Most data center managers think of the least cost location for the backup data center. This usually involves the cost of energy, real estate and staffing. There is another factor, natural disasters, that may affect the backup site's operation.A few years ago, (April 20, 2006), USA Today had an article titled "Is There Anywhere Safe to Live?" The article considered the problems of natural disasters and how they affect a person's residence. My change in the article title would be "Is There Anywhere That is Best for a Backup Site?" The article focused on the locations of natural disasters for all 50 states plus American Somoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. A total of 14 different natural disasters were discussed.
Natural disasters are not always considered in the site selection. The common considerations for the backup site include:
1. Distance from the primary site so that primary site staff can move easily to the backup site and the backup site can be manned with a skeleton crew.
2. Access to power, fuel and adequate communications facilities
3. Cost of the physical site, hardware and software required at the backup site
4. How long the backup site can operate
5. How well the primary and backup sites can be synchronized, and the communications connections between the two sites
The effect of natural disasters and the enterprise's recovery planning has become a prominent issue, especially with the tsunami in the Indian Ocean, the hurricanes on the Gulf Coast and the many earthquakes that have occurred. The USA Today article pointed out that there was 20% increase in natural disasters worldwide in 2005, according to the United Nations and Belgium's research center, Louvain. The total damage that year was estimated to be $159 billion, primarily due to Hurricane Katrina. The cost of disaster response has climbed even further with the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile.
Disasters cost money, interrupt business operations and may cause the enterprise to cease operation. They will also interfere with and may terminate IT and communications services. It does not matter whether the disaster affects the enterprise, government or service provider. Loss of power that lasts long enough will bring down the cellular infrastructure that runs on battery backup systems. Those sites operating with diesel generators need fuel for electricity generation. Most sites need fuel replacement within a week. The diesel powered sites go down when the fuel runs out. Floods, fire, volcanoes, earthquakes and other events can destroy a primary and backup site, especially if the two sites are close, within 100 to 200 miles apart.
The USA Today article listed these natural disasters:
1. Blizzards and lake effect snow 2. Earthquakes 3. Flash floods and monsoons 4. Tornadoes 5. Heat waves 6. Hurricanes and typhoons 7. Ice storms 8. Lightning 9. Nor'easters 10. River valley flooding 11. Thunderstorms 12. Tsunamis 13. Volcanic eruptions 14. Wildfires and firestorms
This is quite a list, any of which can terminate the operation of a primary or backup IT and/or communications site. Each state's vulnerabilities varied from one to eight disaster possibilities per state. Nevada had the lowest number of possible disasters, that is, it was rated for one disaster type, wildfires and firestorms. Montana, Idaho, West Virginia, Alabama and Louisiana had two disaster possibilities. Alabama and Louisiana however are much more prone to hurricanes and thunderstorms; these two disaster types can be much more catastrophic.
Then which the states have the greatest number of natural disaster possibilities? Colorado, South Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Michigan each has seven possible natural disaster situations. Texas is the only state with eight disaster possibilities. Many of the disasters are transient; they do not have long lasting effects. Others like volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes and hurricanes can prevent the site from recovering for weeks to months. The site restoration time after a disaster should be considered when selecting a location.
Each disaster plan has to consider how much disaster is expected. The enterprise's business managers have to determine how big a disaster they must budget for and still be profitable. Consider these six possibilities:
1. Building closed/evacuated due to a limited fire, water leak, terrorist act and police action
2. Loss of electrical power where limited backup power is available
3. Loss of communications to the outside world
4. Facility damaged/destroyed where the ICT equipment is not usable
5. Community disaster that covers miles of territory such as a flood or fire
6. Regional disaster that covers 10s to 100s of miles of area and affects a large area, roadways, power, communications, staff and causes a population upheaval
The enterprise has to determine the answers to the following questions:
* What are the budget allocations and limitations that will be used for the disaster response?
* What will be the operating capacity, 100% or less? Will all applications and communications be available to employees and customers?
* How long will the backup location be able to operate, temporarily or indefinitely?
* Will there be regulatory and financial liabilities if the backup location does not fully support the enterprise?
* The backup location is not alone. What outside resources are necessary for operation: power, communications, water, fuel?
* Will the backup location have the facilities to house the operating staff for long period of time? Will the staff be willing to stay at the backup location for a long period of time away from their families?
Selecting the backup site location will always have risks and liabilities attached to the decision. Some parts of Texas may not be as prone to the eight disasters as other parts. It is always possible that a state like Nevada can encounter a new form of disaster. Come to a balanced decision for the backup site. But no site will be immune from natural disasters.
