Technology Advice to help your business prepare for Swine Flu

There are a number of actions that can be taken to help minimise the impact swine flu has on your business and as always, being prepared and acting quickly will ultimately reduce the impact if/when it does occur.

The Business Advisory Network for Flu, (a Cabinet Office initiative to help businesses prepare for the effects of Swine Flu), predicts that:

  • The first wave of swine flu will happen between August and November – around 30% of the public will be infected
  • The first wave will peak broadly between late August and late September
  • During the peak weeks employee absence rates for illness (themselves or looking after ill children) may reach 12% of the workforce – in addition to normal holiday absence

It appears inevitable that there will be some degree of disruption to business as a result of Swine Flu. Businesses face the liklihood of parents having to stay at home to care for children or as a result of companies Swine Flu policies requiring those with infected family members to stay at home to limit the risk of spreading infection.

HOW CAN SOLSIS HELP?

The ability to provide employees with effective remote working will be key is ensuring businesses continue to operate without interuption during this period.

Maybe you simply need to provide the ability for a few employees to remotely access their office PC from home, or maybe you need to be able to fully support key personnel or business processes remotely, that you can’t at the moment.

  • Business Policy Review regarding Remote & Home working
    Understanding your business policy regarding employees working from home (i.e. will the business require workers to work from home if somebody at home has swine flu to minimise the risk of infection spreading across the business). If so, you need to ensure that remote working is widely available.
  • Review & Test existing technology and processes to support remote working
    As an example maybe a key worker has a laptop with VPN capability but has not used it for a long time so can’t confirm it still works or may have forgotten how to use it!. We would identify this and make sure they were able to confidently work remotely, rather than find out when it is too late and causing unnecessary disruption to the business.
  • Identify those needing remote access capabilities
    Maybe the Accounts team always work in the office on desktops, but the business could not afford for invoices not to be raised for a week or more if the accounts team were forced to stay at home unexpectedly. We can help identify such people and processes and ensure that the ability to continue to deliver these vital processes from home.
  • Identify existing technology that is not being fully utilised
    Many businesses do not utilise the technology they have fully. As an example, a customer with Small Business Server may not be using the Remote Web Workplace feature because historically it was not needed. With some configuration and user guidance this could quickly provide remote access to the business systems.
  • Temporary Remote Access Solutions
    If you simply need to provide temporary remote access during this period we have a number of solutions that don't require expensive equipment or lengthy & complicated setup.
Speak to your Account Manager today about preparing your IT systems for Swine Flu or alternatively call 01344 401548 or email Solsis here.

Useful Swine Flu Links;

Business Link Swine Flu Advice

Cabinet Office Swine Flu Checklist

Solsis Partners

IT Support in Berkshire, London, Thames Valley, Hampshire and the surrounding areas.