OFFSITE BACKUP LOCATIONS - Yes, there's the net or the network or the cloud or the fog. But if data is pushed somewhere, is it being pushed only down the street where the same flood that hits you hits the data center? And if the data center is across the country or world, how much data creeps across the connection how slowly?
POWER CONDITIONING - Power is certainly a consideration when a blackout removes it. But when power is available, it could be "dirty", fluctuating in damaging patterns and amounts.
PHYSICAL PLANT ISSUES - How's the electricity situation at your site or data center? Is there a generator or secondary source? What about physical security, like the condition of the doors, gates, windows? How about the architecture and condition? What if the roof comes off? Does the place normally leak during heavy rain? (One might stop by sites during inclement weather for inspections).
LOCAL EQUIPMENT - Think about flashlights, flashlight batteries, first aid and storm kits, tools, etc. that might be good to stash around the workplace.
ALARM FAILURE - If power fails or a falling tree physically damages some asset, what's the backup plan? Email or text message communication generated by software will be problematic if the host machine itself can't operate. And is there a secondary plan for the phone contact tree?
GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS - Even if you have an old-style pulse phone in the place (they still work in storms due to their internal magneto), an old-style answering machine still needs AC power to work. And if it's a newer desk phone, it needs AC itself. Does everybody have chargers for their cell phones? Preferably in their cars?
STORED FUELS - As well as diesel or gasoline for the generator, are other fuels needed? Bottled gases or lubricants?
EMP - I don't expect nuclear attack, but other causes of electromagnetic problems are likely, such as sunspot activity or detonation of a transformer on top of a nearby telephone pole. As unlikely as it would be for most assets to need to have Faraday cage protection, some might benefit from that. Most, though, could be protected with less complex or expensive isolation or shielding.
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COMING ATTRACTIONS: As soon as I can, I'll get to some projects on which to report, such as recent looks at nMap, CrunchBang Linux and TRK's latest version.
