37
Contrary to popular myth, flexible and resilient solution. Finally, although generally
accessing corporate networks The big difference between IP marketed as a means of
TECHNOL
from outside the office telephony and the ‘plain old saving on the cost of business
doesn’t have to mean an telephone service’ we’re used travel, audio, web and video
increased threat to key to is that calls are no longer conferencing really come into
systems and data. Provided carried, point to point, in an their own when a disaster
OGY
users are properly unbroken stream along the makes travel very much more
authenticated and encryption equivalent of fixed wires; difficult. The classic examples
is used to prevent instead, telephone are post 9/11, when US civil
eavesdropping, then security conversations are ‘bundled flights were suspended, and
is not an issue. up’ into packets and shipped after the 7/7 attacks in
across the internet much like London, which left many BC/DR
In practice, well established packets of data. uncomfortable about using
networking protocols with the the tube.
ability to address both The bundling is done by a
requirements are readily computer, equipped with a As for IT systems,
available. Using them, staff microphone, speakers and the organisations should give
can access the IT systems necessary software, or by IP very careful consideration to
they need to do their jobs not phones, which implement the using services hosted on an
just when they are in a same functions in a handset operator’s network rather
company office, but from a resembling a conventional than in their own premises. As
host of other locations – phone. a rule, network operators
homes, hotels, temporary design their infrastructure to
offices and so on. The significance of IP deliver very high levels of
telephony for flexible working availability, and, increasingly,
Those IT systems and the is that it ends the fixed are factoring in the likelihood
networks that connect them relationship between a line of potential disasters when
must themselves be resilient, and a phone number. deciding where to locate new
of course. If the applications installations.
and databases employees Instead, users can make any
need exist only on computers phone their own simply by Recent events demonstrate
in buildings affected by logging in. And they can do the wisdom of such an
problems that have forced this from any location that approach. In July 2007,
them to find other places to offers an IP connection to the following days of abnormally
work, the option to connect corporate network – another high rainfall, it took the heroic
remotely could be of very office within the corporate efforts of 150 workers to
limited use. headquarters, regional offices, prevent the inundation of
wireless hotspots, or even Gloucestershire’s main
This factor alone is a employees’ homes. electricity sub-station at
significant reason for Waltham – precariously
businesses to consider Suppose a fire closes your located within the flood plain
outsourcing the operation of head office, or a major of the River Severn.
networks and data centres. motorway accident prevents
Those offering such services key staff driving to work – On that occasion the
commercially typically build in with IP telephony you can still threatened total blackout of
much greater levels of be in business. the county was averted. Next
resilience. time they and the businesses
Staff forced to work from that depend on the sub-
Much the same applies when home or go to another office station’s supplies may not be
it comes to maintaining will still be able to make and so fortunate. But flexible
access to phone services. receive calls as if they were at working isn’t just about
Here, IP telephony is the most their own desks. anticipating disasters. It’s also
WWW.SNS-UK.CO.UK MAR/APR 09
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