Getting Started with Mission Continuity: Shadow-Planner
Shadow-Planner, a mission continuity planning tool that has been configured for Penn, is used to capture and maintain continuity, crisis management, and disaster recovery plans online in a standard format. Accessible through a web browser, the software provides a flexible framework for entering mission continuity information and can be used to meet the varying needs of Schools and Centers across campus. Noteworthy features of Shadow-Planner include
- Integration with other Penn systems. Some key planning information, such as faculty/staff contact and facilities/building data, is integrated and regularly refreshed from the appropriate Penn systems of record to ensure data integrity and streamline data entry.
- E-mail notification. Automated e-mail notifications facilitate the continuous management of plan data.
- Organization-based security. Organization-based security allows responsibility for plan development and maintenance to be shared among different individuals.
Shadow-Planner makes the development and maintenance of mission continuity plans for all organizations and buildings safe, secure, and accessible.
Getting access to Shadow-Planner
Individuals who are responsible for mission continuity planning in their organization may obtain access to Shadow-Planner software. To request access, please consult with the Plan Liaison in your School or Center. You will need to submit a signed access form (PDF) and attend required training. Please note that it is especially important to bring this signed form with you when you attend training so that access to the software can be granted as quickly as possible once you successfully complete the training curriculum.
Shadow-Planner requirements
Authentication. A unique login ID and password are assigned to each user by the system administrator. Users will receive their credentials after successfully completing all training requirements. In future releases, PennKey authentication will replace the Shadow-Planner-specific login ID and password.
Browser. Currently, only Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (IE), up to version 9, is supported by the software vendor for accessing Shadow-Planner. Additional browsers will be supported in future releases of the software.
Operating system and hardware. Any computer that is able to connect to the internet and run IE version 5.5 can be used to access Shadow-Planner. As noted above, users have not experienced any problems to-date using more recent versions of IE. No other desktop client software is required. Please note that with all web-based applications, system response time will vary depending on the speed of the actual Internet connection as well as the CPU processor and memory (RAM) of the computer. That said, Shadow-Planner users are encouraged to follow ISC’s Desktop Computing Recommendations.
