No Panic @ Swine Flu

The spread of AH1N1 influenza, popularly known as swine flu, should alert
CXOs and IT response teams as much as it alerts doctors and medical response
units. Thats what analysts from leading research firms like Gartner are putting
as the Rx now. Gartner analysts suggest that key stakeholders should review
their audit pandemic response plans and ensure some high priority response
steps. They should identify existing and projected critical skills shortages,
initiate necessary cross-training, testing or certification of personnel, and
ensure that the cross-trained personnels have the appropriate
system/applications access rights.

In addition, it is needed to determine which business operations are
sustainable and at what level, and the likely downtime for normal business
operations during periods with absenteeism rates of 40% or higher. There is a
need for immediately initiating rigorous, ongoing and well-documented testing to
isolate and remediate identified problem areas. Also preparation for travel
restrictions becomes significant and near-universal in the event of an epidemic.

Enterprises in all regions should complete the review of their BCM/DR pandemic response plans Roberta Witty, research vice president, Gartner	IT professionals must recognize specific elements within their response plans Ken McGee, vice president and Gartner fellow

In todays global business environment, IT professionals must recognize
specific elements within their response plans. This will help overcome their
enterprises operational vulnerabilities which are not confined to the
organizations specific geographic locations, says Ken McGee, vice president
and Gartner fellow.

These vulnerabilities also exist in the next town, adjacent states,
neighboring countries, or even on the other side of the planet, where their
suppliers, customers, external service providers and others are located.

Business continuity management (BCM) and disaster recovery (DR) professionals
and other stakeholders should use the widespread concern over the swine flu as
an opportunity to prevent their enterprises from becoming victims of
uncertainty, panic, misinformation and lack of preparedness. This should be
utilized to increase enterprises awareness of the potential business impact of
outbreak of the disease.

Enterprises in all regions, and across all industries should complete the
review of their BCM/DR pandemic response plans and fill in any missing element
as soon as possible, informs Roberta Witty, research vice president, Gartner.

IT managers should meet senior executives, line-of-business managers and
other high-level decision-makers to answer any questions related to this
outbreak. They should be aware of the seriousness of this pandemic preparation,
that will ensure a broad, ongoing commitment to this effort. IT managers should
plan, test, and add capacity to ensure the sustainability of what is likely to
be a predominantly work-at-home environment.

There is also a need to implement a communications program which ensures that
all personnels are aware of the enterprises pandemic response plans and
measures. So that they can help limit the spread of the diseaseincluding
practices which are as simple and effective as regular hand-washing. As it
appears, when the flu strikes, it always pays to be an early bird.

Pratima Harigunani /CMN

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