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Most Government and Business IT Decision Makers Have Continuity Plans for Flu Season

Dec. 8, 2009 — More than three-quarters of  government and business IT decision makers have written business continuity plans regarding the workforce and this flu season, according to a new study.

The Mobilizing Against Pandemic study from Telework Exchange, found that there may be an inflated sense of IT confidence as challenges with implementation have been reported as well as a lack of assurance that employees could work remotely during an emergency.

The study outlines five key steps for companies to take to support a mobile workforce:

1. Step 1: Education — Engage Management. According to respondents, nearly one in three organizations experience management challenges while testing their business continuity plans. Encouraging managers to telework and implementing performance-based management processes can help engage management to accept a more mobile workforce.
2. Step 2: Social Distancing — Utilize Remote Access. Forty-four percent of government agencies and 22% of businesses report that they do not provide remote network access to all employees. Organizations must empower remote access clients and anticipate peak bandwidth requirements.
3. Step 3: Empower — Provide Mobile Equipment. When purchasing laptops, 61% of government agencies and 78% of businesses report choosing business-class laptops and respondents expect to increase inventory levels in the next three years. Business-class laptops include integrated security features and remote manageability. Organizations should assess current mobile equipment inventory to meet emergency requirements.
4. Step 4: Vaccinate — Lock Down Mobile Security. Survey respondents admit one in seven laptops lacks built-in security. Organizations must select laptops with integrated security features, including encryption. More than equipment, organizations must establish written policies and require comprehensive security training for all employees.
5. Step 5: House Calls — Establish Mobile Support Systems. Forty-six percent of public-sector and 39% of private-sector organizations report that they do not provide mobile tech support to employees. Organizations need to prepare for increased call volumes during an emergency situation and ensure employees are aware of remote procedures.

The study also found that 84% of IT decision makers believe the need for mobility in their organization has increased in the past year and telework is the leading driver. In the next three years, public- and private-sector IT decision makers expect telework to increase by 65% and 33%, respectively.

“It is no longer a question of if, but when organizations will need to utilize their business continuity plans,” said Nigel Ballard, director of federal marketing at Intel, which underwrote the survey. “The reality is that IT has a false positive on plans and falls short on implementation. Organizations must assess current inventory and address shortfalls, before operations grind to a halt.”

Cindy Auten, general manager of Telework Exchange, said: “The benefits of mobility are clear — not preparing for a business continuity situation can hinder organizational performance. Plans must be in place, but organizations need to also focus on engaging management and ensuring employees are well-equipped to work remotely. The writing is on the wall. Failing to act would be reckless.”

About the Survey
The Mobilizing Against Pandemic study is based on a survey of 301 public- and private-sector IT decision makers. To download the full study results, log on to www.teleworkexchange.com/mobilizingagainstpandemic.

Contents © 2009 WorldatWork. No part of this article may be reproduced, excerpted or redistributed in any form without express written permission from WorldatWork.