Continuity of Operations: People, Collaboration and Creativity North Carolina Digital Government Summit Todd Nicolet September 2, 2009

Session Goals Help you participate in leadership related to COOP –Review lexicon and key concepts –Your role Explore strategies for providing COOP –Scope –Non-technology needs –Collaborations and partnerships

What Are We Planning For?

The Formal Plan Key Resource: FEMA –Tools –Sample Plans –Self-paced Trainings

The Formal Plan Essential Functions –What must be done to sustain continued operations –Focus on essential –Must know the primary purpose(s) of your entity

The Formal Plan Delegations of Authority –Who can act on behalf of an agency –Who has authority to do what

The Formal Plan Succession Planning –Who is in charge –Who is in charge after that –Who is in charge next –And after that…

The Formal Plan Alternate Facilities –Where will you perform the essential functions –What other options are available

The Formal Plan Interoperable Communications –How will people communicate –How will you access data/systems (This is where IT is often brought in.)

The Formal Plan Devolution –“Fail over” to another entity Reconstitution –Returning to normal operations

Controlling the Scope COOP is just a project plan Scope is half the battle Know which disasters/events Define the extent of disaster/events Scope controls effort/cost

The Technology Trap Finding the right tool to solve the problem Vs. Finding the right process to solve the problem Then finding the right technology to serve the process

Knowledge Continuity How is the “event” of retirements like more traditional COOP? Should it be integrated with disaster/pandemic planning?

The IT Role in COOP Spotting risks Active communication with or participation in leadership team Identify and lead collaborations Identifying and implementing technical solutions Focus on information – we are stewards of information

The Formal Plan Is it needed? How many plans? Who develops it? Who is involved in planning and decision- making? What do you do if no formal plan is needed?

Collaborations/Partnerships Examples

Collaborations/Partnerships Recommended practices –Establish why all parties want to partner –Somebody needs to take lead –Get it all in writing

Collaborations/Partnerships Models to Consider –Joint contract with external vendor –One unit acting as "vendor" partner –Multiple units providing technical support

Questions / Discussion