VITA Offers New Service for Continuity of Operations Plans

The Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) recently announced a new service for state agencies and institutions of higher education to assist with the development, testing and maintenance of continuity of operations plans (COOP). VITA worked with the Virginia Information Providers Network (VIPNet) to acquire an optional enterprise solution from COOP Consulting that could help agencies and institutions meet planning deadlines at significantly reduced rates.

On September 30, 2003, agencies and institutions received a memo from the Gov. Mark Warner's office that provided guidance for strengthening homeland security and the commonwealth's responses to disasters. The memo calls for:

o Undertaking a renewed COOP planning process that produces detailed agency plans for disaster recovery, incident response and occupant emergency response.

o Certification to the governor in writing by June 1, 2004, that organizations have developed, tested and are maintaining COOP plans.

VITA has acquired an optional enterprisewide licensing agreement with COOP Consulting to provide myCOOP continuity planning software tools at a significantly reduced rate. The agreement covers licensing for myCOOP software, which includes a complete package of templates and a range of training options.

VITA will also broker the services of consulting firms to provide for development of continuity plans. This group includes: BearingPoint, AMS, CACI, Unisys and Northrop Grumman.