| Definition |
Business Continuity Planning is a process designed to minimise the effects of any disruption in communications, technology, infrastructure, or personnel. It typically consists of a documented response plan in the hands of clearly identified emergency response teams. |
| Implementation |
Successful Business Continuity Planning systems help managers to focus their actions towards the following requirements:
- Establish a comprehensive Business Continuity Plan that covers business and technology operations with ownership at all levels
- Provide a reference point to be included when making changes to IT projects, human resources, facilities and organisational structures
- Establish a management succession plan in case some executives are unavailable
- Review travel policies where key personnel should not travel together
- Review the proximity of key personnel so an entire team is not lost in a disaster
- Cross-train personnel in different locations so recovery process is not impeded by unqualified staff
- Consider telecommuting for some personnel and define order of priority
- Consider unmanned data centres so that personnel are available if data centre is damaged
- Empower business recovery teams to perform activities as quickly as possible
- Review operations manuals to ensure they are clear for personnel that are not accustomed to those activities
- Identify possible alternative temporary locations for conducting business
- Integrate business continuity planning requirements into contracts with supplier, vendors and service providers
- Maintain employee contact information
- Maintain current customer and client lists
- Maintain current contact information for vendors, suppliers, and service providers
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| Purpose |
Business Continuity Planning is often implemented to:
- Minimise disruption when disaster strikes
- Prevent business collapse due to inability to sustain damage
- Encourage managers to "think the unthinkable"
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