Business Continuity

Nearly every telecommunications service will at some point experience downtime, necessitating a discussion of Business Continuity solutions. The potential impact of such downtime is an essential consideration in any solution design process. If a minimal impact is expected; then lower-cost, potentially less-reliable solutions may be considered. If a significant impact is expected or has been previously experienced, then premium quality, potentially-complex uptime solutions must be considered to ensure business continuity.

Northview InfoTech Services is able to provide partners with access to Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery solutions from all major providers. Popular remedies include Network Monitoring (to provide early notification of any service interruption) and Network Redundancy services (to provide immediate fail-over for essential services).

FOR AN AVERAGE BUSINESS, 4.7% OF THEIR ANNUAL REVENUE IS LOST TO THEIR NETWORKS GOING DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY.

NETWORK MONITORING

Network Monitoring is offered by most network service providers -- either as a “managed” service by the provider or as a portal-based “self-service” performed by the customer. Simple and complex data and reporting are available on all components of the customer’s network. Additionally, changes and reconfiguration to the network may be performed (often in real-time) to manipulate services or restore functionality after an outage.

NETWORK REDUNDANCY

Network Redundancy refers to backup systems able to replicate all or portions of the customer’s primary network. Low-cost cable services are an attractive backup alternative to more complex primary fiber-based systems. The ability to re-route toll-free number destinations or the capacity to increase available bandwidth at still-operating locations are examples of Redundancy services.

Impacts on business from telecommunications service interruptions vary widely; but nearly always affect Financial, Productivity and Security standards. Financial considerations during a period of telecom downtime include sales revenue loss, diminished investment return, and high costs of temporary recovery measures.

CONSEQUENCES OF IT DOWNTIME

Productivity losses incurred in the absence of Business Continuity measures include idled employees, inaccessible data, and diversion of resources normally needed elsewhere.

Security is often compromised during service interruptions, as employees revert to alternative methods of electronic communication, internet and systems access, and workarounds to organizational processes.

While the term “Business Continuity” is most often used, it also references what was previously described as “Disaster Recovery”. Both are critical elements of business IT and Telecommunications planning; and both involve the immediate and real-time products, services, practices and measures involved in minimizing downtime and in restoring essential and desired services.