President’s Message

Where’s The Magic Answer?    by Jack Boyles, ACP President 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was a magic answer for everything, especially in the areas of Business Continuity?  Sometimes I wonder if there is a magic answer for the perfect BC/DR software planning tool, the perfect configuration of a redundant data center, the perfect skill set in a recovery team, the perfect amount of executive commitment, and the perfect BC/DR budget amount approved.  There isn’t a magic answer for those things.  We create or develop those answers through hard work, research, and diligence.  Even if our approach to developing a Business Continuity Program is somewhat standardized, there is no cookie cutter solution, because each company or organization is unique.  We analyze what is needed and then make the magic happen.  We ARE the magic in those answers.  Without us, the drivers, our companies and organizations would stumble along with probably the minimum protection, hoping they never have to try and work through and then resume business operations after a large disruption.  In order for us to work our “magic” it does take knowledge, expertise, tools, industry contacts, and a desire to do all that is necessary to protect the organization.

Click here to read more…www.acpsd.org 

Ø        August 19th Chapter Meeting 

Business Continuity Programs: Keep it Clean and Simple! 

We are pleased to have Tom Stein, President of GreyHawk Enterprises and Associate

Professor for Embry Ridge Aeronautical University as our featured speaker at the August meeting. Tom will provide an atypical and interesting overview of the key facets of what

is required to have a successful and simple BCP life cycle, components, methodologies,

tools and how BCP should be incorporated into projects and programs.  Tom’s presentation

promises to be entertaining and thought provoking.

To Register for the August 19, 2008 chapter meeting:

Fax:  Rich Cooper at 951/341-5049 or Call:  Rich Cooper at 951/778-1166 or

Email:  ricooper@businessprotection.com

What we hope you didn’t miss!

Ø        July Chapter Meeting

Our July meeting was canceled due to technical problems with our outgoing email distribution lists and online registration process.  We are still resolving these problems and apologize for any inconvenience.

Ø        June 3^rd Annual Community Preparedness Workshop!

We’re celebrating the success of one of our most popular and well attended events - Our 3^rd Annual Preparedness Workshop, which featured multiple tracks and multiple sessions, covering a range of topics.  If you were unable to join us, we’ll soon have the presentations from the workshop sessions posted on our website.

Ø      May Chapter Meeting: A Professional Organizations Roadshow

Ever wonder about other local professional organizations with interests related to or complementary with business continuity, disaster recovery, risk mitigation and resilient operations?  If so, then come on down to the road show on Tuesday, May 20th.  Find out about other groups that you or others in your company should be a part of to help make your business as prepared as it can be.

A list of ACP partners can be found by clicking on Partner link on our website.

September is National Preparedness Month

Have you registered your cell phone to receive information during an emergency?  Read this article to learn how…

New Sponsors

ACP San Diego is Proud to Announce Two New Chapter Sponsors!

http://www.businessprotection.com/

http://www.readyamerica.com/

Education & Seminars

In The Profession

Current trends in BCP  

            by Greg Livingston, ACP Director of Education & Seminars 

I regularly travel all around our great country. When asked “What do you do?” I no longer get the puzzled looks when I try to simply explain that I am a business continuity professional practitioner.  Recent events like natural disasters, information security breaches, and of course the latest health scare, Salmonella, bird flu, etc., have heightened people’s awareness toward business resilience. 

Inside our industry, we are seeing a convergence of BCP, information security, and Enterprise Risk Management.  This is being fostered by a myriad of existing and new regulations: FFIEC, NASD, NAIC, NYSE, SOX, HIPPA, FDA, etc.  In addition to the regulations, there are new standards around governance and controls.

So what is happening? BS25999 is the latest BC standard which provides a systematic methodology for how BC programs can certify.  No longer can you just get a BC assessment, but now need a certification with assurances around that certification. This process is going to take some time to iron out as there is considerable liability to “certifying” a business continuity program.

One would expect the United States to follow the UK’s lead and establish stricter requirements for non-regulated industries just as they have with regulated industries. 

So what’s hot right now?

Click here to read more…www.acpsd.org

Quote of the Month

"A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow”

General George S. Patton

Job Postings

Employers, please review ACP International’s policy prior to submitting to Job Postings.  For  more information on these jobs, please visit our website…ACP San Diego Job Postings 

Insurance Company of the West 

Position:        DR Coordinator (posted June 2008) 

Department:   Infrastructure & Operations

 PURPOSE OF THE JOB

To serve as the key IT person for all Disaster Recovery activities.  Coordinate development of advance arrangements and procedures at recovery location(s) to ensure an effective response to a disaster so that critical business functions can be resumed within defined time frames (RTO’s & RPO’s).  Ensure all phases of the recovery process are addressed, including initial and emergency response and the successful return to normal operations.  Formalize, standardize and develop Disaster Recovery plans and procedures for the Data Center. Conduct multiple exercises (e.g., tabletop, walkthrough and physical exercises) throughout the year to test and prepare for a real disaster in which the Production Data Center would need to recover.  Act as the liaison between IT and the Business Continuity team to ensure IT recovery strategies line up with Business Recovery strategies. 

Contact Brian McLaughlin at 858-350-2418 or bmclaughlin@icwgroup.com

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The Road to Success Starts Here!

Position:        Project Manager

Location:       Costa Mesa, CA

Job Type:      Full time

The Automobile Club of Southern California is seeking career-minded individuals for our Business Continuity Planner opportunity in Costa Mesa.  Applicants should be a seasoned project manager who can help advance the Auto Club’s Business Continuity Program and enhance its recovery capability.