A business continuity plan is a set article of proactive strategies that are designed to prevent disasters and other unexpected interruptions. These plans assist companies in avoiding reputational, financial and regulatory consequences that could damage their value on the market or damage confidence among consumers. The creation and management of a business continuity plan requires considerable expertise and resources. In addition to IT professionals, employees from critical departments such as accounting, marketing human resources, legal have to be involved in the process.
A strong business continuity plan includes a thorough analysis of the key functions of your organization. This analysis can help identify which processes are most essential and which processes they rely on to succeed. The analysis should include an evaluation of what impact a disaster could have on these functions. The ideal business continuity plan should include recovery procedures for each of these crucial tasks.
When the business continuity assessment is completed, the organization will be required to create and implement a business continuity plan. The process can be complicated due to the need for a balance between the business’s requirements and the limitations of its limited resources.
The business continuity plan needs to be regularly tested and updated. Testing that can range from simple as tabletop exercises or the more complicated as workplace simulations to ensure that the plan works and efficient. Testing can also reveal areas where theoretical solutions won’t work in real-world situations and allow the company to modify its procedures to accommodate. Regular reviews and updates will ensure that the business continuity plan is in line with the company’s processes, technology and personnel.