The aftermath of the September 11 attack has affected every part of our lives and the business world is no exception.  What cost are involved with computer downtime and how much does it cost for computer data loss for a business?  According to the Data Recovery Center the average hourly impact on certain business can cost, for example, a Retail Brokerage about $6.5 million, Airline Reservation Centers $90,000, Banking Industry $17,093 and the Transportation Industry $9,435.  Imagine what the numbers would entail when most business experience a minimum of two hours of down time.

What does it mean to the business continuity planners?  Obviously, it has demanded a refocus or sparked awareness to continually review, tighten management awareness and take terrorism as a serious threat to the business.

According to Mike Mayhall, Director of Business Contingency Planning for Nestlé’s, there is increase awareness in contingency planning with an accelerated velocity for planning and a raised wakefulness for human capital.  With threats of terrorism, businesses have raised the benchmark for their standards alongside prevention and mitigation efforts.

Kay Charles, Director Resource Management for Real Estate and Facilities of the Washington Headquarters Services (WHS), for the Department of Defense echoes the views expressed by Mr. Mayhall.  WHS is the landlord of the Pentagon and is responsible for all leased space in the National Capitol Region housing all DoD employees.  Because of the attack on the Pentagon, WHS has relocated 4000 people in a very short timeframe.  WHS had to find space in other locations and ready for operations.  They accomplished the task within four days.  Force Protection initially was to be completed in a 48- month period and now has to be completed in a 12- month period. 

Everything entailed with the security of building operations and operation centers is now minimum classified secret, prior to the Sept. 11th attack it never was a classified issue.  WHS is in the process of revamping, planning and implementing contingency planning and will eventually educate and provide training for all employees. In the mean time, an evacuation plan with minimum of two exit routes can be found posted in every office.  Given that the Pentagon is a 24/7 building, security will only test the alarm system with a prior announcement and when the building is at minimum staffing.  Originally their back up system was located within walking distance from the Pentagon but it has since been relocated at least 30-40 miles further out with a complete network, IT, LAN systems for continued operations.

Regarding the human element, Pat Moore with Strohl Systems, comments the three key changes she has seen are succession planning for the executives and the specialized workforce; adding alternative sites; and the pre and post traumatic crisis counseling for both the business and human resources.

 Nicole Ross, author of Terrorism: How Will It Impact Contingency Planning, states “Ultimately, people are what make organizations function, and they must be made the top priority.  In the coldest way possible, the events of September 11 brought to light the fact that contingency planning is not only necessary, but also absolutely essential to business continuity, in its operational and human elements.  After all, many companies in the World Trade Center managed to get their critical data back up and running shortly after the attack, but they still faced the unprecedented challenge of continuing their operations despite the loss of workers and workspace.”

For further readings on Disaster Planning:

· Contingency Planning & Management Magazine
· Disaster Recovery Journal
· Disaster Resource Guide
· International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters
· Internet Journal of Rescue and Disaster Medicine
· Journal of Homeland Security
· National Fire & Rescue Magazine
· Natural Hazards Observer
 

Web sites:

www.americanchemistry.com
www.contingencyplanning.com
www.businesscontingency.com
www.disaster-resource.com