The U.S. government has said that terrorist attacks are likely as the nation prepares for a possible war with Iraq. Enterprises should take steps to protect employees and reduce the impact of business interruptions.

A U.S.-led war with Iraq will affect businesses directly and indirectly. It will have an impact on most multinational businesses. Enterprises can take several steps to minimize the disruption caused by the war.

The looming war with Iraq will require immediate action from human resources executives and CIOs in three areas: calls to duty, communicating and travel. Ignoring those areas will compromise workforce performance.

The number of cyberattacks rose alarmingly, even before the war on terror. A U.S.-led war against Iraq will increase politically motivated "hactivism." Enterprises should take basic steps to protect against attacks of any origin.

The possible war with Iraq represents the biggest cloud hanging over the global economic recovery. Enterprises looking at offshore outsourcing and the vendors that provide these services must act to mitigate risks.

Because of its inherent ability to heal itself, the Internet reduces an enterprise's vulnerability to business disruptions. Distributed computing and the Internet are critical to protecting an enterprise's supply chain.

Telecommuting and mobile access can help enterprises cope with emergencies. When disaster strikes, key company locations may go offline or be physically inaccessible. Remote-work capability will keep businesses operational.

In a war with Iraq, global supply chains face serious risk from many sources. Enterprises must acquire inventory safety stock and meet new, worldwide customs regulations for cargo security.

When the effects of war are globalized to an extent that was not possible before the Internet, your enterprise needs to be ready. Our advice can help you be prepared.

2-4 June 2003
Washington, D.C.