Outsourcing Concept

Bourque Data Systems (BDS) began offering system hosting and support of its software modules in October 1999 to great success. This concept has successfully been provided to 36 of the 62 BDS licensees - many of which interface SAP and BDS software modules. We extend these services to our customers to free their IT resources for other corporate systems such as SAP or other and other valuable ERP projects.

BDS maintains two distinct data centers located in Houston which provide platform and communications redundancy and allow shippers an extremely cost effective method to take advantage of the software functions without the IT costs and time to maintain the software.

Users can access the software via the Internet or dedicated frame-relay connection which BDS can provide.

Outsourcing Benefits

Users are supported directly by BDS support personnel via shadow sessions in which both can share a screen. All software modules are upgraded by BDS using functionality annually defined by BDS' 60 plus licensees (the RAILTRAC Users Group - RTUG). Integration with ERP systems such as SAP or JDE is straightforward and quickly deployed - outsourcing of BDS module provides no hurdles to such integration. In fact, outsourcing benefits integration efforts because BDS technical teams have experience in SAP or other ERP integration with over 60 licensees - Atofina, ExxonMobil, Conoco, Phillips, ChevronPhillips to name a few - and their access to our software greatly facilitates the integration effort.

BDS system hosting and support of BDS software provides our customers a valuable system support service at a lower cost.

The hosting services offered by Bourque Data Systems, Inc. (BDS) allows Bayer to save time and money supporting BDS software. As has been successfully demonstrated for many other BDS licensees, outsourcing the software modules to Bayer will not incur IT support costs associated with:

Platform Redundancy

BDS maintains two independent and totally redundant data sites located 27 miles apart for redundancy live disaster recovery. This redundant architecture provides fail-safe performance should a client's application or database becomes unavailable due to communications or hardware issues.

Each site maintains a full complement of application, database, and email servers that provide duplicate capacity. Server file structures are "clustered" to maintain real-time duplication of inbound and outbound data files, update scripts and any other system s support files. Database servers at each site use Microsoft SQL Server technology and are synchronized in real time providing a virtual database for our clients.

A dedicated T-1 Line provided by Southwestern Bell (SBC) ensures high-capacity, real-time communications between the Woodlands and CyrusOne site. For frame relay customers, access to both data centers is provided via dual frame ports at a minimum 512k CIR (committed information rate).

At the clients option, its hosted databases, module applications, and raw data files are replicated real-time at an alternate location to provide additional insurance against downtime due to primary data center disaster or unavailability. This secondary system run as a "hot-site" can be brought online within hours. The CyrusOne site is a fully staffed "co-location" site that provides full back-up capabilities with consistent power supplied by backup comprised of battery systems and diesel generators.

An SBC-supplied dual-circuit line provides Client connections to both Woodlands and Cyrus data centers. BDS works with the individual Clients to implement custom network-to-network security configurations to meet the Clients' requirements.

Recovery Procedures and Drill

For all its ASP clients, BDS recommends the development of a plan, customized to each client and its interfaces, to recover from unavailability of one of BDS' data centers. The BDS DR Plan, developed over a two-week period, provides:

BDS will work with its hosted client to develop the DR Plan and then plan and execute a drill to test the effectiveness of the plan.

A copy of the boilerplate plan can be provided to the prospective client

BDS does not charge for this service if it is performed within 6 months after production deployment of the ASP hosting service.

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