CIT is pleased to announce that Comdisco Continuity Services has received a contract to provide an alternate (off-site) computer facility for critical applications on the NIH Computer Center’s MVS North and South systems beginning October 1, 1998 (fiscal year 1999). This contract for disaster recovery services replaces the previous contract, which expired at the end of fiscal year 1998.

The NIH Computer Center’s disaster recovery service is designed to minimize the effect that a disaster has on the Computer Center’s operations and services. In the event of a disaster, CIT staff will restore the resources necessary to support critical applications—those previously identified as such by customers—that must be available without significant interruptions. If the disaster is extended, and if resources are available, non-critical applications will be restored at the alternate site once critical application issues are resolved.

Next Hot-Site Test Coming in January

As part of the disaster recovery service, the CIT periodically conducts tests at the off-site computer facility. Our new agreement pro-vides for two hot-site tests each year at one of Comdisco’s hot-site facilities. These facilities are also available to us for remote recovery in the event of a disaster. The tests are con-trolled by CIT staff from a Comdisco business recovery office in Columbia, Maryland. Hot-site tests are used to evaluate overall Computer Center and customer readiness to react in an actual disaster, as well as to help keep everyone’s disaster plans current.

Our next hot-site test is scheduled for January 22, 1999. If you are interested, contact the NIH Disaster Recovery Manager, Mary Boehly, at (301) 496-5826 for more information on the disaster recovery services.

Interface 208 - December 15, 1998