Describe HOW your organization ensures the availability of needed data and information for employees, SUPPLIERS and PARTNERS, and CUSTOMERS.

Within your response, include answers to the following questions:

Area 4.2a.  Data and Information Availability

(1) HOW do you make needed data and information available?

HOW do you make them accessible to employees, SUPPLIERS and PARTNERS, and CUSTOMERS, as appropriate?

(2) HOW do you ensure that hardware and software are RELIABLE, secure, and user friendly?

(3) HOW do you ensure the continued availability of data and information, including the availability of hardware and software systems, in the event of an emergency?

(4) HOW do you keep your data and information availability mechanisms, including your software and hardware systems, current with business needs and directions and with technological changes in your operating environment?

Notes:

N1. Data and information availability (4.2a) are of growing IMPORTANCE as the Internet, e-business, and e-commerce are used increasingly for business-to-business and business-to-consumer interactions and as intranets become more IMPORTANT as a major source of organization-wide communications.

N2. Data and information access (4.2a[1]) might be via electronic or other means.

For additional description of this Area, see 4.2 Information and Knowledge Management Description.

2005 Criteria Items: 1.1 - 1.2 - 2.1 - 2.2 - 3.1 - 3.2 - 4.1 - 4.2 - 5.1 - 5.2 - 5.3 - 6.1 - 6.2 - 7.1 - 7.2 - 7.3 - 7.4 - 7.5 - 7.6 - P.1 - P.2

Areas: 1.1a-1.1b-1.2a-1.2b-1.2c-2.1a-2.1b-2.2a-2.2b-3.1a-3.2a-3.2b-4.1a-4.1b-4.2a-4.2b-4.2c-5.1a-5.1b-5.1c-5.2a-5.2b-5.3a-5.3b-6.1a-6.2a-6.2b-7.1a-7.2a-7.3a-7.4a-7.5a-7.6a-P.1a-P.1b-P.2a-P.2b-P.2c