Dubai Smart Government conducts feasibility study on Shared Disaster Recovery Site

UAE, November 25, 2013 - Dubai Smart Government (DSG) is conducting a feasibility study for a Shared Disaster Recovery Site (SDRS) among 31 Dubai government entities, in compliance with the recent Dubai Government Information Security Regulation for managing a secure government information security environment, ensure business continuity and contribute to the sustainable development of Dubai as a smart city.

The objectives of the feasibility study are to understand and evaluate the current capabilities and needs for SDRS among Dubai Government entities and identify pros and cons including implementation, location and operational costs of a Dubai Government Shared Disaster Recovery Site. The three month study has two phases: the first phase which began in September was to study the issue and gather information through site visits and workshops with government partners while the second phase expected to be completed by end November will come up with recommendations for the buy or build model of a Dubai Government Shared Disaster Recovery Site. These recommendations will include datacentre design, specification, space utilization, use of cloud and shared network infrastructure, ROI, alternative solutions for disaster recovery; with actual implementation of the site in the first quarter of 2014. 

H.E Ahmad Bin Humaidan, Director General of Dubai Smart Government and Chairman of Dubai Government's Information Security Committee, said: “This step comes in implementation of the decision issued by HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, on Dubai Government's information security, which is aimed at devising an integrated strategy that would lead to a unified policy for protecting the government's information and information systems and at providing a reliable environment for storing and recovering such information and information systems based on the world's best practices.”

Bin Humaidan added: “The nature of the upcoming stage which depends on the provision of government services through smart devices for our citizens' happiness necessitates us to ensure that these services and our back-end government ICT services are safe, protected and backed-up with the aim of gaining our customers' satisfaction and trust. He pointed out that DSG's current shared Government Resource Planning services have proven to be massive government saving with proven ROI and contribution to a green sustainable environment and economy. We are confident that our feasibility study into Government wide SDRS will guide us to similar benefits while achieving business continuity and the sustainability and security of government digital assets.”

Bin Humaidan stated: “The importance of disaster recovery is further underscored when we take into account the rapid developments that have paved the way for Dubai to become a knowledge-based smart society, as well as meet the smart government requirements by providing innovative and secure services and applications. Our feasibility study will provide a blueprint for optimal investment in a Dubai Government Shared Disaster Recovery Site, which will minimize and rationalize spending, enhance the optimal use of government resources and hence support the wise leadership's vision for the UAE to become one of the top countries in the world by 2021.