Blue Valley Tele-Communications, Inc., hosted a forum for Internet Technology (IT) Specialists on June 17 at its headquarters in Home, Kansas. The discussion was led by BVTC Business Account Consultant, Chad Hiltgen. Panelists included Dominic Freeman, Acting IT Director for Community Healthcare Systems, Onaga;  Brian Dressman, IT Manager for Oregon Trail Equipment, Marysville; Brad Dressman, USD 364 IT Director, Marysville; and Jerry Horton, BVTC IT/Central Office Supervisor. Topics of disaster recovery, security, virtualization, and business continuity dominated the discussion. Approximately 25 area businesses attended the two-hour long event. 

Hiltgen made remarks about the company’s IT consulting services stating, “Many companies don’t have the resources available to hire a full-time IT person. BVTC’s highly trained expert IT staff can handle that for them.” He went on to describe the importance of proper electronic maintenance in order to extend its life expectancy: “Companies located in older buildings are oftentimes forced to store their equipment in closets that were not intended [for electronics]; making proper ventilation and temperature control difficult to regulate - not to mention the increased risk factor during storm season.”

Brian Dressman described Oregon Trail Equipment’s situation a year ago when their building was destroyed by a tornado: “We were lucky our company’s information is backed up off-site. Without that backup, our sales team never would have been able to access all the data and information they needed in order to continue providing the best service possible to our clients. Because of it, they were able to get back to their customers the day after the storm hit." He added, “When it comes to storage and backup, it is really a matter of how much risk you are willing to take with your data.” 

The event concluded with a tour of BVTC’s new colocation and data center which is housed in a climate-controlled, stormproof room. This center will have 24/7 secure access storage space available July 1 for businesses to house their equipment. Horton told the group, “This center was designed to survive an EF4 tornado.”