Filed under: KingsBridge Disaster Recovery, Knowledge | Tags: business continuity, business continuity software, business disaster, Continuity of Operations, COOP, disaster preparation, disaster recovery, disaster recovery software, iPad, iPhone Application, KingsBridge Disaster Recovery, mobile browser, Phoenix Mobile iPhone App
With the recent explosion of mobile devices and their increased power, we are being asked about “accessing our BC/DR plan from a mobile device”. As more and more companies are taking their plans online/cloud based and their workforce is increasingly more mobile, having access to their plan on their device is becoming a reality. Where does this leave all these apps that we see everyday? Let’s take a look…
Jim Balsillie (co-CEO of BlackBerry) told a conference in November 2010 (only seven months ago) that “We believe that you can bring the mobile to the Web but you don’t need to go through some kind of control point of an SDK, and that’s the core part of our message.”. While that might work in concept, BlackBerry is being crushed under the Android and Apple onslaught of Apps. It really is simple, users don’t want to access information that is designed for a larger screen, crunched into a little 4 in screen. Alternatively, they don’t want a stripped down edition where they are shown limited information decided upon by the developer of the website. With more than 300,000 apps available for iPhones alone, I think the market has spoken.
What do you get with an App that accesses your plan instead of “just a browser”?
As there aren’t many Apps on the market for Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery, the options are limited. However, of those that are available they offer a completely different experience than viewing a website. They actually allow you to interact with your complete recovery plan. You have a single location to:
- send a notification
- acknowledge a notification
- send your location to your team members
- find directions to your hotsite
- read your plan without having to scroll through the entire plan.
Each of these tasks (or actions) are built to look and function perfectly for your device (iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry or Android). It becomes an extension of your plan instead of fighting with your plan. As you have probably already found out, if you make the process difficult, the users simply won’t use it!
To recap, what we have learned… Regardless of whatever anyone tells you, reading your plan on a mobile device through a browser is not “Mobile Enabled”. To truly be able to access your plan, you need to have an extension of your plan in your hand 24/7/365. If you don’t believe ask anyone to access Facebook through their mobile browser and not the App that has been built to make the process easier, faster and better. If your social life deserves an app… Shouldn’t your business?
About KingsBridge
KingsBridge offers private businesses and government organizations a unique combination of industry knowledge and cost-effective disaster recovery / business continuity solutions. KingsBridge products and seminars provide the tools to assess possible threats and create tailored plans which mitigate risks and minimize losses in the event of a disruption to business. Kingsbridge is headquartered in Ogdensburg, New York, with an office in Ottawa, Canada. For more information visit us at www.DisasterRecovery.com.
Filed under: Knowledge, Software | Tags: 2011, Australia flooding, business continuity software, business disaster, business impact analysis, disaster recovery, disaster recovery software, H1N1, iPad, iPhone, iPhone Application, KingsBridge Disaster Recovery, New Year Resolutions, Phoenix Mobile, Phoenix software, threat risk analysis
We are a few days into the New Year… 2011. We can only wonder what this new year will bring – personally and professionally. One thing is certain, this new year has started with a bang.
Record flooding in Australia has resulted in numerous deaths and unplanned interruptions. The crazy snowstorm of late 2010 has ended but it severely put a dent in the travel and business plans of people through-out Europe and the United States. Reports in Canada stress that we are still not safe from the H1N1 virus.
The big question at this time of year, in light of current and past events is this – what are you going to do differently? What changes are you going to implement in your business and professional life. New Year’s resolutions are not limited to our personal lives. This is the perfect time to reflect on what worked and didn’t work in your company. It is also the perfect opportunity to really spend some time doing some planning and preparation.
One only needs to look back on 2010 to be reminded how many “unexpected or unplanned” disasters occurred. At first blush when these incidents are looked at separately, the impact might not be considered to be that much. But when you really consider the overall collective global impact of incidents such as the oil spill, volcanic ash cloud, sudden flooding and snowstorms, H1N1 pandemic, power outages, fires, and hurricanes – you quickly realize how these seemingly isolated incidents resulted in real and actual impacts on your bottom line.
