Sterling's VCC allows command center participants to share information, make decisions, and deploy resources without the requirement to be physically present in the command center.
Using web-enabled software, the VCC allows participants to work from their office workstation, from home, or from the field, accessing and using information from a PC, wireless phone or PDA device.
Emergency plans and reports are available from any location. All information is maintained in a central database that is available to command center participants from anywhere in the world.
Security and High Availability
Sterling believes that the VCC must be a fully outsourced, high availability, web-hosted solution. ALl hardware and software used by the VCC must reside outside of any client facility and maintained by the vendor.
The VCC operation should not be dependent on any component of a client's network or computing infrastructure, its personnel or vendors such as Telecommunications or Internet Service Providers.
The VCC must be available to the client at all times with no down-time allowed for maintenance, relocation, or any other reason.
The VCC hardware and software must be maintained by the vendor in a protected, secure location with controlled access and full fail-over capability, including redundant hardware, software, power supply, and internet access. All the VCC components must be secured against intrusion and unauthorized access.
Sterling's VCC can be outsourced to the vendor of choice or through Sterling's current outsourcing vendor partners.
Business Continuity Planning (BCP)
The management of all Business Continuity Planning has become a 24x7 discipline across an organization. Senior managers have recognized that the very survival of the firm is at stake.
Sterling's VCC provides the tools and technology to build a world-class Command Center that reflects your commitment to your shareholders, employees and partners in the event of a disaster or any specific incident that the survival and continuity of your business is well planned and executable.
The diversification of risk is a long standing principle of business continuity planning. There must be a high level of confidence, through ongoing use or robust testing, that critical internal and external continutiy arrangments are effective and compatible. Sterling's VCC provides that solution.
The Dashboard provides an intuitive workspace for command, contro and communication via a standard web browser, giving the user access to reports, alerts, and tools such as news services, video and other information sources.
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Key Features
Risk Management requires the inclusion of the following features in the VCC:
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• Incident Tracking |
• Logging and Reporting |
• Auto Checklists/Plans |
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• Resource Management |
• Access to Plans |
• Central Command/Control |
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• Executive Briefings |
• Status Boards |
• Automated Journaling |
Reports are integrated into the Dashboard to provide a user with a single point of access. Through Sterlings's Metadata Navigator users can quickly find and review all information and definitions in Alerts, Distribution Lists, and other areas that are all documented in the business language you understand.
Wireless Access allows business users to access reports and recieve alerts via their cell phone, Palm Pilot or other PDA device. Sterling has pre-built formats suitable for wireless devices.
Sterling Professional Services is staffed by senior practicioners and technologists in Business Continuity Planning, Emergency Response, Disaster Recovery and Data Security. Existing plans can be reviewed and updated or totally rewritten. These professionals can prepare test scripts and monitor testing.
Using Sterling's Business Intelligence technology platform with customizable Dashboard, and real-time Alerts, domain expertise and a proprietary Deployment Methodology time-tested at major organizations, our Professional Services staff can impact value capture better, faster and more cost effectively than any other provider of this category.