Business Continuity has fast become
a major concern for businesses worldwide. Business has learned
the cold reality of what the results of an unexpected incident
or threat can be. In the aftermath of 9/11, even businesses
that weren't directly impacted by that disaster can relate
to the issue of preparedness and response management. The
business community, as well as public safety organizations
and the general public, depend on functioning infrastructure
more than ever before.
Our nation has one of the most complex and varied infrastructures
in the world, including fiber and copper managed by communications
companies, gas lines, overhead and underground electric lines,
and water lines, to name a few. Some of that infrastructure
is decades old and some of it brand new. Chances are most
organizations do not have a complete picture of the entire
system. This can create a nightmare scenario when it comes
to managing the infrastructure and assessing critical situations.
What other areas will be impacted by a service disruption,
and how soon? Knowing "where" is crucial.
Today, all businesses realize that they need to revamp their
procedures and information systems to avert or respond more
quickly and efficiently to disasters, whether manmade or natural.
A crucial component of this is effectively merging a variety
of internal and external data sources and then sharing that
information. In today's world, we need to erode the information
boundaries that have existed in the past. The information
that is readily available must be integrated to produce a
whole new breed of intelligence. The barriers that exist between
public and private organizations must fall in the interest
of public safety and business continuity.
Knowing where your assets are and how to deploy them effectively
is vital to corporate profitability.
The payback of this information sharing can be measured in
terms of lives saved and in the bottom-line dollars associated
with business continuity. And the side stream benefits experienced
in normal operations may even stand on their own merits in
justifying the investment!
TSI's business continuity expertise was put into play when
Verizon in Manhattan realized that it was imperative to have
a system that would provide information about the entire infrastructure
in order to be prepared and responsive. TSI developed and
delivered the solution that was available to support them
during the period when the infrastructure in the World Trade
Center area was being rebuilt.
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