Business Continuity Process
Business Continuity Program Overview:
To establish a Business Continuity Program (BCP) is the most prudent way to protect your organization – its core functions, assets and its reputation. A BCP will help to ensure the continuation of the company’s vision and mission even in the face of an interruption that may be classified as a disaster. 3J Contingency Planning Services will help you successfully develop and manage a Business Continuity Program using the following steps:
•Project/Program Initiation
•Risk Assessment (per location)
•Business Impact Analysis
•Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity Strategy Development
•Business Recovery/Continuity Plan Development
•Program Development/Awareness
•Plan Maintenance and Testing/Exercising
Step 1 – Project/Program Initiation
Project/Program Initiation is the first and most crucial step in the development of a Business Continuity Program. At this stage, the initial formation of the project/program scope, goals, objectives, requirements, definitions, assumptions and risks are defined. The organization for the implementation and management of the project/program is defined.
Step 2 – Risk Assessment (Per Location)
The second step in the BCP process is an assessment of the physical risks to each location (depending on the scope and objective as defined in Step 1). Recommendations to mitigate the physical risks will be defined and documented.
Step 3 – Business Impact Analysis
The Business Impact Analysis (BIA) is Step #3. It comprises the development of the program requirements by learning the value and impact of losing business functions over time. Recovery Time Objectives, Recovery Point Objectives, recovery priorities and interdependencies will be defined and documented.
Step 4 – Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity Strategy Development
In Step #4, information from the Risk Assessment and the BIA is combined to formulate strategies for recovering critical IT (information technology) infrastructure to meet the recovery objectives defined in the BIA. This process is also used to develop recovery strategies for non-IT business units
Step 5 – Business Recovery/Continuity Plan Development
In Step #5, the structure of the plan document is defined, distribution and maintenance procedures are developed and the plan is written
Step 6 – Program Development/Awareness
The plan is integrated into the corporate environment. Employees are trained and become aware of roles and responsibilities as part of the Business Continuity Program.
Step 7 – Plan Maintenance and Testing/Exercising
The plan is regularly tested and plan participants are regularly exercised. The document is updated as a result of tests/exercises. The document is also updated as changes occur in the organization.
