As you've undoubtedly noticed, we've changed the Security UPDATE format from plain text to HTML. We've also trimmed some UPDATE items to a few introductory sentences followed by a link to our Web site, where you can read the entire piece. I want to invite each of you to give us your detailed feedback on the new format: What do you like or dislike about it, what are your preferences for an optimum email newsletter, and what other comments would you like us to hear? Please send your response to [email protected] (put "Security Update" in the Subject line), and the editors will read it and take your concerns into serious consideration.
With that said, I wonder how many readers of this newsletter live in Florida or other areas affected by the recent barrage of hurricanes. As I write this piece, another dangerous hurricane is headed up the Caribbean and, by the time you read this newsletter, might have struck Florida. If that happens, it would have been the third hurricane to directly hit the state in only a few weeks.
Other business centers have also been affected by these hurricanes, including cities in several other U.S. states, the Bahamas, Cuba, and Jamaica. Japan has been suffering the effects of several earthquakes and typhoons.
The loss of life in these situations is tragic. But for those who remain, life must go on, and in today's world, that means that data centers must keep operating. All the affected areas have data centers that are vital in a variety of ways. But how many of them have been safeguarded adequately to survive the direct or indirect effects of a hurricane, typhoon, or earthquake?
Hardware can be replaced, but recovering or reconstructing lost data is often impossible. So preparedness is crucial. We all know there are several strategies to minimize the possibility of unnecessary data loss. Some of those strategies include offsite backups kept in distant locales, the use of third-party real-time storage facilities, and a comprehensive plan for recovery.
A point to remember is that even if you don't live in an area prone to hurricanes, typhoons, or earthquakes, you can't be certain that some other disaster won't strike. It could be a flood, a tornado, an unusually heavy wind or snow storm, or other unforeseen event. Be ready to take action quickly on short notice, and be ready to recover quickly from events that strike suddenly with little or no advance warning. A comprehensive disaster response and recovery plan is part of good business security.
