Pandemic planning is a strategic approach to business continuity that anticipates and prepares for a widespread, dangerous outbreak of an infectious disease that poses life-threatening risks to employees and their families in different geographical areas at the same time.  (Read our complete definition here.)  To continue operations with staff out sick or working remotely, network managers should be putting plans into place now.  We've gathered resources to help you. 

Background

Swine flu -- not hurricanes -- leads disaster recovery agenda
As Hurricane Bill bore down, a look at what really topped the disaster recovery agenda for IT leaders -- swine flu.

Pandemic preparation, risk and business continuity
The pandemic watches of the past few years should have organizations thinking about their risks and business continuity plans.

The swine flu vs. other pandemics
With the swine flu outbreak, the good news is that, at the moment, we are not dealing with a 1918-style pandemic.

Preparing for swine flu with business continuity and disaster recovery planning
Find out how swine flu may impact your organization and get practical advice on how to mitigate the impact on your organization.

How to create a plan

Tips for business continuity and contingency planning for swine flu
IT business continuity plans for swine flu outbreaks focus on people and remote access issues. Here are experts' tips on what to include.

Tips from the CDC's CIO on H1N1 flu preparedness
As a second wave of swine flu looms, we get a list of swine flu preparedness tips from James Seligman, CIO at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As swine flu spreads, CIOs prepare business continuity plans, measures
Get steps for pandemic planning in preparation for H1N1.

Creating a pandemic response for your disaster recovery plan
As more and more people are affected by the H1N1 flu, IT organizations need to include a pandemic response plan into their disaster recovery (DR) plans.

Podcast: Mapping out a disaster plan for pandemic flu
Networking industry guru Zeus Kerravala suggests best practices for long-term planning.

Technology and pandemic planning

Top strategies to keep the network up in an emergency
Experts outline the 14 most important things you can do now that will ensure that your network provides users with the functionality they need in the event of an emergency or natural disaster.

Virtualization: The swine flu cure?
With your entire environment virtualized, you can implement your telework program — you do have one, don’t you?

Network teams prepare for impact of swine flu on remote access 
Remote access contingency planning is on the rise as networking teams prepare for an increase in telecommuting to counter the spread of swine flu.

WAN security in a pandemic
In flu pandemic planning, wide-area network (WAN) security and broadband connectivity for homebound workers should be part of the business continuity plan for WAN engineers.

Providing network access in a pandemic
A pandemic differs from other disaster recovery situations in that the network infrastructure stays intact. The best plan will deliver connectivity, resiliency and redundancy without overloading your systems.

IP communications tools show UC enables disaster planning
IP-based unified communications offer a viable option for keeping a business running in the event of a pandemic outbreak that sends workers to far-flung, flu-free corners of the country to do their jobs.

Case Studies

Five mistakes banks make in pandemic planning
Experts cite five areas where financial institutions could improve their pandemic plans for a potential H1N1 outbreak.

Business intelligence software helps hospitals fight swine flu
Emergency departments are using business intelligence software from SAP Business Objects to monitor patient data from electronic medical records and to track the spread of swine flu.

Swine flu outbreak results in spam pandemic
Spammers are taking advantage of the swine flu outbreak to trick users into giving up their email address, opening a malicious PDF file and even buying a cure.

As swine flu spreads, CIOs prepare business continuity plans, measures
Are your disaster recovery and business continuity plans up to snuff for a swine flu pandemic? Find out what measures other CIOs are taking and what you can do.

Swine flu puts spotlight on pandemic planning
Financial services firms are monitoring the swine flu outbreak and readying pandemic plans.