NYS Forum Business Continuity Work Group Meeting

Date: Held : October 21, 2009 @ 2:00 PM
CGI offices, Corporate Woods, Albany
From: Mark Spreitzer
Co-Chairs in attendance: Mark Spreitzer, David DeMatteo, Kenneth Mason

Discussion Topic

Introductions

Agencies represented:
NYS Tax and Finance - Shelly Brosen
NYS DoS - Steve Conant
NYS SEMO - David DeMatteo
IP Logic - Scott Eliot
NYSED - Ken Mason
DHCR - Rich Siek
NYS OFT - Benita Sokolowski
DHCR - Dave Dietrich
State Comptroller - Chad Erickson
TW Telecom - Kristin Hoblock
IP Logic - Scott Elliott

Table go-around, with updates on BC-related activities

During introductions, attendees reported on business continuity and DR related activities at their agencies.

  • OFT started exercise preparation following HSEEP guidelines. OFT is scaling exercise and awareness seminars.
  • DoS is working through implementation of the plan built by a third party.
  • Tax and Finance mentioned that they were able to proceed with their September exercise of restoring Mainframe and UNIX systems at SunGard.
  • TW Telecom mentioned that they were building a co-location solution with NYCServ
  • State Comptroller?s office is working on an intranet page and focusing their efforts on H1N1 planning.
  • DHCR is working through the development is their COOP plans and deputies discussions.
  • SEMO is working on a series of education programs with FEMA to package communications programs for state agencies. Current focus includes a multistate regional disaster planning effort that addresses cross border sharing. Plans are based on the NFPA 1600 foundation
  • Housing has a November exercise coming up with OFT on mainframe recovery

NYS Forum BCP Training Initiative

Inquiry made if the agencies would be able to send resources to a three-day class on business continuity based on the DRII principles. Sponsorship levels indicate the agencies would need to pay approximately $500 per resource to attend the class. Current State budget conditions are a concern. Opportunity to provide feedback or ask questions pertaining to the results of the strategic planning discussion.

Members discussed the priority items from the strategic planning session and established a reorder of priorities for the year

  • Training
    • Deliver an independent auditors panel presenting audit requirement and operational needs
    • Panel - MOU Sessions: Facilities and Space needs and Hosting and Co-Location (IT and Personnel)
    • Workgroup session - Alternate work arrangements: Telecommuting, split shifts, evaluation, impacts (Pandemic and BC)
    • Continue to pursue a Business Continuity Training Initiative for State and Local agency BC practitioners.
    • Schedule a Lessons Learned Information sharing database discussion with FEMA (After Action Review reports, how to post and limit access)
    • Schedule a panel discussion on the opportunities of utilizing virtualization to help enable faster and lower cost recovery options.
    • 3-day BCP session focused on ?how to? sponsored by The Forum
    • Foster internal awareness and collaboration between unit plans, audit, records management, business and IT
    • Work Group sessions using SEMO templates for agency planning purposes
  • Conference
    • Deliver a BCP session with the Small/Medium/Local Government Work Group
    • Plan for a day-long conference for State agency personnel on emergency planning and business continuity
  • Policy
    • Develop a partnership with NYS SEMO and NYS OHS to improve information exchange and knowledge sharing among agencies that are not part of the Disaster Preparedness Commission

Action Items

Action Item
Schedule H1N1 discussion planning for November BC Work Group meeting
Post updated priority items and update Welcome Letter
Follow-up with Karen Pratt, Public Sector Co-Chair for the Small/Medium/Local Agency work group regarding what that work group is looking for in the way of support requested at the June strategic planning session
Owner
Mark Spreitzer
Mark Spreitzer
Scott Elliott
Due Date
November 18
November 18
November 4

Next Meeting: November 18, 2009 2:00 to 4:00 at CGI offices in Corporate Woods

Additional Documents of Reference

NYS Forum BC Work Group list of priorities