Dear DataBank Customers,
The past week has seen unprecedented actions by federal, state, and local governments to control the COVID-19 outbreak. This situation has impacted each of us at all levels, families, communities, and our businesses.
Through all of this worldwide disruption, DataBank is fully operational and accessible. We are committed to ensuring that your business infrastructure hosted at DataBank is accessible, functional, and secure. Likewise, we are committed to the health and wellbeing of our employees, customers, and guests. We would like to share with you a few key items that ensure these commitments remain true.
DataBank – a National Critical Function Designation
DataBank has been designated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) – as a “National Critical Function” (NCF). The NCF is a function of “government and the private sector so vital to the United States that their disruption, corruption, or dysfunction would have a debilitating effect on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination thereof.”
Put simply, this means that DataBank will remain open, operational, and we will remain staffed. DataBank has put in place the necessary plans and tools to ensure that this occurs and has enacted our Continuity of Operations Plans (CoOP).
Can a Customer Come to the Data Center?
At this time, DataBank remains open for customers to come to the data centers and work on their systems.
DataBank strongly recommends that customers traveling to the data centers review state and local travel restrictions and laws to ensure you comply with requirements. DataBank will not issue travel authorization letters or similar documents to customers employees that permit travel during restricted conditions.
Are there Restrictions or Screening Procedures for Data Center Access?
Effective immediately, all persons entering a DataBank facility are subject to possible additional screening.
We ask that you not enter DataBank facilities if you answer “yes” to any of the following questions:
1. Do you have any of the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Dry cough
- Body Aches/Pains
- Headaches
- Sore Throat
- Runny Nose
- Tiredness
- Shortness of Breath
2. Have you been in contact with a confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) patient in the past 14 days?
3. Have you visited any of the following countries in the past 14 days?
- Mainland China
- South Korea
- Italy
- Iran
To ensure the safety of our staff, contractors, and customers, DataBank reserves the right to deny your entry to facilities if you have answered YES to any of the above questions. If you observe someone that appears to be ill, please inform our onsite staff or security team.
What if I am Denied Entry?
If you are denied entry, please consider utilizing the DataBank Remote Hands functions or you may contact your account manager for further discussion.
DataBank continues to monitor the situation and will make adjustments as necessary. We will communicate all adjustments or information through email and our blog on our website: https://www.databank.com/company/blog/
Thank you for your understanding. Your support of this process is appreciated. If you have additional questions regarding this policy, please contact DataBank at CISO@DataBank.com
Dear DataBank Customer,
On the morning of March 18, the Salt Lake area sustained a 5.7 magnitude earthquake and several aftershocks.
DataBank personnel and facilities are intact and operational at this time, with no degradation of services. We have built our structures within code and designed to withstand such events, which are a part of our continual risk assessment process and business continuity plans. We have conducted initial building assessments (visual walkthroughs and walkarounds) and have not identified any damage to the structures that would bring into question their integrity. Our Business Continuity Plan is currently active in an assessment and monitor mode. We do not anticipate any further actions within the BCP at this time. We intend to seek a professional assessment of these facilities to ensure safety is confirmed. As the aftershocks appear to be continuing, we will continue to monitor our facilities. Should the situation change, we will notify you.
If you should have any questions, please contact Brandon Swain (bswain@databank.com; 801-822-5376)
Dear DataBank Customer,
As a DataBank Dallas 1 (DFW1 – 400 S Akard St) or Dallas 2 (DFW2 – Richardson) customer, we need to make you aware of some changes that are occurring at these two facilities in response to COVID-19. Other DataBank facilities are operating without changes.
Effective immediately, all persons entering the DFW1 facility or entering the DFW2 property (but not facility – no facility changes are being made) are subject to possible additional screening by the property manager, as per the property management requirements.
The following applies:
1. At DFW1 you may only enter the facility from the main entrance which faces Wood St.
2. At DFW1 entrance or DFW2 facility drive-up gate, a Security Guard may question you upon entry. S/He will ask you the following questions:
A. Do you have any of the following symptoms:
i. Fever
ii. Dry cough
iii. Body Aches/Pains
iv. Headaches
v. Sore Throat
vi. Runny Nose
vii. Tiredness
viii. Shortness of Breath
B. Have you been in contact with a confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) patient in the past 14 days? (yes / no)
C. Have you visited any of the following countries in the past 14 days?
i. Mainland China
ii. South Korea
iii. Italy
iv.Iran
To ensure the safety of our staff, contractors, and customers, the property manager has stated they reserve the right to deny your entry to this site if you have answered YES to any of the above questions. If you answer YES, they will ask you to voluntarily egress the facility and seek medical attention.
