Office of the CIO Annual Achievement Report

2007 Achievements

Business Continuity Planning Initiative
Create a new program to plan for the recovery and resumption of normal academic and business operations following an adverse event.

Since 2004

Established disaster recovery and business continuity planning initiatives to keep the university operational through unexpected events. Disaster recovery endeavors included: worked with the University of Cincinnati on reciprocal disaster recovery plans, provided space to other universities in the state, began hosting services for colleges and departments, upgraded data and disk storage facilities, completed a major power upgrade, implemented a redundant data network, and added staff. Business continuity endeavors included: created an Enterprise Continuity Management program for the university, facilitated pandemic flu and business continuity planning, initiated and directed a BCP Federation of nine Ohio IUC universities, and administered a central business continuity software system for Ohio State and the BCP Federation.

Since 2007

• Upgraded the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) in the Baker Systems core data network hub. The new system has five times the capacity of the 20-year-old system it replaced and provides more reliable conditioned power for central campus network and security systems and allows room for growth.


• Enhanced security procedures for Kinnear Road Center data operating areas, trimmed keycard access lists, and began new monitored sign-in.


• Replicated the University of Cincinnati’s mainframe environment at Ohio State over OSCNet, moving statewide disaster recovery efforts forward.


• Began a series of preventative measures to ensure that power failures do not impact systems and services, including holding regular coordination meetings with Facilities Operations and Development, engaging an external engineer to review and recommend power and other environmental strategies at Kinnear Road Center (KRC), working with IBM on a strategic data center assessment, and replicating KRC-based central web and e-mail systems at the Telecommunications Network Center (TNC).


• Convened quarterly meetings of the Enterprise Continuity Management Program Steering Committee of cross-university representatives to review progress and provide direction on the four-year rollout schedule.


• Worked with Environmental Health and Safety to prepare, execute, and facilitate a “select agent” tabletop disaster simulation exercise for campus senior leadership.


• Began continuity planning with 29 Ohio State workgroups within the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; Lima Regional Campus; and the offices of Human Resources, the Chief Information Officer, Student Affairs, and others.


• Supported 265 Ohio State continuity plans in the university’s Living Disaster Recovery Planning System (LDRPS).