My suggestion to you is this: take this week to get ready for the year ahead. Do a threat risk analysis – really look at the results of this process and consider how these threats will really impact your business and bottom-line. Next, take some action. Work with a proven leader in disaster recovery and business continuity planning to put together a disaster recovery plan. When done effectively, the creation and implementation of this plan will not have a big impact on the day-to-day operations of your business and will leave you with the business peace of mind that your company and its assets are protected in the event of disaster.
There are lots of options out there now for flexible and easy-to-use disaster recovery and business continuity planning software. If you have a mobile device such as an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad you can take advantage of our industry-leading Phoenix Mobile Software. We offer a free version of our leading application that will help you get familiar with disaster recovery planning and see how easy it really is to implement a plan that will work for you. Click on over to iTunes and download our free software.
It it the time for changes for the better and believe me, we want your business to be safe and protected. If we can help you get started on this path to preparedness, then we’re pretty darn pleased. To top it off, we want to hear from you – tell us what you like and don’t like about our free application – the more feedback the better! To learn more about Phoenix Mobile and Phoenix Mobile Enterprise, be sure to click on over to our website – where you’ll find a complete resource on disaster recovery and business continuity planning.
If you take anything away from this, just be sure to prepare and plan. Based on the year we had in 2010, you’ll be making 2011 a much easier and profitable year for yourself.
Filed under: Knowledge, Software | Tags: business, business continuity, business continuity software, business disaster, business impact analysis, Continuity of Operations, COOP, disaster preparation, disaster recovery, disaster recovery software, iPad, iPhone, iPhone Application, KingsBridge Disaster Recovery, Phoenix Mobile, Phoenix Mobile iPhone App, Phoenix software
As our Phoenix Mobile for iPhone and iPad are becoming more popular, we are getting more people asking how they can access their Phoenix plans on a mobile device but don’t want to give Apple their credit card info just so they can “buy” free apps. To solve this problem, we found a “How To” on the Apple support page explaining how to do it! As with most things Apple, it is very simple and once explained makes it seem so obvious. So follow this link to setup the free purchases from your computer or from your mobile device. We found them to be very simple and easy to follow.
Once you have the ability to “buy” your apps, you should check out how Phoenix mobile can make your Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning on a mobile device very simple and as close to one-click as possible.
About KingsBridge
KingsBridge offers private businesses and government organizations a unique combination of industry knowledge and cost-effective disaster recovery / business continuity solutions. KingsBridge products and seminars provide the tools to assess possible threats and create tailored plans which mitigate risks and minimize losses in the event of a disruption to business. Kingsbridge is headquartered in Ogdensburg, New York, with offices in Ottawa, Canada and Burlington, Vermont. For more information visit us at www.DisasterRecovery.com.
Filed under: Knowledge, Software | Tags: business continuity software, disaster recovery software, DRJ Fall World, iPad, iPhone, iPhone Application, iPod Touch, iTunes Store, KingsBridge Disaster Recovery, Phoenix Mobile, Phoenix Mobile Enterprise, Phoenix Mobile iPhone App, Phoenix software
Ottawa, Ontario – October 4, 2010 – KingsBridge is pleased to announce the newest piece of its Phoenix recovery planning suite of software. Phoenix Mobile is the first mobile application that puts business continuity and disaster recovery planning on your mobile device.
Phoenix Mobile and Phoenix Mobile – Enterprise run on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch – literally putting your business continuity and disaster recovery plans in your pocket.
Phoenix Mobile debuted quietly a few weeks ago to a select group of users. The popularity of this free application quickly signaled that there is an industry demand for business continuity and disaster recovery planning software that runs on mobile devices. Phoenix Mobile is available from the iTunes Store and can be on your mobile device with one click.
While at the DRJ Fall World Show in San Diego, California from Sept. 19 – 22 we demonstrated Phoenix Mobile – Enterprise to show attendees. This new addition to the Phoenix suite puts your plan in your pocket. Whereas Phoenix Mobile puts a standard plan in your pocket, Phoenix Mobile – Enterprise syncs with your Phoenix plan over the air to ensure your latest plan is with you… Always. The freedom and capabilities of the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch have been captured and integrated into our industry-leading software.
Our free iPhone and iPad application has a simple-to-use and intuitive interface:
- Teach Your Team: access information on detailed pre-formatted disaster scenarios.
