Emergency Preparedness

Virtualization is important for back up and recovery
Server virtualization, that is, the separation of functionality from the underlying hardware, offers organizations many advantages in preparing for coping with and recovering from disasters, but it is not a panacea
- Read more
Sprint's preparations for Gustav
Sprint Nextel invested $59 million in network preparations in coastal communities; bolstering preparations aimed to help both customers and first responders
- Read more

U.K. SMEs unprepared for business risk
YouGov survey shows small and medium-sized firms lack business continuity plans; only one third of SMEs are taking steps to ensure their business will continue to operate normally in the event of disruption
- Read more
Aussie student has answer to save Earth from asteroid attack
The bomb dropped on Hiroshima had an explosive yield of 12.5 kiloton; asteroid Apophis, which is now hurtling toward Earth and which will come uncomfortably close to our planet in 2029, packs a punch of 1,375,000 kilotons; competitions are being held to find the best way to stop it in its tracks
- Read more

NIST 9/11 investigation finds building fires caused collapse
After three years study, NIST experts say fire caused the collapse of the 47-story World Trade Center building 7; this is the first known instance of fire causing the total collapse of a tall building
- Read more
Indian SMBs will spend $289 million on security related investments this year
Business in India are becoming more aware of security threats and the need for continuity planning; the top three key trends among India SMBs are UTM (Unified Threat Management), BCS (Business Continuity Solutions), and MSS (Managed Security Services)
- Read more

Five steps to safer virtual servers
At the Black Hat conference, HP chief security strategist provided virtualization security advice
- Read more
New tool for analyzing risk
New tool transforms the traditional vulnerability assessment into a true risk-management process
- Read more

Global warming will reduce frequency but increase intensity of hurricanes
Two variables — ocean temperature and wind shear — are considered to be the two most important factors in predicting hurricane activity, both in operational forecasting and in consideration of climate change; new research shows that global warming will likely reduce the frequency of hurricanes, but increase their intensity
- Read more
Can New York City's infrastructure handle climate change's consequences?
Mayor Michael Bloomberg sets up a panel of experts to examine whether NYC can cope with flooded subway tunnels, rising sea levels, intense heat, and other consequences of climate change
- Read more

DHS prepares for attack during transition
Elaine Duke, DHS’s undersecretary for management: “A lot of acts of terror take place in times of political change, and there’s an awareness of that…. So we’re looking at — when our political employees leave — who acts in their place … in case of an incident”
- Read more
New interim management service for the business continuity sector
One result of a disaster may be injured and traumatized employees who need time away from to office to recuperate; it may be relatively easy to replace a filing clerk, but about a manager? London-based company offers qualified temps for business continuity missions
- Read more

FEMA's still struggles with IT security issues
DHS’s IG reports that “These issues collectively limit FEMA’s ability to ensure that critical financial and operational data is maintained in a manner to ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability”
- Read more
Bacteria were the real killers in 1918 flu pandemic
Medical and scientific experts now agree that bacteria, not influenza viruses, were the greatest cause of death during the 1918 flu pandemic
- Read more
Worry: South Korean cat infected with bird flu
A cat found dead in a South Korean city was infected with a virulent strain of bird flu, the first mammal in the country known to have had the H5N1 virus; cats and dogs are usually not susceptible to the virus
- Read more

More headlines