System Down Again? You’ve Got Company

By KAREY WUTKOWSKI

Staff Reporter

Almost three-fourths of Los Angeles businesses reported that their computer systems went down at least once in the past year.

Of those crashes, 36 percent were caused by security breaches from hackers or computer viruses and 44 percent were caused by power outages, according to a study prepared for SunGard Availability Services by Harris Interactive.

The survey, which was conducted in February and March, found that executives in Los Angeles gave their companies an average grade of B- when rating information availability in times of crisis. About 52 percent said the issue is discussed not very often or not at all at the executive level.

Bob Barberie, vice president of Olympic Insurance Agency in Burbank, said the company has mostly avoided major computer problems by “fluke luck.”

But he said the company takes the issue seriously and has backup systems in place, as well as surge protectors. The company has also established external firewalls for e-mail protection, and uses spam blockers.

“We can’t afford to have our computers be down,” Barberie said. “Being on computers is what we do. We’re insurance brokers. A virus would really devastate us.”

In studying computer preparedness nationally, SunGard, a computer recovery consulting firm based in Wayne, Pa., found that 60 percent of companies said they plan to increase their spending to ensure access to critical systems. About 44 percent of Los Angeles companies said the same.