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AT&T Study: 70 Percent of Detroit Companies Investing in New Technology in 2009


WEBWIRE

Despite Lower Budgets, Motor City Executives Investing in Business Continuity Planning, Addressing Potential Mobile and Social Networking Threats.

Despite the current global economy and restructuring auto markets, 70 percent of Detroit companies are investing in new technology in 2009, the highest of all markets surveyed in AT&T’s* annual study of business continuity planning in the private sector. More than half of Detroit companies are doing so in the face of smaller IT budgets than previous years.

Eight out of 10 (82%) Detroit businesses surveyed have a business continuity plan in place, a 12 percent increase from three years ago, and are most likely of markets surveyed to require the same of suppliers and vendors (42%, compared to 35% nationally). Seen as a priority for 64 percent, 54 percent of Detroit companies tested their plans in the last year, 37 percent of which completed testing at all locations worldwide.

With emerging technology come new potential business security threats. Three out of four Detroit executives expressed concern this year about business security threats from the increasing use of mobile devices and social networking platforms by employees. More than half (55%) of the companies surveyed provide employees with access to social networking tools. Another 71 percent of businesses noted that wireless network capabilities are now a portion of their continuity plans.

To maintain operations and communications during a man-made or natural disaster, 81 percent of Detroit executives have established special arrangements for executives and employees, including:

* 85 percent have e-mail or test messaging capabilities to reach employees
* 80 percent have systems that allow employees to work remotely
* 40 percent have automated calling systems to reach employees

For more than a third of those companies studied, these plans have withstood the test of an actual disaster such as power outages (18%) and extreme weather (11%).

“Detroit’s executives recognize the potential communication power – and inherent security risks – in today’s growing mobile and social networking capabilities, and are taking the right steps to protect their business and customers,” said Jerry Gerami, regional vice president, AT&T Business Solutions. “As one of America’s industrial hubs, Detroit’s local business community now more than ever is committed to securing and expanding its operations and economy. It’s this commitment, and Detroit’s spirit of innovation, that ensures greater possibilities for businesses and communities tomorrow.”

AT&T brings its own business continuity and disaster recovery expertise in running and managing some of the world’s largest and most complex networks — including its own — to businesses worldwide. AT&T offers multiple business continuity services that provide enterprises with disaster planning, business-impact analysis, risk assessments, and storage, network and IT security solutions.

For more information on the AT&T 2009 Business Continuity Study including the complete research results, visit www.att.com/businesscontinuity-news.

Study Methodology
The following results are based on an online survey of 100 Information Technology (IT) executives in the Detroit metropolitan areas. The study was conducted by e-Rewards Market Research with companies having total revenues of more than $25 million in the Detroit DMA (Designated Market Area). Surveys in Detroit were obtained between February 9 and February 14, 2009.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.



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