Encyclopedia of Computer Science and Technology

152 disaster planning and recoveryThe growth of the World Wide Web also poses problemsfor the visually impaired, since many Web pages relyon graphical buttons for navigation. Software plug-ins canprovide audio cues to help with screen navigation. WhileWeb browsers usually have some flexibility in setting thesize of displayed fonts, some newer features (such as cascadingstyle sheets) can remove control over font sizefrom the user.Because most computer systems today use graphicaluser interfaces, the failure to provide effective access may bedepriving blind and visually impaired persons of employmentopportunities. Meanwhile, the computer industry, educationalinstitutions, and workplaces face potential challenges underthe Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which requiresthat public and workplace facilities be made accessible tothe disabled. Some funding through the Technology-RelatedAssistance Act has been provided to states for promoting theuse of adaptive technology to improve accessibility.Further ReadingAdaptive Computer Products. Available online. URL: http://www.makoa.org/computers.htm. Accessed July 9, 2007.Better Living through Technology. Available online. URL: http://www.bltt.org/. Accessed July 9, 2007.Gnome [Linux]. Accessibility Project. Available online. URL:http://developer.gnome.org/projects/gap/. Accessed July 9,2007.Microsoft Accessibility. Available online. URL: http://www.microsoft.com/enable/default.aspx. Accessed July 9, 2007.Slatin, John M., and Sharron Rush. Maximum Accessibility: MakingYour Web Site More Usable for Everyone. Boston: Addison-Wesley Professional, 2003.Thatcher, Jim, et al. Web Accessibility: Web Standards and RegulatoryCompliance. New York: Springer, 2006.Vanderheiden, Gregg C. Making Software More Accessible for Peoplewith Disabilities. Collingdale, Penn.: Diane Pub. Co., 2004.disaster planning and recoveryMost businesses, government offices, or other organizationsare heavily dependent on having continuous access to theirdata and the hardware, network, and software necessary towork with it. Activities such as procurement (see supplychain management), inventory, order fulfillment, and customerlists are vital to day-to-day operations. Any disasterthat might disrupt these activities, whether natural (such asan earthquake or severe weather) or human-made (see computervirus and cyberterrorism), must be planned for.Such planning is often called “business continuity planning.”The most basic way to protect against data loss is tomaintain regular backups (see backup and archive systems).On-site backups can protect against hardware failure,and can consist of separate storage devices (see networkedstorage) or the use of redundant storage within the mainsystem itself (see raid). However, for protection against fireor other larger-scale disaster, it is also necessary to haveregular off-site backups, whether using a dedicated facilityor an online backup service.To protect against power failure or interruption, one ormore uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) can be used,and possibly a backup generator to deal with longer-termoutages. All equipment should also have surge protection toavoid damage from power fluctuations.Of course anything that can minimize the chance ofdisaster happening or the extent of its effects should also bepart of disaster planning. This can include structural reinforcement,physical security, firewalls and antivirus software,and fire alarms and suppression systems.Disaster PlanningDespite the best precautions, disasters will continue to happen.Organizations whose continued existence depends ontheir data and systems need to plan systematically how theyare going to respond to foreseeable risks, and how they aregoing to recover and resume operations. Planning for disastersinvolves the following general steps:• specify the potential costs and other impacts of loss ofdata or access• use that data to prioritize business functions or units• assess how well facilities are currently being protected• determine what additional hardware or services (suchas additional file servers, attached storage, or remotebackup) should be installed• develop a comprehensive recovery plan that specifiesprocedures for dealing with various types of disastersor extent of damage, and including immediateresponse, recovery or restoration of data, and resumptionof normal services• develop plans for communicating with customers,authorities, and the general public in the event of adisaster• specify the responsibilities of key personnel and providetraining in all procedures• arrange ahead of time for sources of supplies, additionalsupport staff, and so on• establish regular tests or drills to verify the effectivenessof the plan and to maintain the necessary skillsRecent natural disasters as well as the 9/11 terroristattacks have spurred many organizations to begin orenhance their disaster planning and recovery procedures.Further ReadingBenton, Dick. “Disaster Recovery: A Pragmatist’s Viewpoint.”Disaster Recovery Journal, Winter 2007, pp. 79–81. Availableonline. URL: http://www.drj.com/articles/win07/2001-16.pdf.Accessed September 13, 2007.Disaster Recovery Guide. Available online. URL: http://www.disasterrecovery-guide.com/.Accessed September 13, 2007.Disaster Recovery World: The Business Continuity Planning &Disaster Recovery Planning Directory. Available online. URL:http://www.disasterrecoveryworld.com/. Accessed September13, 2007.Snedaker, Susan. Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planningfor IT Professionals. Rockland, Md.: Syngress, 2007.Wallace, Michael. The Disaster Recovery Handbook: A Step-by-StepPlan to Ensure Business Continuity and Protect Vital Operations,Facilities, and Assets. New York: AMACOM, 2004.