The 10 Components of a Business Continuity Plan

Business continuity is the ability of an organization to keep its operations running in the event of an interruption. The goal of business continuity is to minimize the disruption to the organization and to ensure that it can resume its operations as quickly as possible. While business continuity is often thought of in terms of natural disasters, it can also apply to other types of disruptions, such as power outages, cyberattacks, and pandemics.

A business continuity plan (BCP) is a document that outlines how an organization will continue to function during and after an emergency or major disruptive event. The goal of a BCP is to help the organization minimize downtime and maintain its core functions and operations. Tasks that are typically included in a BCP are: maintaining customer service, keeping the lights on, and ensuring safety. A well-executed BCP will help to minimize the financial and reputational impact of an emergency. A BCP is not a static document; it should be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect changes in the organization, such as new facilities, processes, or technology.

A high-quality business continuity plan helps to ensure that the organization is prepared to respond quickly and efficiently to an emergency, minimizing the damage to its reputation. Some of its benefits include:

• Helps to ensure the safety of employees, customers, and other stakeholders.
• Helps to minimize downtime and maintain operations.
• Helps to protect the organization’s reputation.
• Helps to minimize the financial impact of an emergency.

To have an effective business continuity plan, the following components must be present:

1. Business Impact Analysis

The first step in creating a business continuity plan is to conduct a business impact analysis (BIA). This is a process of identifying and assessing the potential impact of an interruption to critical business operations. The BIA will help you to identify which business processes are critical to the survival of the organization and which can be interrupted without major consequences. 

2. Risk Assessment

Once you have identified the business processes that are critical to the organization, the next step is to assess the risks that could potentially disrupt those processes. This includes natural disasters, power outages, cyberattacks, and pandemics. Risk assessment will help you to prioritize the relevant business processes and create a plan to mitigate the risks.

3. Business Continuity Strategy

The business continuity strategy outlines the steps that will be taken to keep the organization running in the event of an interruption. The strategy should be tailored to the specific needs of the organization and should address all aspects of the business continuity plan, from people and facilities to processes and technology.

4. Recovery Team

The recovery team is responsible for implementing the business continuity plan. The team should be made up of key personnel from all departments of the organization. The team should meet regularly to review the business continuity plan and to identify any changes that need to be made.

5. Training

All members of the business recovery team should be trained in their roles and responsibilities. Training should also be provided to all employees, so they know what to do in the event of an emergency.

6. Business Continuity Exercises

Business continuity exercises are simulations of an interruption to business processes. They are conducted to test the business continuity plan and to identify any weaknesses. Exercises should be conducted regularly and should be adapted to reflect changes in the organization.

7. Communication

Communication is essential for keeping employees, customers, and other stakeholders informed during an interruption. The business continuity plan should include a communication plan that outlines who will be responsible for communicating with different groups of people. The communication plan should also include a method for distributing information, such as email, text message, or social media.

8. Backup Locations and Physical Assets

In the event of an interruption, it may be necessary to relocate business processes to a different location. The business continuity plan should include a list of backup locations and contact information for those locations. The plan should also include a list of physical assets, such as computer equipment, that will be needed to continue business processes at the backup location.

9. Periodic Review and Recommendations

The business continuity plan should be reviewed regularly, and changes should be made as needed. The plan should also be reviewed after any major changes to the organization, such as a merger or acquisition. Business continuity professionals can help to review and update the business continuity plan. They can also provide recommendations for improvements to the plan.

10. Technology

Technology is a critical part of business continuity. The business continuity plan should include a plan for maintaining access to critical systems in the event of an interruption. This could include things like data backup, emergency power, and redundant systems. As technology evolves, the business continuity plan should be updated to reflect changes in the organization. Also, employees should be trained on how to use the technology that is critical to business continuity.

The following steps can be taken to get started on a BCP:

1. The risk profile of the organization should be determined.
2. Business processes that are critical to the organization should be identified.
3. A strategy should be developed to keep the organization running in the event of an interruption.
4. Key products, services, or functions should be documented.
5. The business-continuity-plan objectives, scope, and assumptions should be documented.
6. Contact lists should be organized.
7. A business continuity plan should be continuously reviewed and kept up to date.