IDG's InfoWorld Provides IT Battle Plan for Y2K

Business Wire, Oct 25, 1999

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 25, 1999--

IDG's InfoWorld, the IT newsweekly that defines technology for business, will publish a special report in this week's issue designed to shed light on the crisis and employee management issues surfacing as organizations prepare for the year-2000 unknown and help IT managers prepare battle plans for a smooth Y2K transition. The report explains what companies are doing behind the scenes to shore up the front lines of their IT operations, provides a strategic check list for those who will be actively participating in their company's Y2K contingency plans, and includes insight on planning and preparation from IT professionals on the front lines and experts in the industry.

"As companies get closer to the Y2K countdown, the pressure on IT continues to mount. Staff members are being asked to cancel vacations, work as long as necessary and implement IT lock-downs on network installations," said Sandy Reed, editor in chief and editorial director of InfoWorld. "We want to give people on the front lines of Y2K the tools they need to be as prepared as possible."

While organizations express varying degrees of alarm over Y2K, almost are all are preparing for the possibility of trouble. According to Giga Information Group, more than 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies will institute some form of command center to manage Y2K rollover.

The InfoWorld Test Center Action Plan suggests detailed actions for Y2K rollover, and outlines four areas where IT managers should be prepared for trouble:

- Failure of critical business applications;

- Disruption of service from key suppliers, such as utilities,

telecomm, support companies;

- Environmental failures in building facilities, transportation,

food supply; and

- Social unrest resulting in riots, terrorism, or mischievous phone

calls.

The InfoWorld Test Center Action Plan addresses procedural details (who to contact if supplies don't arrive), as well as special circumstances (inform legal and public relations departments about problems early on).

The special report also includes planning tips from experts in the industry on ways to tune-up contingency plans. Suggestions include:

- Stocking up on critical computer parts and office supplies;

- Putting the right size team in place, to avoid gumming up the

works;

- Taking preventative measures early (such as switching to backup

generators before they are needed);

- Setting up teams to monitor Y2K incidents and track their

resolution;

- Adjusting business practices (closing out the financial books

early, for example);

- Ensuring people will have plenty of coffee, food and beverages.

About InfoWorld

Headquartered in San Mateo, Calif., in the heart of Silicon Valley, InfoWorld Media Group publishes InfoWorld and InfoWorld.com. InfoWorld, the IT newsweekly that defines technology for business, focuses on editorial coverage of key technologies, products and trends to assist IT professionals in leveraging technology for business advantage. InfoWorld's $23 million dollar dedicated multi-platform, enterprise test bed -- the InfoWorld Test Center -- conducts the industry's most trusted testing of technology and products as well as provides in-depth analysis and the business ROI of the technology and implementation.

InfoWorld Media Group also publishes InfoWorld.com, defining technology for business on the web, features daily technology news, product reviews, opinions, interactive discussion forums, along with a weekly e-mail newsletter (the InfoWorld Scoop) and a complete archive of InfoWorld's print edition.

InfoWorld Media Group is a wholly-owned independent business unit of IDG, the world's leading IT media, research and exposition company. IDG publishes more than 285 computer magazines and newspapers and 500 book titles and offers online users the largest network of technology specific sites around the world through IDG.net (http://www.idg.net), which comprises more than 200 targeted Web sites in 52 countries. IDG is also a leading producer of 110 computer-related expositions worldwide, and provides IT market analysis through 49 offices in 41 countries worldwide. Company information is available at http://www.idg.com.