1. What is The Planning Portal?
ThePlanningPortal is a web-site, web application and business continuity content (templates and best practices). It is a service for smaller organizations that are just beginning to invest their time in business continuity and have a need a solution to develop and “house” their business continuity materials. For larger organizations, it’s a service that provides a location where all your employees can go to develop, maintain and access their specific business continuity planning information.
2. What is the relationship between The Planning Portal and Avalution Consulting?
Avalution Consulting designed, developed and operates ThePlanningPortal. The service is 100% owned and managed by Avalution, and the Intellectual Property that is available within the tool-set was created by Avalution’s consulting team based on their many years of experience.
3. Why would a consulting company offer a business continuity software tool?
Quite frankly, we think the business continuity industry (like many others) focuses too much on software. We are focused on enabling effective business continuity processes for organizations. Business continuity software is just a small piece of that, and accordingly, we think it should be a small piece of your budget.
4. How does The Planning Portal work?
ThePlanningPortal is a series of tools and services that operates inside of Microsoft SharePoint technology. Anyone with Microsoft Internet Explorer (or other major browser type) can access and work in The Planning Portal.
5. Do you host The Planning Portal or provide local installation?
The Planning Portal is available as a both a hosted and locally installed solution.
6. How is access and/or use of The Planning Portal priced?
Pricing is dependent on the requirements of the installation, which are specifically tailored to provide the greatest value for each organization. However, The Planning Portal is competitively priced to be the low cost provider of your business continuity software needs. Email us via contactus@theplanningportal.com for a quote specific to your organization.
7. How is The Planning Portal supported should I need assistance?
Avalution offers a toll-free help line that dials to an on call support staff 24/7/365 for “emergency” issues. Support is also offered via email (support@theplanningportal.com). You will normally receive answers via email, although more complex questions or troubleshooting may result in a return call or hosted Webex.
8. How is the data in The Planning Portal secured?
We take security very seriously. ThePlanningPortal stores client information in secure databases protected by passwords as well as database and network firewalls to prevent the loss, misuse or alteration of personal information. While no security systems are infallible, Avalution will prosecute any unauthorized access to secured information to the fullest extent of the law. We periodically review and update security measures to insure the best possible protections for the membership.
In addition, all communications with The Planning Portal are encrypted with a GeoTrust 256bit Security certificate. This ensures your data is completely confidential during its transmission over the internet.
Please review our Privacy Policy for full details.
Click here for our Terms of Use statement.
9. Where can I find The Planning Portal’s Privacy Policy?
ThePlanningPortal’s Privacy Policy can be accessed via this link and on the bottom of the home page.
10. Where can I find The Planning Portal’s Terms of Use?
ThePlanningPortal’s Terms of Use can be accessed via this link and on the bottom of the home page.
11. What training is available to learn how to use The Planning Portal?
See our Services section about the variety and depth of services offered.
12. How can I be sure The Planning Portal will be available when I need it?
The Planning Portal is located in two data centers (each with infrastructure resulting in 99.999% availability) that are geographically dispersed by over 1000 miles. Each data center employs redundant, fault-tolerant communications. Your data will be replicated asynchronously between both data centers. Should one of the data centers fail, the backup will resume operations in less than 30 minutes.
Note: Please see the Terms of Use for more detailed information regarding the availability of The Planning Portal. This statement does not constitute a service level agreement.
13. How much business continuity-related data can I store in The Planning Portal?
The storage capacity and number of users allowed is virtually unlimited, allowing your organization to meet all storage and access needs.
14. Whose Intellectual Property (IP) is used in The Planning Portal – mine or Avalution's?
Both. The inherent flexibility of The Planning Portal allows you to use your existing or proposed planning approaches and content, rely on templates and documentation standards that are maintained in The Planning Portal or use a combination of both.