Business continuity planning is a way to ensure an organization can function with the minimum disruption possible following a catastrophe. Disruptions can come in a variety of forms, such as an attack by a cyber-storm, flooding or the loss of key employees or suppliers. These kinds of events can be devastating for a company, resulting in the loss of revenue and customers, as and damage to brand reputation.
A business continuity plan is designed to minimize these risks by defining procedures and instructions for the business in the event of an incident. This includes identifying potential impacts of each kind of incident and determining the steps that must be taken to minimize those impact, and determining who will be accountable for directing the situation. The process starts with a business-impact analysis. The second step involves putting together a crisis management team. This is the team who will be responsible in the situation of an emergency.
Training is a crucial component of the BCP because it will aid employees in understanding what to do in the event of a disaster. It is crucial to have a well-organized plan that is easily accessible, and to test it frequently. While testing, it might be beneficial to include younger members of the team to give them “fresh eyes” which may shed light details that more experienced members may have missed.
Disasters can happen at any time, so it’s crucial to be ready. A well-planned business continuity strategy will give your organization the resources it requires to handle any catastrophe. This will keep your customers satisfied, and increase your bottom line.
