It's a wide line between IT security and physical security

There is a line between IT security and physical security. Many of the big consulting firms and integrators would like you to think it is a fine line. But I think it is a nice wide line, one that gets crossed occasionally when people consider integrating a building access system with a network access system.  But, today, there is little synergy between IT security and locks, doors, and windows. And that is fine. 

Speaking of wide lines - In recent years one IT research firm has inexplicably gotten excited about pandemics. There are lots of outside influences that can have an impact on IT resources: hurricanes, wars, floods, and earthquakes to name a few.  First it was SARS and now it is H5N1 a strain of the avian flu.  At Gartner's Data Storage conference Gartner's Curmudgeon in Chief, Ken McGee warned enterprises to complete their pandemic preparations by mid next year.  I have a lot of respect for Ken. I learned Curmudgeonry 101 from him at Gartner Boot Camp years ago. But I really don't think that IT staffs should spend any more time than it takes to read this blog on preparing for a pandemic.  

There are too many real and present dangers.  Spending time and money on threats that are non-existent is not a good allocation of resources,  especially when the real threats of targeted attacks, DDoS, root kits, and cyber crime have yet to be countered. 

And as for storing drinking water against the possibility of having to house data staff in quarantine for a month or more?  I want to point out that water and data do not mix. Do not store large amounts of water anywhere near your critical infrastructure.