‘Dual’ facility ensures business continuity

The freight system
specialist, Compu-
Clearing, has invested
over R3-million in a
disaster-prevention
exercise.
Although the word
disaster normally refers to
major natural events like
hurricanes or earthquakes,
a disaster for a business
can often come from
something apparently
more minor, like powerouts
or theft of computers,
according to sales and
marketing executive,
Nachi Mendelow.
“With such an event, a
company can totally lose
its business continuity,”
he told FTW. “When
that happens, they find
themselves in a situation
where they are unable to
work.
“And the disaster here
is that for the company
it’s a case of no work no
income.”
When a disaster
does occur, Mendelow
added, it is important
that a complete Disaster
Recovery Plan (DRP) is in
place.
“So, whatever the
disaster,” he said, “and
whether it occurs at the
customer or at Compu-
Clearing itself, we are
committed to ensuring
business continuity.”
All the data is stored
on Compu-Clearing’s
central database servers,
so – even if a client’s
computers disappear – no
data is lost. Also, Compu-
Clearing will immediately
provide replacement
machines.
And, since these
servers are all internetenabled
both locally and
internationally, customers
are able to log into their
unique database from
any place, anywhere in
the world, with a basic
internet connection.
“This internet
connectivity also helps
to address issues like
power-outs,” Mendelow
added. “Clients can go
to any place where there
is an internet connection
and continue their work.
This not only resolves
electricity issues but also
allows our customers to
take work home with them
for completion, when
necessary.”
Probably the most
significant feature of
the DRP is that Compu-
Clearing has also now
built a “Dual” facility –
where all the servers are
duplicated in a separate
building.
“This means that if
one of the buildings goes
down, the second data
centre will take over,”
Mendelow said. “All data
is also backed up onto
magnetic tapes that are
taken off-site daily.”
To complete the
solution, Compu-Clearing
has also built a customer
care centre – with training
rooms, meeting rooms and
an auditorium.
“These rooms can be
used by our customers to
continue their work,” said
Mendelow, “and almost
daily we have people using
our facilities to frame
entries.”