Kayla Pederquist
Disaster Plan
IT/240
9/19/14

Company B

123 Textiles Corporation is located in a high-crime area that also experiences occasional earthquakes. A new network was set up with the server by a window. All systems are backed up once a month on an exterior drive. One night, a thief entered through the window and stole the server.

Create a disaster plan that would better protect the organization’s technological assets.

123 Textiles has placed itself into a difficult position. While it may be able to survive many of the regular issues -- the earthquake zone, the high crime area - it will not be able to continue without making additional effort to protect its property and its information. The first thing to address is the theft of the server. Obviously, anything that could be taken in a simple "smash and grab" robbery will be a target in a high-crime area. All equipment that can be taken so easily should be moved away from windows, and the server and computer system itself needs to be protected doubly, since it may also contain personal information on employees and customers. A centralized location in the building would be best.

For the data security, a system should be backed up daily. If it is backing up to a separate hard drive off location that may be appropriate, however that back up must occur daily and must be protected. Many businesses back up daily and then a separate back up is done once a week and kept aside, meaning at least two drives would be needed for back-ups. That once-a-week back up is taken off line and stored in case something were to happen to both the server in the company and the off-site drive. It means that, at most, you would have only days of information lost instead of the potential of losing everything, should there be a power outage or earthquake during the back-up. The system in the business should be protected with a power surge protector of sufficient size to handle anything that could occur, from a total black out to a lightning strike. It also should have a battery back-up that will kick in so the server is not left sitting without an opportunity to cool off the circuits should such an event occur. Depending on the machines for the business, it may actually be required to have a separate generator that kicks in instants after the power cuts off to keep data from computerized machinery from also being lost or damaged. In addition, that back up drive should be as far from the earthquake zone as possible, and should have its own protection and battery back-up.

The business needs to have a security system that will protect the investments inside. All the windows need to be alarmed and the doors, also. The alarm system should feed both to a local alarm that immediately sounds at the location and hard wired to the local police station for immediate response. If I were the owner of 123 Textiles, knowing how much investment I have in my machinery and stock and the need to provide a safe place of employment for my employees, I would be doing everything I could to help in the community and to decrease the crime rate. Everything on the property should be neat, clean, and painted. Any gang signs or other efforts to deface the building should be repaired right away. I should encourage my neighboring companies to do likewise and even offer them paint, etc. That I have left if they are unable to afford to help keep the neighborhood looking better. I would also be willing to make sure that the police are welcome at my location, and that they know they can count on me and my employees if they need help in a disaster or emergency. Make sure police and fire departments know they can contact you or your manager any time to open the building should there be a need to help anyone from a local disaster and get them inside. Invite them to inspect the location and tell you what things you might be able to do to help them in such an event.

Most importantly, if there are other things I can do to invest in the community that would help increase employment (which should result in a decreased crime rate) or to keep youth active after school and in the evening through church, school, or sports activities, I should be willing to make that investment. By reducing the number of potential criminals, the crime rate should go down. Add the increased police presence because they know you will report crimes and talk to the police if you see something happen and the community involvement and you should show the local residents that you are there for the long haul, and that you intend for the neighborhood to be respectable and maintained. Such acts will go a long way toward making you less of a potential crime target.

Besides all of this, the company should be covered by a good insurance policy that covers all potential damages to the property. Earthquake, fire, and other disasters, including theft, will be needed, plus insurance on your heating system, especially if it is done by boiler. That will also require an accurate inventory of all machinery and its serial numbers, and if possible, a photo of each, along with a history of the purchase date and price, and the amortization value of the equipment should it ever need to be replaced. If possible, encourage your employees to do the same thing for their vehicles, so they show some need and desire to maintain their property as well as yours. If your insurance company will give them a discount if they also sign with them, offer the opportunity to them. In exchange, offer them a fenced in parking area, perhaps even a guard on the parking lot during business hours, to protect their investments.

You should offer your own time in the community to help with the projects you support, and encourage your employees to provide some time also. When you stop being the people who drive in to work then leave and start becoming someone the community knows by name that will also decrease the chances of you becoming a victim of additional crime. Finally, when making improvements to the property, make sure you plan and add things like unbreakable glass and metal doors to your property. You are investing in the community, but you also need to provide the message that you will not tolerate criminal activity and will do everything you can to stop from being a victim again.