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managing director, EMEA, CriticalArc

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Darren Chalmers-Stevens is managing director for the EMEA region at CriticalArc, a leading technology innovator, designing and developing the distributed command and control solution, SafeZone™. His professional career has focused particularly on security technology matters. He served as technology development manager for ADT Fire & Security, where he led UK and Ireland IP physical security strategy and business development. Before that, Darren held several senior positions for Computer Network Limited (CNL), including VP Professional Services. He also was Business Manager for Integrated Communications at IBM in the UK, where he managed global solution development and delivery. More recently he was Vice President for EMEA Operations at CSIM specialist VidSys.
June 4, 2013

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Why PSIM Should Be Part of Your Business Continuity Plans

The sun is shining across the UK today, but the floods in Central Europe are a stark reminder that massive washouts and mudslides are, sadly, never far away. For organizations relying on the national rail infrastructure to transport supplies and personnel to critical locations, extreme weather represents a massive headache.

As we all well know, come rain or shine, business must go on. Yet what are we to do when a center of operations or headquarters is waterlogged and inaccessible, or personnel can’t make it to their scheduled posts?

Expecting the unexpected and ensuring the appropriate security and contingency plans are in place before an unforeseen emergency is both a challenge and a necessity. From security breaches that can quickly lead to intellectual property theft, to devastating natural disasters and even terrorist attacks, today’s public and private organizations face a plethora of new and evolving challenges virtually unheard of as recently as a decade ago.

Minimal disruption

Business continuity plans are intended to prepare for any contingency and maintain organizational stability regardless of circumstance. Framed around existing standard operating procedures (SOPs), a good business continuity plan will see that critical day-to-day business functionality experiences minimal disruption — customer service is maintained, employees, data, and facilities are secure, etc.

Most companies today have any number of critical servers and automated protocols that enable them to access information and employees from anywhere. Yet, organisations still must rely on the human component. In the event of a disaster, leadership has its hands full safeguarding physical property and personnel — leaving little time for ensuring that SOPs are running smoothly and that all standard security protocols are implemented as planned.

With so many distinct internal and external concerns and systems to consider, today’s business continuity and emergency response planning can take on an overwhelming degree of complexity.

PSIM = Integration and automation

One important piece of ensuring plans go off without a hitch is the automation and integration of systems. By making sure that all critical systems and technologies are preset to respond in accordance with existing plans, leadership and operations personnel can feel free to focus on the aforementioned localized issues and safeguards for a timely, comprehensive, effective response.

This is where Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) software comes in.

Below are three reasons PSIM is a key component for efficient, effective business continuity planning and implementation.

    1. SOP implementation and lessons learned: Because PSIM collects and correlates all data into one centralized location, organizations and command center operators can ensure that pre-determined SOPs are followed to the letter in a crisis. By storing information on how a response was implemented, PSIM also provides visibility for regulatory inquiries and for organizations looking to suss out lessons learned for future continuity planning.

 

    1. Interdepartmental/interagency coordination: With often disparate SOP event response protocols within departments and across responding agencies, streamlining coordination is tough. By providing the means for departments and agencies to coordinate within a single operating structure, PSIM helps ensure resources are allocated efficiently and effectively, according to pre-set SOPs.

 

  1. Informed response: In an emergency, having complete information from the onset can be the difference between an effective, even preventive, response, and serious harm to property or personnel. PSIM integrates everything from IT security to BMS systems so that all critical information can be accessed in real-time for an integrated, 360-degree view at one centralized location, no matter the situation.

From the tragedy of the London bombings, to the excitement of the London Olympics, to crippling natural disasters — effective continuity planning is critical to the success of our organizations and the security of our employees. PSIM provides the key integration component needed to ensure those plans go off without a hitch.

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Tony Dobson
Tony Dobson
June 4, 2013 11:14 am

Also ensuring that your PSIM system has a fallback position in a separate building just in case the building in which it is housed is the one effected by the emergency is a good idea. Unless the “cloud” is trusted with this extensive informatioon of course.

Rob Ratcliff
Rob Ratcliff
June 4, 2013 12:30 pm
Reply to  Tony Dobson

(which it probably isn’t eh?)

dcstevens
dcstevens
June 4, 2013 1:18 pm
Reply to  Tony Dobson

Good point Tony, a cloud based option is one option. A 100% web based PSIM solution leveraging a distributed IT infrastructure and technologies such as virtual machines gives you a resilient backbone to depend on also.

Tony Dobson
Tony Dobson
June 5, 2013 3:59 am
Reply to  Rob Ratcliff

I’d probably consider using it as a back-up rather than go to the expense of duplicating all the servers, etc. I’d have to be convinced that the protection and encryption was up to the job though and I don’t think I am as yet but I’m sure it will be in time.

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