| On September 15 2008, top US investment bank | | | | BCP/DR plan, and that it includes any equipment |
| Lehman Brothers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy | | | | services it provides you. Remember, nothing is |
| protection. Founded in 1850, in 2007 Lehman Brothers | | | | impossible, and the more eventualities you can factor |
| achieved record net revenues, net income and | | | | for the better. |
| earnings per common share for the fourth consecutive | | | | In the current economic climate many companies may |
| year. In less than one year Lehman Brothers saw their | | | | see outsourcing as a way to reduce costs, however it |
| once record net revenue plunge to $6 billion in the red. | | | | should be remembered that you must never outsource |
| The question isn't how does a mammoth organisation | | | | accountability; at the end of the day, the senior |
| such as Lehman Brothers find themselves in this | | | | managers/directors of a company are where buck |
| position but, in the current climate where seemingly | | | | stops, solely accountable to the business, its customers |
| financially stable firms are filing for bankruptcy, who is | | | | and its employees. |
| your business safe with? | | | | Keeping your critical systems in-house and employing |
| Many businesses outsource (their IT) for various | | | | internal IT staff capable of running these systems is |
| reasons; cost savings, operational expertise, capacity | | | | one way to ensure business continuity. Helpdesk and |
| management to name a few. Outsourcing firms also | | | | minor systems (a system that can be down for a |
| often offer other services, such as business continuity | | | | week, or can be easily migrated) can be outsourced, |
| planning and disaster recovery plans. Replication | | | | but keep these systems simple so if needs be you |
| between multiple data centres, redundant links, work | | | | can move providers quickly and efficiently. Keep your |
| space relocation, ISO 27001 and BS 7799 are all good, | | | | options open and keep an eye on your providers for |
| but what happens when the company providing that | | | | signs of potential problems. This shouldn't fall under the |
| service ceases to trade? Suddenly you're in a position | | | | IT Managers remit only however, senior manager and |
| where it takes weeks to get equipment back, you | | | | directors need to take a real interest in providers and, |
| struggle to get support and the whole affair leads to | | | | after all, they have the relevant skills to assess the |
| hundreds of hour's worth of downtime, and possibly | | | | provider's stability. |
| bankruptcy for your own company. The possibilities | | | | In today's gloomy economy anything is possible and |
| are endless and the scenarios frightening. | | | | the seemingly mighty have, and will continue, to fall. A |
| So, how can you safeguard your business? To start | | | | dynamic, reserved approach to outsourcing whilst |
| with, you need to think about how the company would | | | | maintaining internal ownership of critical systems and |
| cope if its provider ceased trading. This means you | | | | over all accountability, internally and externally, is |
| need to have your own BCP/DR plan created by your | | | | essential. This will enable your business to make |
| company or a 3rd party, but not by the provider. You | | | | savings and ensure business continuity -and survival- in |
| also need to ensure that your provider has its own | | | | these turbulent times. |