SPRING 2013 • VOLUME 26, NUMBER 2
Contents
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COVER — Recovery Time Objective
12 – Is Your RTO Really MAD?
Increasing levels of resilience within organizations reinforce the need to effectively employ the
concept of “maximum allowable downtime (MAD)” alongside recovery time objective (RTO). Normally, RTO closely approximates MAD in the “classic” recovery scenario of a single production
site and a single recovery site. This article will explore the relationship between these concepts,
within the particular context of the highly resilient capabilities that many organizations possess.
In those situations, RTO durations can be significantly longer than MAD, without increasing risk
or inviting other negative consequences.
By J. FRANK LADY, MBCI, CBCP, CISSP, CRISC, PMP
20 – In Its Wake, Hurricane Sandy Left DR Lessons
It formed off the coast of Nicaragua as a tropical storm. A week later, last Oct. 29, Hurricane
Sandy had become a dreaded post-tropical nor’easter as it struck Atlantic City and then its
heaviest winds triggered 14-foot surges at New York Harbor. Levees burst and towns were
quickly under five feet of water. In its wake, the hurricane left $65.6 billion in losses from damages and business interruptions. By DOMINICK PAUL
24 – Bridges, Tunnels, Roads, Pipes, Wires, and People
Business continuity planners have long been involved in saving critical data when disaster
strikes. Systems have been protected and improved over the years to guard against catastrophic losses when computers crash, power outages occur, or flooding damages data centers.
Back-up capabilities have shrunk time requirements from days to mirroring moments.
By Dr. THOMAS D. PHELAN
Page 20 — Hurricane Sandy
Page 24 —Hurricane Sandy
28 – Back to Business
The year 2012 turned out to be one for the record books for the U.S. – and not in a good way. In
a report prepared by London-based global reinsurance firm Aon Benfield, the U.S. endured two
of the world’s costliest natural disasters, totaling a staggering $100 billion in economic losses.
Damage from Hurricane Sandy resulted in $65 billion, and the year-long drought in the Midwest,
which crippled the agricultural sector, totaled $35 billion in losses. By BOB GAUDREAU
32 – Group Seeks Consensus Regarding Bomb Threats
In August, 2012, Rian Jones posted a discussion topic as a result of a course topic associated
with bomb threats. The ensuing discussion illustrated how complex and challenging the subject
is. This article is an attempt to synthesize the discussion and form an outline of issues associated with bomb threats. By TOM RYAN
36 – Business Retention and Expansion Program
Of the many tools and resources available to communities in responding to natural disasters, the
extension business retention and expansion (BR&E) program is one of the least referenced and,
possibly, most overlooked. Helping local communities learn how to systematically gather infor-
mation critical to understanding local development needs is a key BR&E program objective, and
this information can also be useful in a community response to business needs in the aftermath
of a disaster. By NANCY BOWEN-ELLZEY, CEcD
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