Trying not to make a drama out of a crisis. Any business can be affected by an emergency, be it a fire, computer problems, or even a terrorist attack. But one Market Deeping firm hopes to limit any problems a business can suffer during such a situation. Mark pearson reports. With January drawing ever closer, it is time for businesses to consider making resolutions to start the new year in a secure and stable position.


One important issue, often overlooked, is making sure your company is fully protected for an emergency.
Fire or flood damage to a property is devastating, whether it be a business or a residence. And a company in Towngate East, Market Deeping, near Peterborough, has taken on the responsibility of getting as many Peterborough businesses as it can to have the measures in place to deal with disasters.

NetSupport PowerWeb provides business continuity, disaster recovery and a co-location service.

This means it enables businesses afflicted by disaster to continue operating their company without impacting customers, suppliers or own operational viability.

Al Kingsley, the group managing director for NetSupport, is making it his job to ensure Peterborough's businesses are fully aware of the importance of being covered for disaster in the new year.

He said: "Every business, including ours, wants to kick start the new year in style.
We provide the necessary infrastructure and facilities to relocate you staff to our premises."

"This will allow your company to recover from the disaster, be it a flood or a fire, while carrying on with day to day business as normal."

NetSupport's business continuity provides an "insurance policy" for companies, should they suffer a disaster, which could equally be a failure in key services, i.e electricity or telephone breakdown, so they have a location where they can relocate key staff and services to continue without interruption.

The branch is fully equipped with 220 networked computers, desks and telephones. All the on-site services, i.e. power, air conditioning and networks have full dual redundancy, so even if there is a power cut in Market Deeping or their Cambridge internet connection is lost, full on-site power generators and distributed network connections can take over.

NetSupport Powerweb is part of the NetSupport Group of companies which were founded in 1989, the head office is in Market Deeping with additional international offices in Atlanta, California, Toronto, Munich and Tokyo.

The company have invested just over £1.5 million in the last year, developing its new head office in Market Deeping.

It has a number of high profile customers on board, and works closely with the Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce to help make sure its services are tailored to the local community.

One company which works with NetSupport is Merloni Elettrodomestici UK Ltd, in Morley Way, Peterborough.

Information technology director Steve Jackson said: "NetSupport Powerweb works together with us to provide a robust and secure disaster recovery infrastructure for our call centre at our site in Peterborough.

"Our call centre is the largest white goods after-sales service operation in Europe, employing over 1,700 people which makes the excellent support we have from NetSupport Powerweb vital to the success of our business in the UK.

"We looked at a number of suppliers for our business continuity requirements for our busy contact centre in Peterborough, and after a lot of research we found that NetSupport Powerweb was the only company who could deliver the required functionality in the Greater Peterborough area."

"We were impressed by their processes, methodology, facilities and their commitment to delivering requirements within agreed timescales. We are very happy with their support and service and look forward to a productive new year partnership."

NetSupport Powerweb is currently the only company providing the service in the Peterborough area.

" For more information about NetSupport, call 0870 4014010, or visit www.powerweb.co.uk

Firms are still not ready for disaster

According to a study commissioned by storage services company Sagitta, although companies are aware of the damaging effects of a disaster  with one third citing damage to the reputation of the business and a quarter expressing direct loss of revenue as key concerns  current IT budgets do not reflect the need for a disaster recovery strategy.

Three quarters of 1,000 information technology managers questioned indicated they only have a base level disaster recovery programme in place, despite the fact 28 per cent of respondents stated that disk failure would be a key threat to their business.


Andy Norman, chief executive of Sagitta, said: "With the recent publicity disaster recovery has been getting it is astonishing to see that it is not a priority for companies today.
It is clear from the results there is still a gap between what people need to ensure an effective disaster recovery strategy is in place, and what they actually have.


There is a common misconception that disaster recovery solutions have to cost a lot of money, this is simply not true."

"The lack of suitable disaster recovery strategies is leaving many companies at risk."

Boss set for session at breakfast network club

A networking breakfast takes place at The Cresset, in Bretton, Peterborough from 8am to 10am on January 27.

It costs £14 for members of the Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce and £21 for non-members who wish to attend.

Mr Kingsley will be doing a presentation at the breakfast and will be open for questions afterwards.

" To book for the event, call the chamber on 01223 237414.