Federal, Provincial and Municipal Governments have a unique challenge when it comes to protecting IT investments. Due to the procurement practices existing in the public sector major departments are required to buy low cost solutions giving them less than optimum protection for important applications. Open Bidding Services often has forced procurement of inadequate protection equipment even for essential applications.

In most applications, our customers have discovered that by carefully specifying our products they have been able to lower the cost of ownership and acquire superior technology. Working closely with an ON POWER Specialist they have been able to lower the cost of acquisition by correctly configuring the right solution.

Each Government sector has many of the same challenges as the private sector. Sensitive electronic systems are being deployed in a distributed environment without the benefits enjoyed in the days of dedicated computer rooms. In the past, dedicated computer rooms were used which had a dedicated Power Conditioner and /or an UPS. Special attention was given to single point grounding and power distribution.

Today, with distributed networks being installed in old buildings, new technologies can be protected using new computer room in a box UPS such as TOSHIBA or ONEAC ensuring new separately derived sources with isolated grounds providing all the benefits of older approaches in the new distributed environments.

As new technologies are implemented, whether in Medical, Telecom or Security, it becomes more important for departments to review conventional procurement practices. Significant costs of ownership increases and poor performance are the results. The false savings of low cost commodity purchases of power mitigating equipment gives poor protection and low returns. Buying the very best power protection available is one of the most important decisions departments can take to provide operational readiness and top performance for sensitive micro-electronic systems.

ON POWER has many government programs to upgrade old technologies and the expertise and experience to make your efforts easier, both in the specifying and the procurement process. Call ON POWER today to find out how you can save money and reduce your operating problems significantly!

They say that lightning never strikes twice in the same place. But are you willing to bet thousands of dollars on that? After the Birmingham Public Library experienced two separate power surges that blew out the equipment at the same location, protection became a top priority.

Sometimes people think they need to protect equipment against the possibility of a one-time disaster. The Birmingham Public Library learned that power surges are not just bad luck or once-in-a-lifetime disasters—they are very damaging real dangers produced by thunderstorm activity and a variety of other causes that are continually present in the environment inside and outside any building.

The Birmingham Public Library information system is a very large operation, with 40 remote locations connected to its network. Previously, the library had not focused on protection and simply using a selection of inexpensive UPSs and line conditions which did not provide an adequate defense against the dangers of poor quality power.

Several times, harmful electrical disturbances came through electrical and phone lines, totally destroying the equipment at some of the library's remote locations. Of course, it cost time and money to replace equipment, but it wasn't until lightning struck twice at the same location that the Birmingham Public Library realized the importance of protection.

One particular library facility was hit by a power surge two times, probably caused by lightning in the area. A terminal server and an ethernet bridge ISDN line were destroyed, costing the library approximately $2,000 each time. With the realization that lightning can strike twice comes a more immediate desire for complete protection. "We had to replace the equipment both times. That's why I had to find someone who knew how to deal with this sort of problem," explained Phil Teague, automation services coordinator for the Birmingham Public Library.

"We wanted to avoid losing anymore expensive equipment," Teague continued. "These surges were starting to add significant costs to the library because they cause such a high level of damage. The terminal server, for example, the most expensive part of the system, was not repairable after the surge. It was more than just blowing a fuse—the equipment was beyond recovery, permanently inoperable. And it's not covered under the warranty because the surge is considered a natural disaster. What they are telling you is that you should be protecting it with equipment from someone like ONEAC."

It was possible that this location would never get hit again, but the problem had to be addressed. The library needed assurance that its equipment would be safe. After talking to specialists at ONEAC, the Birmingham Public Library installed an ON Series UPS, a Power Conditioner, and OnLine Communication Line Protectors at the site.

Sometime after all the equipment was installed, the same location experienced a third power surge. "A television set, terminal and several other pieces of equipment were destroyed by the surge, but the information systems equipment protected by ONEAC was saved," said Phil Teague. "After the second power surge, I know we needed to address the problem. But now, after the third one, I am thoroughly convinced that the ONEAC equipment is vital to the protection of the system."

"Seeing how often it can happen to the same location has given us a new perspective," Phil Teague concluded. "We are now looking at protecting our 39 other sites with similar ONEAC equipment."