CodeBlue pilots free data resiliency audit service

When the lights go out - And they will: CodeBlue pilots free data resiliency audit service

Auckland, 12 November 2014. In response to the recent power outage in Auckland during October, national IT services company CodeBlue is piloting a no cost data resiliency strategic audit service for qualifying Auckland companies and organisations.

CodeBlue’s general manager Ian Funnell says the audit is available to companies and organisations with between 20-300 IT users.

“It seems likely that power outages are going to continue. On the one hand, John Key is calling for an enquiry. But Vector’s chairman Michael Stiassny says that ‘power cuts are a part of life and Aucklanders should get used to it’.

“CodeBlue’s view is that Auckland businesses should accept the risk and not get used to it, but rather plan for it.

“We’ve developed a sophisticated audit process for our existing managed services customers. Now we’re making that service available to non-CodeBlue customers. It’s a constructive way for us to begin a relationship with prospective customers who fit into our target market which is ‘mid-sized’ companies starting at about 20 IT seats,” Ian Funnell says.

He says CodeBlue’s Data Resiliency Services begin with an assessment of risk for each individual customer.

“Basically, it’s about working with the customer to establish the ‘sweet spot’ between acceptable and unacceptable risk. Our audit establishes the existing level of back up and data resilience. It’s a risk management exercise.

“For example, some businesses will decide that the benefits outweigh the costs of CodeBlue standing up a dedicated virtual server cloud duplicate of their existing system within hours – with access by employees and customers from an alternative location, including employees working from home.

“Others may decide that a four to six hour outage is sustainable, provided that no essential data is lost.

“But a power outage is just one threat to consider. All possible eventualities need to be considered – including deliberate or accidental damage to in house servers and infrastructure, and external and internal data loss or corruption threats.

“Our message is that data resiliency begins with a plan. Our data resiliency audit is designed to develop that plan with prospective customers. It’s a no strings offer and customers can choose to implement that plan with their existing IT supplier, with no obligation.” Ian Funnell said.
Side bar panel:

Auckland’s vulnerable power network – five major outages since 1998

1998 – Over half of Auckland’s businesses lose power for six weeks when four cables burn out from overheating. An estimated long-term economic impact equivalent to 0.1 to 0.3 per cent of New Zealand's gross domestic product.

2006 – 230,000 customers lose power for six hours when shackles at the Otahuhu sub-station caused a six-hour blackout. Widespread disruption affecting rail services, radio transmissions and hospital services.

2009 – Outage affects 230,000 customers in Auckland and Northland when a forklift driver damages high voltage circuits. Marsden Point oil refinery temporarily shut down.

2011 – 200,000 Northern and Auckland customers lose power for several hours when Transpower's power system connection to the Huntly power station goes down, forcing business closures in the busy pre-Xmas period.

October 2014 – 85,000 connections lost due to a fire in a cable trench on at the Penrose sub-station in east Auckland – a site shared by the local network owner Vector and national grid operator, Transpower. Hundreds of millions of dollars lost by affected businesses.

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