IT needs to be ready for swine flu

Written by Jessie Richards

Small companies should prepare their IT infrastructure for the impact of a swine flu outbreak, it has been claimed.

Eclipse Internet pointed out that many large firms are implementing business continuity plans, which would allow their staff to operate out of the office in the event of an emergency.

Mark Thomas, head of Eclipse Internet business sales, posed the question: "UK businesses have become extremely reliant on Information and communication technologies for their daily operations but what happens if we can’t get to our place of work?

The group said that smaller enterprises could do more to make this possible for themselves, recommending IT projects such as ensuring a reliable broadband connection in employee homes.

In addition, the organisation advised small companies to back up critical data on secure and remote servers to allow access to files, documents and emails regardless of workers' locations.

Recently, Nigel Hawthorn, vice president of European, Middle Eastern and African marketing at Blue Coat Systems, recommended that firms invest more in remote working technologies.