IT Contingency Planning for H1N1 Pandemic

Author(s): Phil Schacter

Bottom Line: Business continuity plans (BCPs) should consider all aspects of an organization’s preparation for and response to H1N1 and other pandemics. IT can make significant contributions by providing the tools that allow the business to continue to function, even if parts of the business have been disabled by H1N1, and by preparing to support employees who may need to work remotely to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

Context: While staff absenteeism increases every year during the flu season, the current H1N1 pandemic is more severe and could affect the normal operation of a business, either directly or through its supply chain. Employees who are ill, staying home to care for family members, or working from home to avoid infection will need reliable and secure access to networks, communication and collaboration systems, and IT-supported business systems. Public network congestion is expected as the pandemic spreads and more and more people rely on public broadband and cellular networks. Employees working from insecure home networks and computers increase the risk of compromised accounts and passwords and of the spread of malware.

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