Do you need some practical tips on how to access your payroll system if it was affected by the Microsoft IT outage? Well, Fran Williams, Senior Product Director of Payroll and Managed Services at IRIS has some great advice:
“Keep updated by regularly checking status updates from your internal IT teams and payroll provider(s) and staying in close contact with your support teams. Also, keep employees informed about any payroll processing issues or delays to maintain transparency. Don’t forget to back up and securely store any manually processed data for future input into the payroll system.
“Looking ahead, developing a robust payroll contingency plan is essential. This plan should include clear communication strategies, defined roles and responsibilities during outages, and training for your team on handling these situations.
“Further, it’s crucial for businesses to conduct regular IT audits. Identifying any vulnerabilities and implementing security measures can bolster your defences against unexpected outages. Training staff to manage and respond to IT incidents effectively can significantly reduce downtime and help maintain operational continuity.
“This incident highlights the importance of regularly reviewing your technology infrastructure and business continuity plans. Using a single software provider and leveraging cloud-based solutions can help mitigate such risks.”
