Knowing Your Risk

As described on the previous page, Defining the Problem, the Year 2000 problem falls into three general categories:

1. Distributed Systems: personal computers, workstations and departmental servers
2. Embedded Systems: equipment controlled by computers or computer chips
3. Outside Dependencies: outside parties who provide us with goods, services or data

You should read these descriptions over to be sure you understand your vulnerability.

Within the domain of distributed systems -- and particularly with software -- your risk of running into problems is highest if the nature of your work involves one or more of the following:

- accounting systems
- spreadsheets / databases that record and compare dates
- older or custom coded software

Your risk decreases when you use:

- a major vendor's software purchased/upgraded this year
- newer machines
- databases where date manipulation is not required
- spreadsheets where date manipulation is not required

It is essential that you ask questions about the computing hardware and software you use in time to remedy possible problems.

Recognizing this, several grant funding agencies have already notified grant recipients of their responsibilities to ensure Year 2000 compliance. See:

• National Science Foundation (NSF) Notice.
• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Notice Regarding the Year 2000 Computer Problem.

Next Step: Planning for Action