Information is an incredible source of value, and companies increasingly need information to run their businesses more effectively. Whether it is data for health-care services, 24x7 banking, or order processing, when these data are used well, they can drive large increases in profit and revenue. The ability to access and manage information has turned into a significant competitive advantage.
As the information economy develops, the infrastructure to support it continues to expand. Substantial investment has been made in the networks and systems that collect, manage, deliver, and store data. The growing trends of cloud computing, platform as a service (PaaS), and software as a service (SaaS) have enabled IT-centric businesses to thrive and develop business models that rely entirely on information flow. The systems that process the information are critical to these new business models. When information systems go down, there are dramatic effects on the businesses that rely on them.