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FSSI relies on a formal Business Continuity Plan (BCP) to help guide the process that takes place following any emergency that would compromise part or all of our main production facility. This plan is constantly being updated as new technology, software, and partner alliances evolve. The plan is designed to give clients confidence that FSSI can continue to deliver its services in challenging circumstances, from a basic power outage to a catastrophic earthquake.
Executive-level Disaster Team
The FSSI Disaster Team is comprised of senior-level executives and managers. Each has a personal, off-site copy of the plan that can be quickly accessed during an emergency. The plan is also available online at our East Coast backup facility. Disaster Team members meet regularly to assess responsiveness and readiness test results.
Offsite security
If a disaster is declared, FSSI's DR Servers in Atlanta, Georgia (which are 'live' all the time) will be utilized for processing client data and accessing important information. During an emergency, FSSI's dedicated DR site in Temecula will be used as the primary print-and-mail services location. Third-party sites owned by FSSI's business partners can also be used in an emergency; specifics are individually detailed in each client's Statement of Work.
Integrating preparedness
The last section of this summary describes how your organization can benefit from our preparation - by integrating our Business Continuity Plan with yours. If you haven't done so already, consider creating a team of your own dedicated professionals who understand the risks and rewards of having a plan that will protect your customers and your company's business during an unforeseen crisis. We have the means to back up all your outsourced services but we need your cooperation and resources to test and verify the system prior to an emergency. We hope there will never be a disaster, but we can be prepared if we all work together.
Following a major event, FSSI's Disaster Recovery Team determines the condition of the FSSI facility and assesses all the critical utilities which support the ongoing operations and estimates the duration of time before those services are restored. The Team coordinates the assessment of damage, compiles inventories of support equipment required to operate the data center and production departments, and then oversees any repairs that are necessary. After a disaster, the Team ensures that damaged facilities are secure from intrusion and further damage. It conducts a comprehensive assessment of the ongoing security requirements of the data center, ensuring that adequate alarms and monitoring devices are in place and operational.
Initiating the BCP
In the event that the DR Team determines that production service cannot be reestablished, the DR Executive Team will make the steps necessary to initiate the BCP. Proper network communication equipment is maintained to ensure quick uptime in the event of an emergency relocation of server equipment.
FSSI owns a suite of Disaster Recovery Servers (the "DR Servers") located at SunGard in the Atlanta area, which hosts FSSI's applications programs, job flow information, job application information (such as Statements of Work) and soft copies of client artwork which FSSI has prepared and processed. All updates and modifications are replicated to the DR Servers from FSSI's NAS on a real-time basis via remote access.
In addition, the Network Administration department performs weekly and monthly backups of all software applications, system files and database extract files. This backup media is stored offsite with easy access.
In most cases, clients' customer data is not backed up due to the confidential nature of the data. If needed, FSSI will contact the client for new files of data.
FSSI employs a full time computer specialist who lives in the Atlanta area.
Response strategy and process
During the initial hours following the declaration of a disaster, the DR Team will meet to provide guidance to employees during the emergency.
A specialized team of FSSI employees will handle routine risk mitigation tasks and emergency response tasks that pertain to the data center and production environments. Designated employees will implement the FSSI DR shut down procedures and contact the Disaster Recovery Team by cell phone.
In constant contact
The DR Team members will utilize whatever space is available, which may include their home offices or mobile phones, as well as the Temecula site, to communicate with each other and other affected departments as necessary.
FSSI's Account Representatives will be notified and they will contact their clients in accordance with the Statement of Work guidelines established individually with each client. For client projects which require special delivery of stock, the AR will follow the instructions in the Statement of Work for ordering the stock.
Power Failure
FSSI production departments and Data Center are equipped with a continuous power supply (3 banks of MGE supplied UPS batteries) that is in-line with the Edison supplied grid power. The UPS system has been engineered to carry the entire building at full load for 15 minutes.
Once an interruption in power is detected, FSSI's 800 KW Caterpillar diesel generator is automatically activated. In about 8 seconds, the power is stabilized and an Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) connects the power from the generator to the building. The diesel generator continues to supply power to the building for 32-36 hours without interruption. If grid power has not been restored by then, the generator's tank can be refilled to provide continuous power for as long as it is needed. If grid power is restored, the generator will power down about 5 minutes after the ATS reconnects the building to the public power. FSSI has existing arrangements with multiple fuel suppliers to supply diesel for the generator during an emergency.
As stated earlier, FSSI's responsibilities on a client-by-client basis are detailed in the individual Statements of Work (SOW's) that define the requirements of FSSI's services. As a service provider, FSSI accepts its obligation to provide for alternative processing in those scenarios that would render its primary Santa Ana location inoperable.
Jointly developed testing
Due to confidentiality of customer data, and the logistics required to test individual applications, FSSI asks its clients to jointly develop a testing plan that also becomes part of the Statement of Work. This testing can be a partial test or a full test of the client's work. The testing can be done yearly or semi-annually, depending on the clients' requirements.
Dedicated DR facilities and services
FSSI has provided at its sole expense, the following Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity facilities and services:
- Connectivity to FSSI's DR Servers located at Sungard Data Recovery Services in Atlanta, Georgia. The configuration consists of multiple blade servers with adequate core memory to process any of FSSI's client jobs, and adequate storage memory to store the completed jobs while arranging the print and mail logistics.
- DR Print and Mail site located in Temecula, California - 70 miles away from the Santa Ana Headquarters, on a different power grid and a different fault zone from Santa Ana. This facility has communications connectivity, multiple laser printers, and multiple inserting machines.
- Partnership arrangements with an out-of-state service bureau of a similar size to FSSI with similar equipment and processes, if required by a client.
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