Israel ranks fifth among the countries most prepared for the year 2000 computer problem. This emerged from a report by the Gartner Group research company, brought last month before the US Congress special committee for the Y2K technological problems.
The report puts the US in first place, followed by Canada, Australia, South Africa and Israel. Israel comes before many West European countries including the UK, Holland, Belgium, Germany and France as well as Japan and the Far East. Israel stands out for her high position among Middle Eastern countries, which according to the report have only just started preparations to solve the problem.
The grading was based on probability of failures in infrastructures, as of 1998’s third quarter. It takes into account risks stemming from these lapses , interdependence between different entities, a level of readiness for the year 2000 itself and the probable results of the glitches.
Israel ranks among the countries where 15% of the bodies are expected to suffer at least one critical fault. A critical fault is defined in the report as one which causes the closing of business activity, production or shipment of a product; anticipated risk to health; or one which causes a significant loss in revenue, a considerable loss in the number of customers, or a hefty legal expense.
According to the report, Israel is expected to encounter isolated and secondary events of glitches in power supply, telephone communications, gas supply, shortage of food and water and banking activity, Less severe incidents are expected in scheduled air traffic and fuel supply. A greater number of hitches are expected in the public service system, the report claims.
Gartner’s survey findings derive from interviews and meetings with companies and government bodies, corporations, equipment manufacturers, consultant firms and lawyers. The research encompassed 15,000 companies in 87 countries. 23% of all companies and government bodies interviewed have not started any action to solve the problem. Of these, 83% are defined as small entities, with less than 2,000 employees.
Published by Israel's Business Arena November 2, 1998