Test run millennium Monday, 3 January 2000,11:00: Back office systems and S.W.I.F.T. interfaces suddenly fail in the middle of the full authorization and payment processes. Payment files and back office databases are inaccessible. IT announces that this interruption will take two days to fix. What do you do? 20 What's NewS Issue 10' December 1999 This theoretical situation was just one case used to find out just how millen nium proof our R1 communication and reporting channels are. November 26 was the big day with offices around the net- work simulating 'crisis resolution' in or der to determine the strength of our cur- rent procedures: cases included such topics as failure of internal communica tion tools, reporting procedures, and ex- ternal problems coming from key cus- tomers and foreign exchange partners. Says Harrie Paulissen of the global mil lennium team, 'I think everyone involved in the test day found it very useful as it revealed some weaknesses in the current global transitional period plan. We expe- rienced some unexpected events so the test was also highly successful in raising awareness on communication and report- ing. We've come away with concrete ac- tions for improvement in those areas, taken from best practice solutions of the participants.' The 'unexpected events' have led to specific action to update con tact telephone numbers, improve the re porting overview, and provide more de- tailed work instructions and procedures. An earlier test weekend had been held by the Netherlands branch on 6-7 Novem ber. It proved equally useful. A complete contingency plan with emergency fall- back procedures in the case of system or power failure had been put in place. The team in Utrecht wanted to find out what would happen to operational systems such as payments, cash manage ment, and foreign exchange in a worst case scenario. The stringent testing showed that whatever happens on the night, RI in Utrecht will still be able to continue processes and provide its customers with vital information through alternative channels.

Rabobank Bronnenarchief

blad 'What's news' (EN) | 1999 | | pagina 20