If you are denied entry, please consider utilizing the DataBank Remote Hands functions or you may contact your account manager for further discussion.
Please be aware that DataBank is not collecting or retaining any of the above data. DataBank is not aware that the property manager is collecting or retaining this data.
If you have additional questions regarding this policy, please contact DataBank at CISO@DataBank.com
We apologize for any inconvenience caused. Thank you for your understanding. Your support for this process is appreciated.
Dear DataBank Customer,
This past week has seen a significant rise in confirmed cases of the Coronavirus, or COVID-19, across our country. At DataBank, we take these situations very seriously and wanted to take a moment to address our stance and the actions being taken to protect your people, our people, facilities, and critical mission workloads.
Please be assured that your safety and health is always our primary concern. This communication is very important to read thoroughly and pay attention to so that you are informed and prepared to help DataBank protect you and our other customers.
In early January of 2020, DataBank began to prepare for this event and drafted a COVID-19 response plan. These are supplemental documents and plans to our standard BCP/DR plan. The plan is confidential to DataBank. DataBank will be sharing this document as an attestation of the plan and update this document with frequently asked questions (FAQ) as time progresses. This document is provided under the Compliance->Security Documents section of our Portal.
How is DataBank responding to this event?
The DataBank leadership team met in Dallas on Thursday, March 5th, to review and enact our plan based on a real-world situation. Our intention is to provide an appropriate, measured response. This email contains some very specific guidelines that we have enacted. We intend to adjust to the situation as new data becomes available. The leadership team will continue to meet at least on a weekly basis and more frequently if the situation warrants. We will update you as needed.
How will DataBank communicate changes with us?
DataBank will communicate changes to our Data Center access or other functions through email to your assigned point of contact (as defined by the Portal) or via web announcements.
Access to the Data Center:
Access to the Data Centers will remain “normal” for the time being. We have assessed the risks of each of our centers and determined that each are in low impact areas.
An alternative solution to your employees coming to our data centers is to utilize the DataBank Remote Hands functions. If you are not a current subscriber to this service, please let us know and we can accommodate temporary needs.
What happens if I feel sick or observe someone who is?
- Please do not come to the Data Center if you are not feeling well. We would prefer to work with you through our Remote Hands functions. Please err on the side of caution.
- If you observe another visitor appearing to be sick, politely suggest they go home or let Data Center Operations staff know, and they will take action.
- Do not come to the Data Center if you have been in close contact (defined for our purposes as spending 15 minutes or more with the person in the last 14 days, or living in the same household) with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 or who has been asked to self-quarantine.
- Cover your mouth when sneezing and coughing
- If you run a fever, please stay home.
- Wipe down your work area including desk, phone, cell phones, etc.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing the happy birthday song twice), regularly.
- Employ “social distancing” measures. DON’T SHAKE HANDS. If someone extends their hand to you, just explain why you’re not shaking hands right now. A nod, foot tap or elbow tap is perfect etiquette in the current environment. In an in-person meeting, keep an empty chair between each participant if possible. Consider whether it is necessary to congregate in one office for conference calls as opposed to participating from your own office.
Travel:
DataBank has restricted its staff to essential travel only until at least the end of April 2020.
DataBank has stopped travel to or from high risk regions (Asia, Iran, Italy, Spain, San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, New York City, Toronto) or high-risk functions (cruises, resorts, conferences). If you have been in these areas, please refrain from coming to the Data Center and utilize remote hands functions.
Staffing:
To prepare for an event that prevents DataBank employees from working at a DataBank facility, DataBank is conducting a Continuity of Operations test specific to this event. Each employee is being asked to work from home and verify previously tested functions.
DataBank has developed a minimum staffing plan for each Data Center in the event that an area is hard hit. This plan includes ensuring that facilities are manned and monitored appropriately by trained personnel.
Health Materials:
DataBank is stockpiling the appropriate disinfectant supplies, masks, hand sanitizer in each data center. Once deployed, if you see supplies running low or feel there should be other types of materials, please contact Data Center Operations.
DataBank will be sanitizing the biometric hand and finger readers on an hourly basis with at least 60% alcohol solutions as suggested by the CDC. If you do not want to use the biometric readers, you may request escorted access to your cage, with proper verification of identity and credentials.
Supply Chain Disruptions:
The leaders of the Managed Services team and Data Center Operations are aware of possible disruptions to the supply chain and are taking appropriate measures to ensure supplies are received in a timely manner. This includes all vendors.
Now is the time to be vigilant and be cautious, but also realistic. If you have any questions or concerns regarding our preparation, please direct any question to CISO@DataBank.com.