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Swine Flu: To Fear is to Fail

CSO Senior Editor Bill Brenner looks to history for examples of how fear only made matters worse, and how security pros can use reason to be of service in a swine flu pandemic.

By Bill Brenner, Senior Editor

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We've tried to do our part at CSOonline by releasing a primer of pandemic planning best practice articles and a podcast where a SANS Institute official describes how companies can stay afloat through a public health crisis.

Business continuity expert Kevin Nixon also pitched in with a guest article [see Swine Flu: How to Make Biz Continuity Plans]

Nixon pointed to a variety of resources for quick plan development:

Planning Guide for U.S. Businesses with Overseas Operations

Planning Guide for Businesses and other Employers

Planning Guide for Childcare Programs

Planning Guide for Elementary and Secondary Schools

Planning Guide for Colleges and Universities

Planning Guide for Faith-Based and Community Organizations

Planning Guide for Individuals and Families

There's a cliché about "facts, not fear" being the key to crisis management and survival. I couldn't agree more.

In the final analysis, it's best to gather as much information as is available and, from there, carve out a contingency plan to ensure order and calm in the face of crisis.

If we do that, there will indeed be nothing to fear.

About FUD Watch: Senior Editor Bill Brenner scours the Internet in search of FUD - overhyped security threats that ultimately have little impact on a CSO's daily routine. The goal: help security decision makers separate the hot air from genuine action items. To point us toward the industry's most egregious FUD, send an e-mail to bbrenner@cxo.com.