RFP: Why It’s a Bad Idea

It's been a busy few weeks around here, as you may have guessed. Like many consultants I was doing the paper chase – submitting proposals for potential projects. I swore last year that I wouldn't do it again – the chance of winning versus the level of effort required just isn't worth it. But there […]

Crisis communications: what do social media and jazz have in common?

Several years ago my brother treated me to a jazz concert. I remember being incredibly disappointed in how bored I was (even fell asleep). He, being an aficionado, thoroughly enjoyed himself. In the discussion that followed, I realized two things.  The first was that jazz is esoteric – you need to have an understanding of […]

Cloud computing and business continuity

Data is a fragile thing and poses a major Achilles heel to any business. Consequently, we're always looking for ways to better safeguard data. One idea that's been gaining considerable traction lately is cloud computing – the placing of processes and data onto the Internet. This means that a disaster at your site won't affect […]

911 Dispatch Failure Provides Lessons in Continuity

Ever wonder what we're protecting with all our computer passwords? Now don't get me wrong – I'm all for reasonable protections. But sometimes we just don't think things through. Case in point – this morning's San Francisco Chronicle contained a short article about a failure of the Department of Emergency Service's computer system during a fire […]