MSPAlliance and Agility Recovery Partner to Offer Unique Disaster Planning Resources
April 30, 2009
Largest professional association for IT managed services providers to add ground-breaking disaster recovery solution to accreditation and education programs.
The International Association of Managed Service Providers (MSPAlliance - www.mspalliance.com) and Agility Recovery Solutions today announced a ground-breaking partnership to help organizations to prepare for and recover from disasters and unplanned interruptions. The relationship will also strengthen the only international accreditation program for information technology (IT) managed service providers.
The MSPAlliance-Agility relationship combines the technical and data recovery aspects of disaster recovery planning with one of the most commonly overlooked pieces of business continuity – people recovery.
MSPAlliance is the world’s largest professional association and accrediting body for the IT managed services industry. MSPAlliance members build and maintain technical infrastructures for organizations from small and mid-sized businesses to companies in the Fortune 500.
Agility Recovery is one of North America’s leading disaster recovery organizations, with a particular expertise with small and medium-sized businesses.
“The term ‘data recovery’ is too often used in place of ‘disaster recovery,’ and vice versa,” said Charles Weaver, co-founder and president of the MSPAlliance. “Both are vital for the future of organizations, no matter their geographical location.
“The members of the MSPAlliance are experts in building and maintaining an organization’s IT infrastructure and streamlining technical functions. Utilizing Agility’s knowledge and experience in disaster preparedness and recovery, we will offer better educational opportunities for our members and teach them to help their clients prepare potential interruptions.”
“Ninety percent of organizations have very good data backup plans, but only 25 percent are prepared to recover their people following a disaster,” said Bob Boyd, president and CEO of Agility Recovery. “We view people recovery as a function as critical as data recovery, especially after an interruption.
“Where will your company operate when the office isn’t accessible? What will your people do when it’s impossible to travel to another location, such as after Sept. 11, 2001? How will you get technology up-and-running at a temporary location? These are questions we ask companies every day. Having actionable and comprehensive data recovery, disaster recovery and business continuity plans will mitigate the risk of not being operational after an interruption.”
MSPAlliance and Agility will work together to educate MSPAlliance members on the disaster recovery planning process and how to implement effective programs with virtually every type of business. In addition, MSPAlliance will add significant disaster recovery and business continuity content as part of an enhanced accreditation process.
The MSPAlliance Managed Services Accreditation Program (MSAP) is the only best practices and standards-based program specifically created for the managed services industry. Members who earn accreditation adhere to a strict code of ethics and consumer bill of rights, which significantly benefits their clients and end users.
The MSAP is the managed services industry’s only benchmark-based program, measuring specific criteria, such as financial status, business practices, client references, service delivery processes and more.
Greg Donovan, CEO of Alpheon Corporation, a managed service provider, serves as chair of the MSPAlliance board of advisors.
“Disaster preparedness is critical,” said Donovan. “Cities, schools, business of all shapes and sizes, and more have disaster recovery programs in place. And data is a large piece of these programs. In order to grow our profession, we need to be better prepared and educated to offer full-circle advice on continuity program planning. The MSPAlliance’s relationship with Agility is the first step in this critical area.”
About MSP Alliance
The MSPAlliance is the world’s largest professional association and accrediting body for the managed services industry. As such, the organization ensures that each of its members adhere to a strict code of ethics, which means a great deal to the IT Business Consumer.
The MSPAlliance is made up of over 8,000 providers’ world-wide, working together in a vendor-neutral manner to define and promote the managed services industry.
For nearly 10 years, the MSPAlliance has been the only unified voice for the managed services industry, and the only organization that promotes the highest level of professionalism, reliability and integrity.
About Agility Recovery Solutions
Agility Recovery Solutions is a former division of GE with 20 years of disaster recovery and business continuity experience. Agility helps businesses restore their operations and recover their people after a business interruption. The company’s turn-key, packaged recovery solutions are available to businesses across North America. Visit www.AgilityRecovery.com for more information.
