Enterprise Security and Business Continuity

(ESBC) - Ensuring data and information is secure and ongoing corporate continuity

CGIAR centers have accumulated a wealth of data over several decades of research. The application of this research has resulted in unprecedented improvements to the livelihoods of agricultural workers and the poor in developing countries. This data is fundamental to the ongoing research of the CGIAR and its many partners around the world. Yet the CGIAR is vulnerable to severe loss of this incalculable resource due to natural disasters, civil unrest, and other calamities. In many cases, Centers have not fully taken appropriate and adequate steps to protect this global public good from loss. Indeed, there is a need to improve the understanding of the risks, and the means to mitigate them.

Similarly, even when data is properly backed up off-site, there are often inadequate planning and procedures in place to ensure that Centers can be up and running, with access to its key information stores, in reasonable timeframes. Such operational shortcomings apply as much to the financial and other management systems of the CGIAR as they do to the ability to continue with research activities.

Objectives/Outcomes

This project will address the problem directly, by: developing methodologies and best practices to ensure an adequate level of resilience, holding regional workshops to train key participants in the why and how of disaster preparedness, implementing some measure of information technology business continuity in at least six CGIAR centers, and publishing guidelines, best practices, forms and templates, and lessons learned from the implementations, for the benefit of all CGIAR Centers, and their partners.

Lead Administrative Center

IRRI

Project Coordinator

Paul O'Nolan (until December 2006)

Project Status

Thorough evaluation of project activities to date requested and to be overseen by Program. New ES plan, led by CIP, developed for Americas region and submitted; awaiting approval upon finalization of report and compilation of lessons learned.

For More Information

Contact us at ictkm@cgiar.org