IT Execs Continue to Invest in Backup Systems and New Technologies.
With hurricane season less than four weeks away, a study announced by AT&T* reveals that nine in 10 businesses in Miami, Orlando and Tampa have business continuity plans in place. When AT&T last surveyed Miami in 2006, companies there ranked number one in the nation for business continuity planning efforts, and the 2009 survey results continue to show that business continuity is a top priority in Florida. More than 100 information technology (IT) executives were surveyed in the 2009 study.
Five Category 3 and 4 hurricanes have hit the Sunshine State since 2004 – all of which have proven to be lessons learned for area companies. According to the AT&T study, six out of 10 companies have had their business continuity plans fully tested in the past 12 months, and more than half (51 percent) have invoked plans citing extreme weather (44 percent), power outages at facilities (18 percent), telecommunications failure (13 percent), IT security incident (12 percent) and IT failures (11 percent).
Companies whose IT operations have been impacted by natural or man-made disasters said the biggest lesson learned was the need to plan ahead and have backup systems in place. Despite decreasing IT budgets, two-thirds (66 percent) of executives responded that their companies are investing in new technologies this year, including new computers and phones (18 percent), software upgrades (11 percent), new servers (4 percent), a new Internet system (4 percent), management software (4 percent) and communications upgrades (4 percent). The survey also found that nearly half of all companies with business continuity plans require their suppliers and other vendors to have business continuity plans in place as well (44 percent).
“Florida businesses have learned to not only plan ahead and have backup systems in place in the event of a natural or man-made disaster, but also to test these plans regularly to reflect changes in their business,” said Rosa Marie Boza, sales vice president, AT&T Business Solutions. “These survey results continue to show that Florida-area businesses are prepared to maintain key processes and recover operations.”
According to the study, the vast majority (85 percent) of Florida executives indicate their companies have prioritized and set target recovery times for each of their key business processes, and three-fourths (74 percent) of the executives surveyed said that their companies have systems in place that enable most employees to work from home or remote locations. More than half (55 percent) also have automated calling systems to reach employees by telephone or cell phone outside of work.
Study Methodology
The 2009 AT&T Business Continuity Study results are based on an online survey of 101 IT executives in the Miami, Orlando, and Tampa metropolitan areas. The study was conducted by e-Rewards Market Research with companies having total revenues of more than $25 million in the Florida designated market area. Interviews were conducted Feb. 9-14, 2009.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services, the nation’s fastest 3G network and the best wireless coverage worldwide, and the nation's leading high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of their three-screen integration strategy, AT&T operating companies are expanding their TV entertainment offerings. In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE® magazine’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.
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