Business Continuity Planning for Data Centers and Systems: A Strategic Implementation Guide

Chapter 14. New Methods of Effective Site Selection: Negotiation and Execution

The new methods for forward-thinking users and consultants to use to navigate the process of site selection are established as a basis of design for the cabinet and mainframe storage components of end users. We encourage users to separate the "vital" or critical and noncritical, or synchronous versus asynchronous with adjacencies to establish that systems can be separated for financial and logistical reasons. We can quantify day 1 and future needs.

We then establish the velocity of growth in existing white space while validating and incorporating:

• Data mining efforts

• Growth within 12 to 18 months

• Anamolyic growth of accelerating acquisitions or decelerating consolidations or sold user groups

• Useful life of environmentals of the business life cycle (exit strategy)

In greenfield and often with augmentation scenarios, we incorporate primary considerations of primary blast, secondary damage, and evacuation models based on a host of unlikely but possible scenarios. We apply relevant and regional intelligence and consider the likelihood of catastrophic events happening, apply the budget and scheduled mitigation to help steering committees make a go/no go decision regarding the issue.

We establish these models for all acts of God and relevant "man-made disasters" to comply with corporate governance. Exhibit 14.1 shows a nuclear power facility in the Northeast, and Exhibit 14.2 shows the kill zone and agricultural rings ...