- Contact Your Team: automatically sync with your address book.
- Find Your Team: in the event of a disaster, quickly and easily send out a Google Maps pin, letting the people in your address book know where you and your phone are.
In addition to the features of Phoenix Mobile – Enterprise edition adds:
- The same simple-to-use and intuitive interface.
- Syn your plan to your mobile device.
- Create custom maps with directions to your hotsite.
- Initiate your notifications to your mass notification provide from your iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.
Teach, Connect, Find – all with Phoenix Mobile.
Be sure to visit our website to learn more about Phoenix Mobile.
About KingsBridge
KingsBridge offers private businesses and government organizations a unique combination of industry knowledge and cost-effective disaster recovery / business continuity solutions. KingsBridge products and seminars provide the tools to assess possible threats and create tailored plans which mitigate risks and minimize losses in the event of a disruption to business. Kingsbridge is headquartered in Ogdensburg, New York, with offices in Ottawa, Canada and Burlington, Vermont. For more information visit us at www.DisasterRecovery.com.
Filed under: Knowledge, Software | Tags: business continuity, business continuity software, business disaster, disaster preparation, disaster recovery, disaster recovery software, DRJ Fall World, iPad, iPhone, iPhone Application, KingsBridge Disaster Recovery, Phoenix Mobile, Phoenix Mobile Enterprise, Phoenix Mobile iPhone App, Phoenix software
If you were at the DRJ Fall World show last week, you most likely saw a demo of our latest addition to the Phoenix software line. Once again, we’ve pushed the boundaries by delivering our industry-leading software to your iPad and iPhone.
We believe that Phoenix Mobile Enterprise will quickly become your “go to” business continuity and disaster recovery planning tool. By making our software available to you anywhere at anytime, we have bridged the gap between software and tool. Really, Phoenix Mobile Enterprise is your tool and answer to ensuring that your business is prepared and ready. Imagine the peace of mind of having your plan with you wherever and whenever.
But of course, we can appreciate that this is a big change for many of you. We are all slowly but surely realizing the power of our handy iPhones and iPads but it still might be a big leap to trust your business continuity and disaster recovery plans to a device that fits in your pocket or in your briefcase. No problem – we’ve got you covered!
Try us out first – download our free version of Phoenix Mobile. Yes – we are giving Phoenix Mobile away for free. Try out the tool and let us know what you like and don’t like. And when you’re convinced that this is the way to go, download Phoenix Mobile Enterprise.
Here are the facts on Phoenix Mobile:
- Teach Your Team: access information on detailed pre-formatted disaster scenarios.
- Contact Your Team: automatically sync with your address book.
- Find Your Team: in the event of a disaster, quickly and easily send out a Google Maps pin, letting the people in your address book know where you and your phone are.
In addition to these features, Phoenix Mobile Enterprise offers:
- The sample simple-to-use and intuitive interface
- Syncing of your plan to your iPhone/iPad
- Custom maps with directions to your hotsite
- Initiate your notifications to your mass notification from your iPhone/iPad
Teach, Connect, Find – all with Phoenix Mobile
Filed under: KingsBridge Train, Knowledge, Software | Tags: business continuity software, business disaster, Cross Vegas, cyclo-cross, disaster preparation, disaster recovery software, DRJ Fall World, Interbike, iPad, iPhone, iPhone Application, KingsBridge Disaster Recovery, London Reslience, National Preparedness Month, Nevada Cancer Institute, Phoenix Mobile, Phoenix software, plus 3 networks, vicki thomas
It seems that the everyday this summer there was another news report about a disaster – natural and not-so-natural. From bursting pipelines to hurricanes, each day we read and listened about people losing their homes, businesses, and the stress and chaos this creates.
Seems fitting then that President Obama declared September to be National Preparedness Month. Now we’ve written about National Preparedness Month before but it is worth emphasizing how important it is to get involved. As the declaration states, disasters and threats can come at any time and affect you everywhere – home and work. So do yourself a favor and visit:
- http://www.ready.gov/america/index.html - this site has excellent information for individuals and businesses
- http://citizencorps.gov/ – excellent resource to learn what you can do as an individual citizen
The American government is not the only institution who has made being prepared and protected as an nation-wide issue, the London Resilience Partnership has been created to prepare British citizens to be ready in the event of a disaster or threat. The London Resilience website: http://www.londonprepared.gov.uk/ is another excellent resource on why and how to be prepared.
