Business continuity

Business Continuity is a generic management framework which is valid across all sectors and helps organisation anticipate, prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from distruption. The main piece of guidance that is used in BCM is BS25999/1 available online here.

Below is a brief overview of the process to assist organisations on their way:

Stage 1: BCM Programme Management: Is about enabling the business continuity capability to be both established and maintained appropriate to the size of the business. The strategy needs to be supported and driven from the top of the organisation down.

Stage 2: Understanding your Organisation: Is about identifying the critical functions of your organisation and recovery priorities based on risk assessment to determine what could lead to disruption of your normal operations.

Stage 3: Determining BCM Strategies: Is about identifying alternative means available to mitigate loss, and assessing their effectiveness in maintaining your organisation's ability to deliver its critical functions.

Stage 4: Developing and Implementing a BCM Response: Seeks to developing plans to underpin the response to disruptions.

Stage 5: Embedding a BCM Culture: Is about ensuring that key personnel and partners in the organisation are aware of Business Continuity issues and developing a culture of resilience and continuity within the organisation.

Stage 6: Exercising, Maintenance and Review: Finally it is vital that plans are tested to ensure they are fit for purpose, kept up to date and quality assured. The core of BCM is about embedding BCM in the organisation's culture - This enables BCM to become part of the organisation's core values and instils confidence in all stakeholders in the ability of the organisation to cope with disruptions.