Hundreds of Thousands of $$$ Worth of Network Equipment can be Rendered Junk in a Flash! The issue of protecting networks from security breaches has attracted considerable attention but organisations also need to guard against environmental risks such as lightning. Damaged or destroyed equipment, which is integrated into manufacturing or data storage processes, can cause physical damage, as well as high consequential losses due to downtime. Lightning strikes can also delay production due to data loss and damage process control computers or computer-based warehouse and storage systems. Such delays usually cost many times the amount of the direct damage. While it. | KR NEfaci How to Insure Your Network Against Acts of God Hundreds of Thousands of Worth of Network Equipment can be Rendered Junk in a Flash The issue of protecting networks from security breaches has attracted considerable attention but organisations also need to guard against environmental risks such as lightning. Damaged or destroyed equipment which is integrated into manufacturing or data storage processes can cause physical damage as well as high consequential losses due to downtime. Lightning strikes can also delay production due to data loss and damage process control computers or computer-based warehouse and storage systems. Such delays usually cost many times the amount of the direct damage. While it is almost impossible to protect against direct lightning strikes research indicates that such incidents are only responsible for five per cent of damage caused by atmospheric discharges. The fact is that almost all damage is caused by indirect lightning hits. When the charge hits the ground it radiates in a rippling effect through the earth like a pebble thrown into the centre of a pool. This means that networks located within a radius of one or more kilometres away from the site of impact can be affected. The annual damage caused by this in Australia is estimated to be millions of dollars. Lightning often enters a network via the customer local-loop normally between street-side telecommunications cabinets and office buildings. From the point of entry energy from lightning travels in both directions - towards premises and street-side cabinets or telephone exchanges. In most cases substantial damage can be expected. Thunder Day Map showing annual levels of potentially damaging storm activity. Some telecommunications companies provide overvoltage protection in their networks but this is not usually designed to protect customers. In most cases customer premises equipment has no protection from lightning or power contact with the telecommunications network. .