All this points to the reality that you and I can’t hide from this anymore. We need to be protected and prepared. To this end, we at KingsBridge are doing our best to keep you up-to-date with the latest developments in the business continuity and disaster recovery planning space.
Next week we’ll be at the DRJ Fall World show in San Diego, California from Sept. 19 – 22. We’ll be showcasing our latest addition to the Phoenix line of software. This new addition to our industry-leading business continuity and disaster recovery planning software really will change the way you approach your plan development and management. The best thing you can do before stopping by booth #8 for a demo of our new software is to download Phoenix Mobile to your iPad or iPhone – use this free application – and be ready to give us some feedback. We want to know what you like and don’t like about our free business continuity and disaster recovery planning software.
After the DRJ Fall World show, we’re hitting the road and driving to Las Vegas. This trip is for a couple of very important reasons. You know about our involvement with the Nevada Cancer Institute and Plus 3 Networks – well, we like to see how the good works that our fundraising dollars are doing – so we’ll be making this a priority of our trip. As an extra bonus we’ll be taking in some cyclo-cross racing and the Interbike trade show as well. Our sponsored athlete, Vicki Thomas is racing at Cross Vegas so we’ll be out cheering her on and offering her race-day support.
All this to say, be sure to get yourself protected and prepared but remember to have some fun and get out there and soak up life!
Filed under: Knowledge, Software | Tags: business continuity, business continuity software, disaster recovery software, DRJ Fall World, education, Facebook, iPad, iPhone, iPhone Application, KingsBridge Disaster Recovery, LinkedIn, Phoenix Mobile iPhone App, Phoenix software, resources, San Diego, Twitter
It is trade show time for us here at KingsBridge. Next week we’ll be in San Diego at the DRJ Fall World show from Sept. 19 – 22. Hopefully you’ll be coming to the show and can stop by our booth to see the latest and greatest Phoenix software. (Not to mention enter our draw…)
But what if you can’t make it to DRJ Fall World, how else can you find out about what is happening in the business continuity and disaster recovery planning industry? Well, here are some options for you:
Business Associations:
- Business Continuity Institute (BCI): http://www.thebci.org/
- DRI: https://www.drii.org/
- Disaster Recovery Information Exchange (DRIE): http://www.drieottawa.org/index.php
Magazines:
- Disaster Recovery Journal: http://www.drj.com
- Continuity Insights: http://www.continuityinsights.com/articles
- Disaster Resource Guide: http://www.disaster-resource.com/
Online Resources:
- LinkedIn: Business Continuity Management for SMBs
- Facebook: KingsBridge
- London Resilience
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/kingsbridgedr
- Ready America
Trade Shows:
- Disaster Recovery Journal conferences are held twice a year, March in Orlando at Disney and September in San Diego: http://www.drj.com
- Continuity Insights, Contingency Planning & Management: http://contingencyplanning.com/Events/Contingency-Planning-East-2010/Home.aspx
Of course, what we really want is for you to make our blog your one-stop resource for all things business continuity and disaster recovery planning. If there are topics you’d like us to cover or you have questions – feel free to post them in the comments. Our whiz-bang team will make sure your questions and comments are taken care of.
P.S. don’t forget to visit our website to learn about our industry-leading software, consulting services, and to read our latest whitepapers.
Filed under: Knowledge | Tags: business continuity, business continuity software, disaster recovery software, DRJ Fall World, iPad, iPhone, iPhone Application, KingsBridge Disaster Recovery, Phoenix Mobile iPhone App, Phoenix software, plus 3 networks, vicki thomas
In between creating a new iPhone/iPad application of Phoenix Mobile and delivering industry-leading consulting services, we like to get out and stretch our legs a bit. We like to get out and talk to potential customers and hear from you exactly what your questions and concerns are with disaster recovery and business continuity planning.
This is why we’ll be at DRJ Fall World from Sept. 19 – 22 in San Diego. We’ll be in booth 8 right next to the main entrance. Our big red, white and black booth will be hard to miss.
