University of Miami's ITEx and Telefonica Announce Strategic Alliance to Offer Comprehensive Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Solutions

Business Wire, Sept 28, 2005

CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- The University of Miami's Information Technology Executive Institute (UM/ITEx), and the US subsidiary of global telecommunications leader Telefonica, announced today the creation of a strategic alliance delivering fully integrated end-to-end Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Solutions and Regulatory Industry Compliance for businesses and institutions.

Destroyed or damaged property and loss of customer base and revenue from disruption of critical services in the aftermath of any type of disaster pose great threats to the survival of businesses and the economic well-being of owners and employees. The UM/ITEx-Telefonica alliance combines their respective Business Continuity Solution offerings into one complementary solution, allowing organizations to work with one team to both design and execute plans to be compliant with regulations and to recover from any unforeseen event impacting business down-time and productivity.

The solutions include Training, Continuity Planning, Compliance Auditing, Implementation Methodologies, Data Storage Solutions, Remote Replication of Data, Workgroup Recovery Solutions, and Network and Data Center Solutions delivered by seasoned world class professionals and state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities.

"We couldn't be more excited about our collaboration with UM/ITEx. We are two of the most experienced, capable and trusted entities in the industry teaming up to offer comprehensive solutions, aimed at providing peace of mind to our clients. The solutions are designed by experienced executives, backed by an event-tested, secure facility and managed by the world's 2nd largest infrastructure-based integrated service provider," said Pete Pizarro, CEO of Telefonica's US subsidiary.

During a time when natural disasters, security threats, network sabotage and regulatory industry compliance are on the rise, there is heightened awareness of the need for organizations to be prepared for and to recover from such events. The Insurance Institute for Property Loss Reduction estimates that 50% of businesses suffering major disasters are unable to resume operations accordingly. Additionally, many industries including Financial, Legal and Health services are facing new regulations requiring plans and preparations for such events. By working with the UM/ITEx-Telefonica alliance, companies can certify existing plans or create new plans, and fully execute all measures to ensure regulatory compliance.

"Business Continuity Planning should not be viewed solely as a reaction to natural disasters. Loss of operational capability may be caused by fire, power failure, sabotage, civil disorders, accidents or even carelessness," said Dr. M. Lewis Temares, VP/CIO of the University of Miami's Information Technology Department and Dean of the College of Engineering. "The number one way we can assist our clients is by providing an end-to-end continuity solution in concert with their organization's goals beginning with preparation for, and ending with, rapid recovery from business down-time."

About Telefonica in the US

Telefonica's US operating company based in Miami, Florida, is a leading provider of global corporate communications and managed data center and IT services. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Telefonica Group (NYSE:TEF), currently the world's second largest integrated telecommunications company in terms of market capitalization, and the world's leading operator in the Spanish and Portuguese speaking markets. Its activities are centered mainly on the fixed and mobile telephony business, with special focus on broadband services for both residential and business consumers. The company has a significant presence in 18 countries, 181,000 employees worldwide and has operations in more than 40 countries. Its customer base amounts to more than 140 million customers worldwide. For more information visit: http://www.us.telefonica.com

About The University of Miami's ITEx

The University of Miami's Information Technology Executive Institute (ITEx) is a center of excellence in executive management, with content and resources for CIOs and other C-level executives, their direct reports, and aspiring leaders. By drawing on decades of practical executive experience, ITEx provides individually tailored solutions to clients through the combination of professional development coursework and customer-site research, combined with the latest knowledge of IT management systems and concepts. ITEx is the sister Institute to the NGJ Information Systems Institute, a 20-year-old training center within the University of Miami Information Technology division, which has been recognized with numerous awards and in various industry-wide publications as a leader in IT management and best practices. For more information visit: http://www.miami.edu/itex