Description
With automated support systems significantly impacting business productivity and profitability, contingency planning for the advanced telecommunications systems supporting voice and data communications becomes paramount. This book serves as the ultimate reference for designing and implementing a top-notch disaster recovery plan. The book's broad scope, easy-to-understand language, and illustrations explain the three essential system components - data access, phones, and attendant positions - and discuss the major issues surrounding business resumption planning. You'll get up to speed quickly, learning how to develop a meaningful plan and then build consensus to make the plan successful. Specifically, you'll acquire the hands-on knowledge you need to: Determine what and how departments can learn from one another; Identify mission critical systems, prepare a detailed loss analysis, and document an executive white paper; Determine where your organization is vulnerable - and decide what to do about it; Assess how to fund your disaster recovery plan. This comprehensive update offers basic principles which are easily applicable in all highly networked businesses and municipalities by both technical and non-technical personnel involved in the design, implementation, and management of effective, efficient disaster recovery plans. The book updates and expands upon two earlier Artech House titles: Disaster Recovery Planning for Telecommunications and Writing Disaster Recovery Plans for Telecommunications Networks and LANs.
Table Of Contents
1. Common Exposures (and Mistakes) in Recovery Planning: No Plan for the LAN? No Plans for Voice Communications. Data Communications (Access to Data). Attendant Positions - Where to Put People. The Lone Ranger. Lack of Adequate Documentation. Lack of LAN and Telecommunications Standards. Lack of Recovery Plan Updates. Lack of Interdepartmental Coordination. Recruiting From Other Departments? 2. Sizing the Project and Defining the Phases: What if You Are Nonprofit? Resumption Planning for Small Businesses. Business Resumption Plans for Large Systems. 3. Defining the Risks - Performing a Preliminary Business Impact Analysis: Disaster Recovery Planning. What Are We Protecting? Defining Your Company's Policy. A Sample Recovery Plan Policy Statement. Conducting Business Process Interviews. 4. Reporting Your Findings - Organizing a Management Presentation and Funding Request: Get Management on Board Early. Conduct Executive and Logistical Interviews. Consider a Questionnaire; Insist on a White Paper. Get the Money. Get Management Commitment. Take Your Case to Management. 5. Phase II - Identifying Resources and Defining Project Components: Let Operations Personnel Complete the Analysis. Use a Big 6 Firm. Hire an Independent Contractor. Use a Computer Hot-Site Provider. Use Your Company's Long Distance Carrier. Use Your Company's Local Telephone Company. Protect Against Cable Cuts. Use a PC- or LAN-Based Planning Tool. 6. Phase II - Handling the Logistics: Train the Staff. Gather Additional Information Via Questionnaires. Recommend a Platform for the Document. Integrate the Network Plan Into the Corporate Plan. Perform Failure Mode Effects Analysis. Identify Critical Databases. 7. More Phase II Work - Developing Operating and Security Standards: Writing Standards and Practices for Network LANs. Use What Is There! Standards for LANs. Turf Issues. The Standards Committee. Physical and Environmental Security. Network Software Security and Change Control Management. Technical Support. Sample Topics. 8. Securing Telecommunications Systems: Assessing Vulnerability in the Local Serving Office. Utilizing State PSC Records. Assessing Central Office Physical Security. Loss of Vendor's Servicing Facility. Customer Isolation From the Vendor's Serving Facility. Auditing Physical Installations. The All Other Category. Carrier Colocation Options. Backup for Major Telecom Hubs. SONET Alternatives. Surviving Long Distance Carrier Failures. Dynamic Nonhierarchical Routing. Protecting Against Telephone Fraud. Protecting Dial-in Access. Hacker Techniques. Facsimile Security. Cellular Telephone Security. 9. Planning for the Future - Contingency Planning for Emerging Telecom Technologies: Solving Client/Server Recovery Problems. Long-Term Strategic Advantages. ATM's Role in the Future. Core Business Applications. Recruit Partners and Solicit Executive Involvement. Draft Tariff From Feature Packages. 10. A Sample Standards Document 11. Phase III - Documenting the Plan: What Will Make Up Your Plan? Skeleton of the ABC Company Disaster Recovery Plan. Appendices
Author
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Leo A. Wrobel, Jr.
Leo A. Wrobel is the CEO for b4Ci, Inc. in Dallas, Texas. An active author, lecturer and technical expert in the communications industry, he has written/co-written 11 books and over 500 trade articles. Mr. Wrobel holds degrees in telecommunications systems technology, electronic systems technology, and business and public policy.