Security and continuity continues to be one of the hottest issues facing enterprises. Globalization and advances in information technology present opportunities for enterprises in Asia/Pacific to expand their addressable markets and realize efficiencies by connecting electronically with trading partners. This increasingly distributed environment requires organizations to have always-on connectivity and requires an IT infrastructure that is available, secure, protected and reliable. Enterprises security perimeters are also becoming increasingly fluid, as they continue to connect electronically to more partners, who may have varying levels of IT security sophistication.

In addition to the risks from malware, CIOs have to deal with the increase in criminal activities and terrorism on the web; privacy violations, identity thefts, industrial theft and espionage. Enterprises also have to deal with regulatory compliance requirements, as more countries implement privacy and data protection rules.

A well thought out business continuity strategy is measured by both the technical response and the competence and capability of the management to deliver a business response. However, building a secure, reliable and resilient IT infrastructure is only one facet of business continuity. In addition to disaster recovery, risk management, and security elements, a well-defined business continuity strategy should also include components from facilities management, supply chain management, crisis management and communications, health and safety, quality management and knowledge management. This holistic approach ensures that the IT infrastructure can support a CIOs' timely response to a business incident.

Unfortunately, the recent IDC Continuum 2004 survey shows that despite the increased awareness of business continuity as a concept for the CIOs, the actual implementation in the region remains at a nascent stage. For example, disaster recovery solutions, an important aspect of business continuity, are yet to be accepted by Asian enterprises. Most enterprises in the region still take for granted the day-to-day running of communication networks and assume they are available 24 x 7, 365 days a year.

But where do you turn to for guidance on existing investments? Where do you get real advice on absolute priorities when considering future expenditure? What about dealing with budget cuts that are also continuing to impact security and continuity budgets?

This event is designed to help CIOs understand how you can capitalize on existing investments, extend the infrastructure you already have in place, and comprehend the real value of the investment you are making. Discover the difference between adequate security, that enables you to continue to grow, and total security, that could restrict innovation and growth!