Comments on: Importance of business continuity http://blog.alvinlim.info/2009/01/12/importance-of-business-continuity/ Dare to dream ! Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:34:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Alvin Lim http://blog.alvinlim.info/2009/01/12/importance-of-business-continuity/comment-page-1/#comment-4262 Alvin Lim Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:55:52 +0000 http://blog.alvinlim.info/?p=1286#comment-4262 <b>@ Damien</b> Actually, I'm not sure what is system redundancy or procedural redundancy. :D What I know is that if a business is relying on IT system, then please ensure there's a proper backup plan just in case that reliable IT system fails. Such unlucky things do happen. The TESCO incident, they do have a backup plan - doing manual calculation...and everything manual. It's quite troublesome for the customers but it's better than my experience with Maybank when all the bank tellers disappeared because of the blackout. No power = no system = no work. My transaction was halted halfway...and I could not leave. I just sat there waiting for 2 hours. =_= That was the last time I actually went to their branch. Since then, i will only use the ATM and Maybank2U, if i were to deal with Maybank. @ Damien
Actually, I’m not sure what is system redundancy or procedural redundancy. :D What I know is that if a business is relying on IT system, then please ensure there’s a proper backup plan just in case that reliable IT system fails. Such unlucky things do happen. The TESCO incident, they do have a backup plan – doing manual calculation…and everything manual. It’s quite troublesome for the customers but it’s better than my experience with Maybank when all the bank tellers disappeared because of the blackout. No power = no system = no work. My transaction was halted halfway…and I could not leave. I just sat there waiting for 2 hours. =_=

That was the last time I actually went to their branch. Since then, i will only use the ATM and Maybank2U, if i were to deal with Maybank.

]]> By: Damien Tan http://blog.alvinlim.info/2009/01/12/importance-of-business-continuity/comment-page-1/#comment-4252 Damien Tan Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:13:28 +0000 http://blog.alvinlim.info/?p=1286#comment-4252 Wasn't sure if you were refering to systems redundancy at first but I guess you were. Its a good point. From a risk management perspective, a company that relies 100% of its operations on systems - even with redundancies - will not get very high marks because 100% system dependence means there is 0% manual option if the system goes down. We're familiar with service counters that hang up that infamous "System down" sign, and staff will disappear for coffee and money can't be collected while the IT guys are fixing the breakdown. That's a sign of a badly designed business. Procedural redundancy is actually as important as system redundancy but I find it the most overlooked area in biz continuity. I guess becoz most IT co's selling disaster recovery systems are only interested in selling their DRP solutions and couldn't care less about the full picture. Wasn’t sure if you were refering to systems redundancy at first but I guess you were. Its a good point. From a risk management perspective, a company that relies 100% of its operations on systems – even with redundancies – will not get very high marks because 100% system dependence means there is 0% manual option if the system goes down. We’re familiar with service counters that hang up that infamous “System down” sign, and staff will disappear for coffee and money can’t be collected while the IT guys are fixing the breakdown. That’s a sign of a badly designed business.

Procedural redundancy is actually as important as system redundancy but I find it the most overlooked area in biz continuity. I guess becoz most IT co’s selling disaster recovery systems are only interested in selling their DRP solutions and couldn’t care less about the full picture.

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