Network Computingwww.networkcomputing.com

Now that WorldCom is in bankruptcy, with about $2 billion in additional financing, you and the many other customers locked into contracts have some breathing room to consider your options. A network this big won't just disappear, but you have to wonder about the quality of service that will come from employees working under the strain of uncertainty.

It would be prudent to start building some bridges to the competition and getting some quotes, just in case the worst happens. In fact, it's wise to entertain the competition once in a while, even under normal conditions. While there are many benefits to working with a single provider, you don't want your vendor to get too fat and happy. Remember to implement standards-based solutions that give you this leverage.

If you've been thinking about adding redundant connectivity, now you have a new reason. For Internet connections, there's a whole breed of new products that not only make redundant Internet connections manageable but also help get your money's worth out of available bandwidth. Look at offerings from Proficient, Radware, RouteScience Technologies and Sockeye Networks. These products have the added benefit of making VPN performance across multiple ISPs more reliable, and a VPN might not be a bad backup for some of your WorldCom WAN connections.
--Peter Morrissey, pmorrissey@nwc.com