Thode, chief operating officer at Aidmatrix Foundation Inc., was among the hundreds of people who raced south to help after Hurricane Katrina. But instead of handing out food or administering first aid, Thode helped get essential relief-related IT systems up and running. "In a time of crisis, we had to be there," he says, citing Aidmatrix's mission. The nonprofit foundation develops Internet-based software to help humanitarian organizations better manage supplies.

Hurricane Katrina tested many people's ability to work under the gun. Front-line relief workers handled the most publicized challenges, but IT practitioners dealt with unusual and pressure-filled job demands.

The circumstances around Katrina might seem unique, but many tech professionals occasionally find themselves working in extreme conditions, trying to establish networks or troubleshoot applications far from the comforts of their offices. Such situations make for good stories, but they also provide important pointers on how to work more effectively in everyday situations.

Here are some IT lessons learned in extreme conditions:

Keep it simple. The U.S. Army uses commercial hardware and software when it sets up satellite connections in Afghanistan, Iraq and other remote or hostile areas. Soldiers in the field can set up satellite communications in just a few steps, says Kevin Carroll, an Army program executive officer for enterprise information systems based in Fort Belvoir, Va. They unpack and set up the equipment within 30 minutes, then need only to push a button to have the equipment search for a satellite for the actual transmissions. "We structure it to be easy to use," Carroll says. He explains that soldiers are trained in multiple disciplines, but most aren't IT professionals, and the Army can't rush experts to the scene every time a satellite link is needed.