Five Years After 9/11: Are We Better Prepared?

The fifth anniversary of 9/11 is approaching this fall. Is your business better prepared now than it was in September 2001? Is your community better prepared?
Recent industry surveys show awareness of business continuity remains high, but implementation, updating and testing is lacking.
An AT&T survey released in Fall 2005 reports that one in four companies with business continuity plans had not updated their plan in the past 12 months and four in 10 had not tested it in the past year or ever. The survey, which polled 1,200 organizations over a 10-month period, said 35 percent of organizations do not rank business continuity planning as a high priority and four percent said it was not important at all.
A Gartner Inc. poll reported that only 69 percent of U.S. firms have disaster recovery plans. Fifty-seven percent of those firms didn’t know how often they evaluate contingency preparedness or that they do so in less than half of all new IT initiatives they undertake.
What would your firm answer if it were polled? Are your plans updated? Have they been tested? Do you rank business continuity as a high priority? If you can’t answer yes to all of these questions, it may be time to overhaul your plans.
September 11, 2001 taught us we cannot take anything for granted. The unthinkable can happen – any time, any place.
With a disaster such as 9/11, the impact went beyond one organization, one building, or one city. It was a national tragedy that had far-reaching impact. Communication, transportation and other basic necessities needed to run a business were interrupted or unavailable for extended periods of time.
It is vital to investigate your communities’ preparedness plans. Can your local officials provide efficient emergency response if needed? Are there plans in place to protect the infrastructure? Do you know who will coordinate the response efforts? Have they trained properly?
The 9/11 disaster is one that will continue to affect business continuity planners for years to come. It was a wake up call for many organizations and many practitioners. We must heed the warnings and answer the call to protect our organizations. As we reflect on this somber anniversary, let’s ask the tough questions and make sure our plans can make the grade.

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Summer 2006 - Cover Article

AVIAN FLU

Prepare for Pandemics with Reliable, Current Information

Concerns over a possible pandemic continue to capture the attention of almost every segment of society. In recent months, experts have warned that the world is overdue for a pandemic occurrence. The last severe one struck the United States in 1918, with milder outbreaks occurring in 1957 and 1968.

The Avian flu is the current frontrunner for causing potential widespread damage. This flu, also known as the H5N1 virus, has been detected in more than 50 countries and has killed more than 120 people.
While human-to-human transfer has not yet occurred, scientists and medical experts are keeping a close watch on the virus. There is disagreement over the severity of a potential virus outbreak. Some experts predict as many as 300 million deaths worldwide. Others say the pandemic would not take such a high toll.
Business continuity planners are also keeping a vigilant eye on the changing situation. In this issue, you will find several articles written by and for planning professionals. The authors vary on their opinions of the virus and the threat it poses. But they do agree that planning needs to be done.
In each article, you will find insight into areas that will require attention in order to fully protect your organization from the impact of a pandemic.

Click here to read the entire article

Additional Articles Found in Summer 2006 Issue of DRJ

• Avian Flu: Special Report
• Preparing for an Influenza Pandemic
• Planning for the Bird Flu
  
• Business Continuity and the Avian Flu
  
• Is it Hype or Real?
  
• Planning for Human Continuity
  
• Small Business Case
  
• Say What?
  
• Acting Out Your Business Continuity Plan
  
• Strategies for Achieving High Availability
  
• Establishing a Corporate Business Continuity Program
  
• DR in a Virtual Environment Using Imaging Technologies
  
• Lessons from Katrina
  
• Four Common Mistakes to Avoid When Moving Servers
  
• To Outsource or Not Outsource
  
• Preventing, Limiting the Impact of Disasters
  
• Thwarting a Potential Document Disaster
  
• 2006 Alternate Site Survey (PDF)

Today’s businesses need to prepare now for a potential pandemic. A top threat is the Avian flu, which is spreading throughout the United Kingdom and Asia at a rapid rate. Though the virus has not mutated to a human-to-human transfer, it is still hazardous. More than 100 people have died from the disease, which has now been detected in 45 countries.
Is your business prepared? Does your plan include preparations for pandemics? Early testing and planning is key to knowing how to deal with an Avian flu outbreak or any other pandemic that could occur. In today’s global environment, the risks are high. The world has “never been closer to a pandemic,” reports the Centers for Disease Control.
This site has been designed to assist you as your work to prepare your organization for the threats of the future.

• Click here to Visit the Avian Flu Portal

DRJ eXpress is published by Disaster Recovery Journal. We have added this exciting publication to our family to better update our readers on current events and happenings.

In the fast-paced world of business continuity, having current information is key to staying ahead of the challenges that can occur so quickly. This monthly eZine will contain a wealth of tips, statistics and technology updates. In addition, you can find information on local continuity events, meetings and more.

Get the information you need – quickly and easily with DRJ eXpress! Staying informed is essential – and we are here to help.

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