Stop by to try out our new Phoenix Mobile software for the iPhone and iPad. Tell us what you think of this free application and get your name entered in a draw for an iPad.
Get a demo of our upcoming software release. Can’t tell you what it is here – you’ll have to stop by and ask Jason for a demo.
As you know we are big supporter of the Nevada Cancer Institute and fundraise for this leading-edge research and healthcare institution via Plus 3 Networks. So it only makes sense that we tie our booth give aways to cancer research and protection. Visit the booth and pick-up your complimentary sunscreen and lip balm – get protected and prepared for the hot sunny days in San Diego!
Our booth will be full of our disaster recovery and business continuity experts. Don’t be shy – come on over and ask us any question you want. Believe us, we’ve heard it all – so ask away. Or maybe you just want a break from the conference – stop by for a chat – we like to talk as well! Vicki (remember her from DRJ Spring World?) will be in the booth – so if you want an update on her cyclo-cross racing and check out her race bike, do this as well.
Really, the KingsBridge booth at DRJ Fall World is your one-stop shop. Learn about Phoenix Mobile. Enter you name in a draw for an iPad. Get protected from the sun. See our latest and upcoming product offering. Hang out and talk with the cool KingsBridge guys and gals. What more can you want from a trade show booth?
Filed under: Knowledge | Tags: business continuity, business continuity software, business disaster, business impact analysis, Continuity of Operations, disaster, disaster preparation, disaster recovery, disaster recovery software, iPad, iPhone, KingsBridge Disaster Recovery, National Preparedness Month, national security, Phoenix Mobile iPhone App, Phoenix software
On August, 27, President Obama declared that September is National Preparedness Month. In this proclamation, President Obama stated “we stress the importance of strengthening the security and resiliency of our Nation through systematic preparation for the full range of hazards threatening the United States in the 21st century, including natural disasters, cyber attacks, pandemic disease, and acts of terrorism. “
At first glance as a business owner you most likely see the relevancy and immediacy of the situation. Being aware of the need for your business to be prepared in times of disasters and threats such as terrorism attacks, natural disasters, and the like has become a necessity rather than a “nice-to-have”. So as you read about National Preparedness Month, you might be wondering – okay, well I’m already prepared:
- I’ve done my due diligence with a Threat Risk Analysis
- I know what the biggest risks to my business are thanks to the Business Impact Analysis
- thanks to the knowledge of industry-leading consultants and disaster recovery/business continuity experts I have a plan
- all of my employees are on board with the plan and we’ve thoroughly tested it
- I even have a free iPhone/iPad application, Phoenix Mobile, that lets me be protected wherever I am
All this leads to the question – why should you care about National Preparedness Month? Well, the simple answer is – look around you. Your business is protected – but what about your home? How about the business down the street? What about your suppliers? Have you thought to ask your customers if they’re ready to face a disaster or threat?
Exactly, being protected in times of disaster and emergency, goes beyond your office and employees. We need to focus on getting everyone on board with disaster recovery and business continuity. Remember threats and disasters don’t have to be large to be a problem. A leak in the water system at your child’s school, a school bus that gets lost or is late on the way home from school, your home WiFi network goes down and you can’t stay in touch with your family members, or what if your biggest client experiences a flood. These are all things that can and will ultimately affect your bottom line and more importantly the quality of your life.
So what can you do to get others on board with National Preparedness Month? First of all, visit the two websites referenced in President Obama’s proclamation:
- http://www.ready.gov/america/index.html – this site has excellent information for individuals and businesses
- http://citizencorps.gov/ – excellent resource to learn what you can do as an individual citizen
The next thing you can do, is poke around this blog - we’ve done our best to explain to you what the impacts of not being prepared are. Read about our experiences – both professional and personal and how we at KingsBridge are ensuring that we’re ready to face disasters and threats head on.
Finally, spread the word. Forward this post to your colleagues, your partners, your competitors, your family members, your neighbors. Work together to truly get America protected. There is a hurricane broiling off the East Coast right now – think of all those people who aren’t ready at home or at work… Really, it is up to us to embrace this proclamation and do what we can to be prepared.
If it’s happened once – it can happen again….
