The devastation created by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 left nearly 700 solo and small law firms in distress or destroyed. Not only were their offices in shambles, but important client data was at risk of being lost as power went out and computer systems failed.
As a result, West’s Managed Technology Services began a plan for data recovery for law firms in the event of natural disasters and catastrophes.
When Hurricane Gustav threatened the state of Louisiana, Todd Hauschildt, vice president, Managed Technology Services, went on high alert in Eagan, Minn.
“We have three customers in New Orleans that had to evacuate in preparation for Hurricane Gustav, and two in Houston who had to evacuate for Hurricane Ike” says Hauschildt. “We kept in constant contact with the key people from each firm as they scattered to different locations. While they were preparing for evacuation, it was our job to make sure their data was secure so they could continue to access their information from any other location with an Internet connection.”
The dependence on technology increases the importance for secure information. A firm’s entire data center, from their servers to billing systems to client files, can be lost if computer systems fail. “If the technology is down, the firm is out of business until it is up and running again,” says Hauschildt.
The Eagan data centers are staffed 24/7/365, with over 500 technology professionals available to assist with data recovery around the clock. Eagan’s geography, which has low exposure to natural disasters, keeps critical data safe from harm.
“We try to reduce the drama of the natural disaster,” says Hauschildt. “We prepare ahead of time so that when people do have to leave their homes and offices they can focus on their personal safety and know their data will be fully protected.”
Hauschildt discusses the importance of having a disaster recovery plan in a video posted here:
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