Comments on: How well are credit unions prepared for data center outages? http://cuinnovators.com/blog/how-well-are-credit-unions-prepared-for-data-center-outages/ At CU Innovators, we help credit unions, CUSO's, and service providers create meaningful products and services for their members and clients. Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:53:41 +0000 hourly 1 By: Mark http://cuinnovators.com/blog/how-well-are-credit-unions-prepared-for-data-center-outages/comment-page-1/#comment-267 Mark Thu, 30 Aug 2007 21:34:52 +0000 http://blog.cuemployee.com/2007/08/30/how-well-are-credit-unions-prepared-for-data-center-outages/#comment-267 I mentioned it in the comments of Jesse's article and our guys have <a href="http://www.thegarlandgroup.net/blog/2007/07/25/the-garland-group-podcast-episode-1/" rel="nofollow">podcasted about it</a> (with an IT security slant), but we can't say it enough: Incident Response Plan. (Say it with me: Incident Response Plan.) The steps you take when something like this does happen, (and these things do happen) need to be documented and followed. Do you run to Starbucks and email your members? (Would you even be able to get to their email addresses?) Do you post something on your website? (Is your website even up?) What physical services do you still provide even if the power is off? (Check cashing at all? Up to a certain amount?) All these things need to documented AND FOLLOWED when something like this does happen. The best IRP in the world doesn't do you any good if the power is out and it's on someone's computer. PS. As I was writing this comment, the power went out in my apartment...eerie. I mentioned it in the comments of Jesse’s article and our guys have podcasted about it (with an IT security slant), but we can’t say it enough: Incident Response Plan.

(Say it with me: Incident Response Plan.)

The steps you take when something like this does happen, (and these things do happen) need to be documented and followed.

Do you run to Starbucks and email your members? (Would you even be able to get to their email addresses?)

Do you post something on your website? (Is your website even up?)

What physical services do you still provide even if the power is off? (Check cashing at all? Up to a certain amount?)

All these things need to documented AND FOLLOWED when something like this does happen. The best IRP in the world doesn’t do you any good if the power is out and it’s on someone’s computer.

PS. As I was writing this comment, the power went out in my apartment…eerie.

]]> By: Dan Veasey http://cuinnovators.com/blog/how-well-are-credit-unions-prepared-for-data-center-outages/comment-page-1/#comment-266 Dan Veasey Thu, 30 Aug 2007 20:54:49 +0000 http://blog.cuemployee.com/2007/08/30/how-well-are-credit-unions-prepared-for-data-center-outages/#comment-266 Robbie, We've been wrestling with this question quite alot recently. Our main branch seems to lose power at the slightest thunderstorm. We've been going 'round and 'round with asking what do we really have to have in order to provide good service and maintain security? The answer is, we need full power! So we've also been getting quotes for generators. We're incorporating these kind of issues into our disaster plan as sort of a "mini" or "short-term" disaster. What we've found with our multiple power outages is that most members do understand and get over the miffededness quickly. Who hasn't lost power at their house? If we were a big impersonal institution whose members didn't really like us that much, then it would be much more of a problem. In saying that though, we still see clearly the need to make special arrangements to maintain the <i>best possible</i> service. There's alot that can be done with a telephone line and a charged up laptop! Robbie,
We’ve been wrestling with this question quite alot recently. Our main branch seems to lose power at the slightest thunderstorm. We’ve been going ’round and ’round with asking what do we really have to have in order to provide good service and maintain security? The answer is, we need full power! So we’ve also been getting quotes for generators. We’re incorporating these kind of issues into our disaster plan as sort of a “mini” or “short-term” disaster.

What we’ve found with our multiple power outages is that most members do understand and get over the miffededness quickly. Who hasn’t lost power at their house? If we were a big impersonal institution whose members didn’t really like us that much, then it would be much more of a problem. In saying that though, we still see clearly the need to make special arrangements to maintain the best possible service. There’s alot that can be done with a telephone line and a charged up laptop!

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