers are able to:

• Present ideas and challenges to attendees with varying degrees of experience.
• Gain recognition by appearing at the industry’s largest business continuity conference.
• Raise awareness of contingency planning issues.
• Network with other speakers, attendees and exhibitors from all areas of the contingency planning industry.
• Receive free admission to the conference, including admission to all sessions, workshops, hospitalities and the exhibit area. Breakfasts and lunches provided by the conference host are also included. This represents a value of $1195.00.
• Have their presentations included on our conference CD-ROM and on audio CDs. This allows attendees to review and share your materials.

Speaker Responsibilities
To be considered as a speaker for our conference, submit an abstract/synopsis of the presentation, a speaker biography and a photo. Please use the attached form to submit your presentation. (See below for submission format guidelines.) Remember to indicate your target audience: novice, intermediate, advanced or a combination of levels. Also, please note your speaking style. An audio or video tape may be submitted if desired. INCOMPLETE SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED AND WILL BE DISCARDED. We must have all materials submitted in the proper format.

By submitting a Call for Presentations for Spring World 2014, you are committing your availability to the dates of the conference. Please mark your calendars. We will notify you of your exact session time once the selection process has been completed.

All speakers receive complimentary admission to our conference as well as the exhibit area. All other expenses, including hotel, travel, meals and miscellaneous charges, are solely the responsibility of the speaker. Speakers are also responsible for making their own hotel arrangements.

Potential speakers must advise DRJ if they plan to submit their presentation to any other conference or seminar. DRJ will not accept presentations that have been submitted to any other industry conferences or call for papers.

Request for Submissions
If you are interested in presenting a session at Spring World 2014, please submit the required materials in the suggested format (guidelines below) by October 4, 2013. Speakers will be notified when a decision is made. All decisions are final. We reserve the right to make reasonable changes to the title, description, track and speaker biography of successful submissions. INCOMPLETE SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED AND CAN’T BE RETURNED. (NOTE – A COMPLETE SUBMISSION INCLUDES SPEAKER BIO, SESSION SYNOPSIS AND SPEAKER PHOTO IN THE PROPER FORMAT)

Format for Electronic Submissions:
We accept submissions electronically in any word-based, html or .pdf format. Photos should be .jpg and in high resolution (300 dpi). Include speakers FULL name in the photo title. We CANNOT accept photos that are embedded in a word processing document or formatted as .bmp photos.

All submissions must include presenters name, address and contact numbers. Submissions from public relations firms without presenter contact information will not be accepted. Submissions that are not selected for Spring World 2014 will not be held. Potential speakers must re-submit their information for any future conference presentations.

When submitting via email, the subject line should contain the speaker’s full name. For example, the email subject heading should read, “JOHN SMITH SPRING WORLD 2014 SUBMISSION”, or “MARY JONES SPEAKER INFORMATION”, etc.

DRJ has teamed with Forrester Research to produce a number of market studies in business continuity and disaster recovery. Each survey contains data for company comparison and benchmarking. The aim is to promote research and publication of best practices and recommendations for the industry. The annual surveys can be accessed via this page. The data within can be used for business continuity purposes as long as due credit is given to DRJ and Forrester Research.

2012 - The State of Crisis Communication & Risk Management

2011- The State Of Business Continuity Preparedness

2010- The State Of Disaster Recovery Preparedness

2009 - Crisis Communication and Risk Management in Business Continuity Preparedness

2008 - The State Of Business Continuity Preparedness

2007 - The State Of BC/DR Preparedness