IT has now reached 'utility' status everywhere, at least from
an expectation standpoint. Just as the utility of electricity is
required to power our lights and equipment, and oil or gas
insures our heat in the winter, a firms network infrastructure
MUST be always in place to maintain its Internet access,
computerization, phone system and a host of other missioncritical
application.
Contrary to days passed, companies can no longer function
without these. Their customers, employees and vendors expect
our business networks to be fully functional, expeditious, security
protected and accessible around the clock.
This book addresses the implications of failing to insure that
all your IT functions are 'utility-status,' and tells non-technical
executives what needs to be done from a managerial perspective to
achieve true utility status, as well as how to pro-actively monitor
such functions to make sudden catastrophes a thing of the past. The
book will provide case studies of companies who have lost money
and business because they failed to heed this message
1 The Problem 7
2 The Solution 21
3 The Test 35
4 IT Staff 39
5 Build Trust Outside of Your Company 49
6 Physical Environment 63
7 Backbone Network Infrastructure 75
8 Server/PC and Peripheral Infrastructure 91
9 Security Infrastructure 107
10 How's UGN Today? 125
11 Final Thoughts on UGN and His Future 137
App. A Assessing the Test 143
App. B Glossary of Terms 145
Index 153