Ukraine's IT sector looks to business continuity plans as Russia invades
- Reference: 1645704905
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2022/02/24/ukrainian_it_companies_look_to/
- Source link:
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A Russian Navy ship crosses the Bosphorus in November 2021. Ukraine [2]this morning asked Turkey to close the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to Russian warships, Kyiv's ambassador to Ankara said. Pic by: Atakan Divitlioglu/Shutterstock
In the eight years since Russia annexed the disputed territory of the Crimea, Ukraine’s IT services industry, which is based around outsourcing and bespoke software development, has grown by 36 per cent from $5bn to $6.8bn in exports, according to a [3]2021 National Study from local tech association IT Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the number of IT specialists in its economy has increased from 244,000 to 285,000.
This morning, [4]reports began to flood in stating that Russia had begun bombing military targets .
Earlier this week, ELEKS, a global IT company with offices in 13 countries worldwide, including in Ukraine, told The Register it had already started moving some staff to offices in the west of Ukraine and to offices abroad starting last December.
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"For those specialists that have chosen to stay in Ukraine, we have recommended that they move to our delivery centers in the western part of Ukraine. These delivery centers are fitted with backup generators, satellite phones, satellite and dark fiber internet, and other tools to provide business continuity and support for our staff," the company said in a statement earlier this week.
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Vitaly Sedler, the president of IT Ukraine Association and CEO of Intellias, a global technology partner, told us: "The Ukrainian IT industry always promptly responds to politically and socially significant events. The IT business is socially responsible and focuses on people, its customers' and partners' interests and aligned with the development of our country.
"We are aware of all possible risks, clearly see them and have operational plans to respond to emergencies. At the same time, we continue to operate in a standard mode and monitor the course of events carefully."
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According to a recent survey of association members, 92 per cent assessed the possible escalation of the armed conflict risks in the foreseeable future as low to medium at the time. None of the companies was preparing for a full relocation, the survey found.
Kerry Hallard, CEO of the Global Sourcing Association (GSA) — which represents IT outsourcers — said she had been in touch with members in Ukraine. N-iX, an Eastern European software development service company, told the GSA its offices, including those in Kyiv and Lviv were unaffected. Eastern cities of Donetsk and Luhansk are more likely to be first affected.
[9]'Hundreds of computers' in Ukraine hit with wiper malware
[10]Ukraine hit by DDoS attacks, Russia deploys malware
[11]US imposes sanctions as Russia invades Ukraine
[12]Massive cyberattack takes Ukraine military, big bank websites offline
"It's not quite business as usual but they have got to continue; these companies have spent years building up their industry," she said.
At the same time, as the market for software deployment booms, there may be few alternatives.
Hallard pointed out that Poland had been heavily recruiting software engineers from Ukraine, as salaries rose 35 per cent. "If you withdraw from Ukraine, it leaves the question of where you’re going to find an alternative," she said.
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Kulraj Smagh, CEO of software development company Ciklum, said the company had a "well-defined business continuity plan designed to protect our associates and our ability to perform work for our clients in various scenarios that may disrupt our business."
The plan included opportunities to move employees to alternative, safer locations, creating redundancy in our critical infrastructure, proper data backup and redundancy of essential services.
"In short, our priority continues to be the safety and welfare of our people," he said. ®
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[1] https://regmedia.co.uk/2022/02/24/shutterstock_russia_warship.jpg
[2] https://www.ft.com/content/5b423554-6ce9-49fe-b74c-da41298b565f
[3] https://itukraine.org.ua/en/work-of-the-it-industry-in-the-context-of-aggravation-of-ukrainian-russian-relations.html
[4] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60503037
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2Yhe5ueSiLY8uUOhn0cxlsQAAANI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Yhe5ueSiLY8uUOhn0cxlsQAAANI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33Yhe5ueSiLY8uUOhn0cxlsQAAANI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Yhe5ueSiLY8uUOhn0cxlsQAAANI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2022/02/23/ukraine_wiper_malware/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2022/02/23/ukraine_ddos_russia_malware/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2022/02/23/us_sanctions_russia/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2022/02/15/ukraine_cyberattack/
[13] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33Yhe5ueSiLY8uUOhn0cxlsQAAANI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[14] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Well it's kind of difficult to tell everone to relocate to another country, right ?
Although that's what might end up happening anyway.
More likely the country will relocate beneath their feet.
Don't just criticize.
Your post comes across that the companies should keep the roles in a war zone and have a zero tolerance policy on people unable to make it to their desks each day.
I assume (hopefully not wrongly) that they will assist their staff and their families in the relocation. Rather than criticizing companies that are offering their staff temporary relocation (even if they are not covering costs, which I hope they are), what would you suggest?
I'm sure some people would want to leave the country completely, however I'm quite sure that many wouldn't. How many countries have been in the news lately offering temporary employment visa's so companies can relocate their people outside of Ukraine without going through the standard paperwork?
Re: Don't just criticize.
Yup, that's the problem. AFAIK, Ukrainians that leave the country would be refugees, and not necessarily able to work. Adds a layer of complexity to BC planning, ie arranging DR staff accommodation and visas so staff can move along with the data.
Re: Don't just criticize.
IIRC, Ukranians have access to a four-week, no visa period in Europe. After that, though, all bets are off.
Re: Don't just criticize.
"How many countries have been in the news lately offering temporary employment visa.."
Template is the UK with Hong Kong.
It would seem that people who are actually there, have reasonable confidence that Russia will stick to it's stated aim of securing the breakaway regions within their traditional borders.
Aside from trashing as much military infrastructure as possible throughout Ukraine.
But the so-called "traditional" borders contain significant amounts of Ukrainian territory. So there's no way to minimize what will be an ugly war with civilian casualties, as is already happening.
Remember that despite the Russian narrative of Crimea as historically Russian, the area was originally populated almost entirely by Crimean Tatars, a Turkic Muslim people. Russian settler colonization began in the mid-nineteenth century and has been entirely successful. The Tatars are now a persecuted minority in their own country.
We are now in the neo-imperial era of Tsar Vladimir and his irredentist delusions.
keeping it to the tech
I hope for survival and successful resolution for the people impacted by this invasion and won't share my strong views on the matter.
Professionally, we've already discussed the IT implications of military action that makes data centres non-viable, and with a workforce already geographically spread and not dependent on office locations (thanks covid) BCP is surprisingly straightforward these days. Nonetheless, glad we're not having to prove that.
Re: keeping it to the tech
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
It's in moments like these that we must be loud, vocal, and clear.
I stand with a free, independent Ukraine.
Re: keeping it to the tech
" It's in moments like these that we must be loud, vocal, and clear.
I stand with a free, independent Ukraine. "
The thing is, being loud vocal and clear only works if the bully is listening. And like most bullies, he's not listening.
They only hear you when you kick them in the balls. Repeatedly. Until they bleed.
Re: keeping it to the tech
I like this plan. It's a good plan. Let's do it.
"In short, our priority continues to be the safety and welfare of our people," he said.
Hmm. Sure. Move people to a different side of a country being invaded. That's bound to keep them safe and well. Kinda contradicts the business that has been built up for years and must keep going statement.