IT-BT logs on to safer zone

IT-BT logs on to safer zone
BY SANCHITA SEN
BENGALURU


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: The serial blasts on Friday and the live bomb defused near Forum Mall on Saturday have shaken the IT industry which is planning to enhance its security system.

Though a security system is already in place, most companies are in the process of chalking out stricter security measures after the blasts in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad.

The companies in the areas where bombs were planted include Infosys, Oracle, Wipro, HP, Bosch, Symphony, Satyam, Ness, Vodafone, IBM, Sun Microsystems, Cisco, Ocwen, SJR Builders, Scandent Solutions.

Enhancing security is of utmost priority for the company authorities now, and it is not just these companies but others in the industry too are busy equipping themselves.

“We have taken several initiatives to beef up security on our premises, but we cannot reveal what the measures will be due to security reasons. But, we will increase the number of armed guards, improve the electronic surveillance system and enforce stricter guidelines for checking,” said T.V. Mohandas Pai, member of the board and director-human resources, Infosys.

After a bomb was diffused on Saturday in the upmarket Koramangala near Forum Mall, IT companies are worried that the bombers are targeting the epicentre of the city’s growth, which is the IT-BT and BPO industry. “We are concerned about our employees and their security is of utmost importance to us, so we have been taking all possible steps to improve security. We have even met prominent people in the government requesting them to address the problem and we are sure that they will take it up seriously,” said Avinash Ramachandra, manager, corporate affairs, AMD, whose office is located on Richmond Road close to one of Friday’s serial blast sites.

Many companies have already sent instructions to their employees on the security aspects.

“The safety and well being of employees is important to HP. Security measures have been stepped up at all HP facilities in Bengaluru.

An alert was issued to all employees advising them to stay within company premises pending clearance from HP security to exit. Further, employees are also advised to avoid sensitive locations while travelling back to their destinations,” stated an official release from HP.

In many companies, meetings with team-leaders and security personnel will be first priority on their agenda on Monday, where important decisions on security aspects would be taken up.