IBM, Cisco Unveil Emergency Data Center Service

IBM'sIBM computer servers might not be your first thought after experiencing a devastating hurricane or terrorist attack.

But the company sees an opportunity in providing businesses with emergency response service in the immediate aftermath of disasters, both natural and man-made.

In partnership with CiscoCSCO, IBM is introducing its so-called management services for crisis response, a sort of data-center SWAT team that offers everything from suitcase-sized "tactical communications kits" to a six-wheel truck loaded with computer hardware and networking gear.

The companies plan to announce the service, to be offered as part of IBM's business continuity and resiliency services, at a government technology conference in Washington on Tuesday.

Traditionally, the two companies say, businesses have been forced to integrate various products and components in the wake of a disaster. Using wireless technology and off-the-shelf hardware, IBM and Cisco have preconfigured special packages, which promise to quickly restore a client's network communications and business operations.

In a somewhat grim pitch, the two companies boast that they have combined experience in more than 70 "major worldwide catastrophic events" in 49 different countries.

"Businesses and governments operating in today's environment require capabilities across all three phases of a crisis: readiness, response and recovery," said Philippe Jarre, vice president of business continuity and resiliency services at IBM.

"This exciting new partnership with Cisco represents the state-of-the-art approach in helping our clients protect and improve their business operations by providing the industry's only true end-to-end crisis response solution," Jarre said.