18 November 2010 - Address by RADM(NS) Ronnie Tay, Chief Executive Officer, Infocomm Development Authority, at the Opening Ceremony of NCS Bedok Data Centre for Business Continuity
Address by RADM(NS) Ronnie Tay, Chief Executive Officer, Infocomm Development Authority, at the Opening Ceremony of NCS Bedok Data Centre for Business Continuity on 18 November 2010, 12:10 pm.
Mr Chia Wee Boon, CEO of NCS,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good Afternoon
Introduction
1. On behalf of the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore, I would like to congratulate NCS for opening this new expanded data centre, one of the largest Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery facilities in Singapore. The launch of NCS' Data Centre is timely, contributing to the growth of Singapore as a Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (or BCDR for short) Centre for the region.
Singapore - The World's Trusted Infocomm Hub
2. As early as 2004, IDA, together with the industry represented by the Singapore IT Standards Committee established the world's first standard for BCDR service providers, called SS:507. The Standard specifies stringent requirements that service providers must possess in order to provide a "trusted" operating environment.
3. Since the publication of SS507 in 2004, most of the major local ICT DR outsourced service providers have been certified to this standard. In January 2008, SS507:2004 went international. By contributing SS507 as a base document, this Singapore Standard has constituted a major part of the International Standard ISO/IEC 24762 Guidelines for ICT DR Services which was published in January 2008.
4. IDA is also taking a lead in ensuring a secured national infocomm infrastructure, including the setting up of a cyber-watch centre for the government sector, and working with ISPs to fortify their infrastructure against cyber threats. Under the umbrella of the Infocomm Security Masterplan 2, we have put in place the ISO27001 Certification Grant Scheme, to raise awareness of ISO27001 and encourage its adoption among organisations. For those not too familiar with the standard, ISO 27001 is an internationally recognised, auditable, information security management standard, that defines a top-down, business driven, and risk-based framework for organisations to develop their information security management systems.
5. I am pleased to note that NCS' Data Centres comply fully with both ISO27001 and SS507 standards, and that NCS has also heeded the call for 'smarter' and more sustainable ICT solutions, by putting in place green initiatives to help reduce energy consumption in this Bedok Data Centre.
6. The thrust towards greener data centres is aligned to IDA's efforts in partnering other government agencies and industry to develop a Singapore Standard for Green Data Centres. A Green DC Standards Working Group under the industry-led ITSC has been leading this effort. This standard aims to provide a common reference for DCs to go green, spell out the necessary systems and processes for DCs to improve energy efficiency and achieve continual improvement in their facilities as well as recommend metrics and best practices for DC efficiency. The draft standard was put up for public consultation in August and closed last month. We are studying the feedback given by the industry and expect to publish the standard early next year.
A Sustainable Ecosystem
7. Skilled and competent manpower is a necessary ingredient in the eco-system of players that can support the business community in the BC/DR sector. In July this year, the Singapore Computer Society (SCS), with support from IDA, launched a certification programme for IT business continuity managers - another first in the world effort to support the infocomm industry.
8. The Certification in IT Business Management (CITBCM) ensures that professionals will be equipped to handle various aspects of IT business continuity management, including disaster recovery planning. Research from the Business Continuity Index conducted in 2009 indicated that 95 per cent of the IT departments within the companies are key decision makers for business continuity and recovery issues. Hence it is important for IT professionals to understand the issues related to business continuity and data centre operations.
9. The BCDR activities that I have outlined above and the efforts by NCS to expand its scope and availability of Data Centre and BC/DR capabilities, underscore the importance of having a BCDR strategy within each company.
10. I congratulate NCS for its effort in the BC/DR space and on the opening of the NCS Data Centre this morning.
11. Thank you.
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