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For immediate release: November 12, 2007 Contact: Shawn Karrick
NASCIO Looks at Pandemic Planning for IT Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
(Lexington, KY) - NASCIO is pleased to announce the release of its publication, “Pandemic Planning and Response for State IT: Where’s My Staff?” A product of NASCIO's Disaster Recovery Working Group, this issue brief is designed to assist state CIOs and their staff in preparing for and protecting their state IT infrastructure in the event of a pandemic crisis.
The primary focus of this brief is to provide state CIOs and other state IT leaders with an overview of the steps needed to maintain critical IT operations during a pandemic outbreak, because a pandemic goes beyond just the technology aspect within an IT organization, but involves on a larger scale understanding the impact to your staff and the logistics of suppliers outside of your organization who may also experience a high employee absentee rate. The brief is available at: www.nascio.org/publications/.
“Traditionally, IT disruptions are planned for based on anticipated disasters both natural and manmade that can physically damage facilities and equipment, however, pandemics are unique in that they affect an organization’s workforce as opposed to its physical infrastructure and therefore require a radically different approach for recovery efforts,” said David Taylor, Chief Information Officer for Florida’s Department of Health, and Chair of NASCIO’s Disaster Recovery Working Group. Taylor further stated, “We are pleased to offer this very timely and critically important issue brief as a resource for state CIOs and other state leaders to help plan for business continuity in their states in anticipation of a pandemic outbreak. My hope is that it expands the dialog about where we are at, what needs to be done next, the opportunities that we have, and the challenges of the future.”
NASCIO is the premier network and resource for state CIOs and a leading advocate for technology policy at all levels of government. NASCIO represents state chief information officers and information technology executives from the states, territories, and the District of Columbia. The primary state government members are senior officials who have executive level and statewide responsibility for information technology leadership. State officials who are involved in agency level information technology management may participate as associate members. Representatives from other public sector and non-profit organizations may also participate as associate members. Private sector firms may join as corporate members and participate in the Corporate Leadership Council.
# # # # Please contact Drew Leatherby, NASCIO Issues Coordinator, at (859) 514-9187 or dleatherby@AMRms.com, or Shawn Karrick, NASCIO Membership and Communications Coordinator, at (859) 514-9156 or skarrick@AMRms.com.
AMR Management Services provides NASCIO's executive staff. For more information about AMR visit www.AMRms.com/.
