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Contributor

A Different Approach to Infrastructure Continuity Management

Opinion
Mar 20, 20092 mins
Business Continuity

Business continuity events range from a failed server to communications failure to facility inaccessibility—and everything in between.  That’s why it helps to have multiple infrastructure recovery solutions to choose from, depending on weather, political, and other conditions in which your business operates.  One solution which provides significant flexibility is the Self-Propelled Electronic Armored Rack, or S.P.E.A.R.

 The S.P.E.A.R., containing a 22 U rack, can be moved via an internal drive system, which uses three layers of shock and vibration insulation.  The standard drive system can move up to 500 pounds of equipment.  An upgraded drive can move up to 1000 pounds.  Options include power and temperature conditioning, cyber-locking system with access auditing, and sides and panels which can withstand small arms fire.  Also available are antenna which are mounted on the top of the cabinet to provide Wi-Fi connectivity.

 Powering a S.P.E.A.R is not a problem.  It can connect to any 220-230 volt service, including a generator, making it easy to move an existing data center as extreme weather approaches, or to transport stored equipment to any alternative location with acceptable power and communication capabilities.

The cost of a S.P.E.A.R. with armored panels, air and power conditioning is about $100,000.  However, if your business doesn’t operate in a war zone, the C-S.P.E.A.R. (Campus Self-Propelled Electronic Adaptable Rack) with similar options, but without armored panels, runs about $27,000. 

This isn’t for everyone, but it is a possible solution for fixed or mobile data centers located in hazardous or quickly changing operating conditions.

Contributor

Tom Olzak is an information security researcher and an IT professional with more than 34 years of experience in programming, network engineering and security. He has an MBA and a CISSP certification. He is an online instructor for the University of Phoenix, facilitating 400-level security classes.

Tom has held positions as an IS director, director of infrastructure engineering, director of information security and programming manager at a variety of manufacturing, healthcare and distribution companies. Before entering the private sector, he served 10 years in the U.S. Army Military Police, with four years as a military police investigator.

Tom has written three books: Just Enough Security, Microsoft Virtualization, and Enterprise Security: A Practitioner's Guide. He is also the author of various papers on security management and has been a blogger for CSOonline.com, TechRepublic, Toolbox.com and Tom Olzak on Security.

The opinions expressed in this blog are those of Tom Olzak and do not necessarily represent those of IDG Communications Inc. or its parent, subsidiary or affiliated companies.