Navigating, In The Aftermath

We work in an industry in which hypothetical future disasters are a regular topic of discussion. In recent months, Internet data centers have safeguarded digital data through major earthquakes, floods and power outages, validating the importance of these services.

So how do we respond when real life turns apocalyptic?

I think many of us are struggling with this question. We are a traumatized nation. Few Americans are untouched by the devastation and human tragedies in New York and Washington. Everyone has a story of someone they knew who either survived or perished.

We long for life to be "normal" again, so we resume our daily routines. But living in the shadow of the Trade Center disaster, business seems pretty small. Before Sept. 11, we arose each morning eager to provide a valuable service to our clients - and support ourselves and our family by doing so. It's a new day in many ways, when these old motivations sometimes don't seem noble enough anymore.

And yet, data center operators and web hosting firms are uniquely positioned to assist companies at a critical juncture. No one wants to appear opportunistic at a moment such as this. But as all of us look for some way to help, we look first to what we know.

In that regard, the Internet infrastructure industry has something to offer. Many firms have offered free services to companies affected by the terrorist attacks. These include Inflow, AccessColo, Gateway Colo, Internap, Telseon and Yipes, as well as Node Com, a business affiliate of CarrierHotels.com.

At some point, these short-term assistance efforts could evolve into long-term business relationships. With renewed emphasis on disaster recovery and videoconferencing, there's no escaping the fact that this tragic event may accelerate demand for some web services. This reality can leave us grappling with a minor form of "survivor's guilt" as we encounter these situations.

Navigating in this environment requires sensitivity to the moment, the customer and the circumstances. We applaud the companies who have made the effort to help.