Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: business, business continuity, business continuity software, business disaster, business impact analysis, Continuity of Operations, KingsBridge Disaster Recovery, Phoenix software, plus 3 networks
Every year, we close our offices between Dec 25th and Jan 1st. While this seems like a long break, we’ve found it gives everyone time to take a break, visit with family and enjoy some down time without their iPhone going nuts due to missed calls/emails. Each year, I try to use this time to plan for the upcoming year and how to make things better; in our processes, deliverables and customer service. While this year was no different, I did find some time to reflect on the year that was…
First, we expanded our sales team. I know it sounds strange to be growing during a down economy, but that is what happened! 2009 has been our best year to date and we are hoping to continue that momentum into 2010! By adding Steve Rogers at our sales office in Ottawa (whom most of you have met – on the phone at least), we’ve been able to reach new people and spend more time with each person to ensure they are getting the best service possible! In addition to Steve, we added Rich Bender in St. Louis. Rich comes from a retirement planning/financial services background and has brought some excellent experience to the table!
Second, we wanted to make a difference, so we started some fund raising activities. Most of you will have heard of the +3 Network by now, through our newsletters, but for those who haven’t, check them out here. Our goal is to get people off the couch and on their bike, feet, hiking boots, etc. As with all new programs, this is getting off to a slow start, but we are looking forward to 2010 being a big year! Our benefactor is the Nevada Cancer Institute in Las Vegas. Everyone has a cancer related story (my mom is a survivor of almost 20 years) and we want to be part of finding a solution!
Third, we are sponsoring a bunch of cycling events in 2010. Most everyone in the office is a cycling fan and we thought it would be fun to have company jerseys and shorts. Early in 2009 we ordered a bunch of jerseys and shorts and have been riding in them since! This has grown into a KingsBridge sponsored rider (Vicki Thomas – who is in Belgium right now) and an increasingly busy riding schedule for 2010. We’ll post a calendar of events early in 2010, so if we are near by, you can come out and say hello.
Finally, we have to give thanks to YOU. Without you, all of this wouldn’t be possible. You continued support makes it a joy to come to work, allows us to sponsor cancer research and cyclists chasing their dreams. Some have been Binomial/KingsBridge clients for years and other are just coming on board, but each of you found us to offer the best service/product for the best price. With each new product we release, we try to build it with one goal in mind… Make our client’s lives easier and less confusing. So… Thank you!
We look forward to working with you in 2010 and many more years to come! Our doors are always open for comments, requests or just a simple hello. See you in the New Year!!
Sincerely,
Skip Williams
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: business, business continuity, business continuity software, business disaster, Continuity of Operations, david letterman, disaster preparation, disaster recovery, disaster recovery software, image trouble, KingsBridge Disaster Recovery, Phoenix software, tiger woods
During our Disaster Recovery classes, we always tell the clients that the media, with the unlimited airtime to fill, will create the news if you don’t give it to them. So, for all our clients, we work with them to build a set of press releases and strongly encourage their management to go to media training to learn the basics of dealing with the media. If you are in a highly visible position, even having a media firm do your press releases and media relations is absolutely critical.
If you don’t believe me, look at one very costly example going on right now… Can you guess it? In two words “Tiger Woods transgressions”. Ok… you got me… that’s three words, but anytime anyone says “Tiger” I always think of Woods first and the animal second.
How does the predicament Tiger finds himself in right now have anything to do with your company?
First, what does he have to sell? His image. What do you have to sell? Your product or your image… Your image is extremely critical when it comes to attracting new customers or keeping existing ones. How would it look if your company were suffering the same scrutiny that Tiger is under right now? Could your business survive the intensive digging by groups that are trying to create news, even if it isn’t there?
What could Tiger have done differently?
Make a serious statement, not something ambiguous on your website. Face the music! Pay the piper! David Letterman had the same “transgressions – caught on film!” and he hasn’t suffered the same trouble Tiger has , if you don’t believe me, check out what the Wall Street Journal has to say! The hardest part to take in this entire news blitz on Tiger… Currently, there is no hard proof! There is a lot of conjecture and speculation, but to date, there is no smoking gun. To make matters worse, now ESPN reports the police believe he was driving under the influence! Again, no proof, just people trying to get their 15 minutes of fame…
I guarantee there will be someone who stands in a golf store this year and buys Callaway (endorsed by Phil Mickelson who’s wife is fighting cancer) golf balls instead of Nike (endorsed by Tiger Woods.. enough said). Please make sure when someone is trying to decide if they should buy your product, they aren’t swayed by bad press and make the wrong decision. Have your recovery plan up to date with press releases and media statements ready to go! The camera lights are bright and unforgiving!
KingsBridge is a Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity company specializing in Software, Seminars and Consulting. If you are looking for a Microsoft Office integrated recovery planning tool, Phoenix is not only an excellent tool, but the only completely integrated planning tool. Our seminars (online and in-house) are some of the longest running seminars in the recovery business. KingsBridge uses turn-key consulting for those who need the plan done, right the first time. For more information about KingsBridge, checkoutwww.disasterrecovery.com
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: business, business continuity, business continuity software, business disaster, business impact analysis, Continuity of Operations, disaster preparation, KingsBridge Disaster Recovery, Phoenix online, Phoenix software, Saas, software, swine flu education
In addition to an online Threat Risk and Business Impact Analysis tool, we are working on a repository for your Phoenix generated plans online!! Side Note: We have been asked for a hosted planning tool for several years, but due to technical restrictions with the internet and Microsoft, we aren’t able to integrate Microsoft Office with an online tool. To date, our customers (you) have told us they would rather have the ability to edit in Microsoft Word, than have a hosted solution. But we have also been asked to make the plans available online (once they are completed) and we have responded. Currently this feature is in Beta, if you would like to have an input on how it works, please let us know and we’ll be in touch. We are very excited about this new feature as it will make accessing your plan anywhere that much easier and faster.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: bia, business continuity software, business impact analysis, Continuity of Operations, COOP, disaster preparation, disaster recovery, disaster recovery software, KingsBridge Disaster Recovery
As we hinted in the previous newsletters we released Phoenix BIA October 1st, allowing you (and your team) to complete your Threat Risk Analysis (TRA) and Business Impact Analysis (BIA) with the same ease as Phoenix. While Phoenix is a server-client based tool, the PhoenixBIA will be Software as a Service (SaaS), allowing you the easiest platform to get your team to determine what are their biggest impact to their business unit. In addition to following the “Planning Made Simple” mantra used for our other Phoenix products, PhoenixBIA will create both; A) a report of your TRA and BIA for use with your team or executive and B) PhoenixBIA will also create a native Phoenix 2009 .PHX file. This is the same format used by Phoenix 2009 to create the fastest, easiest Disaster Recovery or Business Continuity plans on the market. This allows you to start your planning process with a single click, you don’t have to re-enter or import your resulting BIA into your Recovery Plans!. If you haven’t been contacted by us regarding your login, please email us and we’ll get you your codes (Phoenix BIA is free for anyone who is current with their Phoenix maintenance)!
