Business continuity planning
Recovering systems is one part of the picture. Continuity planning makes sure people, processes and providers can keep critical services running while that happens. Our approach follows the structure of ISO 22301.
Recovery is an input. Continuity is the outcome.
Why continuity
Technology recovery brings applications and data back.
Staff need to know where to go, what to do and who decides.
Critical work needs manual workarounds while systems are down.
Clients, suppliers and regulators need to be kept informed.
Business impact analysis
Not every service needs the same protection. A business impact analysis (BIA) identifies the services that matter most, how long they can be disrupted, and what they depend on.
How a continuity engagement runs
Agree scope, sponsors and objectives.
Identify critical services and dependencies.
Choose continuity options for each service.
Exercise the plan with the people involved.
Review, update and report on a regular cycle.
Plan for real disruption
How critical work continues if a site is unavailable.
What happens if a key provider is disrupted.
How essential processes run while systems recover.
Making sure critical knowledge is not held by one person.
Exercise the plan
A facilitated tabletop exercise walks leadership and response teams through a realistic scenario. It tests decisions, communication and handoffs without disrupting operations.
Realistic for the organization.
Decisions, roles and timing.
What worked and what did not.
Owners and dates for each change.
Crisis communication
Decisions, status and escalation.
What to do and where to work.
What to expect and how to reach you.
What you need from them.
Continuity and recovery
| Business continuity | Disaster recovery | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Keeping critical operations running | Restoring technology and data |
| Scope | People, processes, sites and suppliers | Systems, applications and infrastructure |
| Question | How do we keep serving clients? | How do we bring systems back? |
| Owner | Business leadership | Technology leadership, with the business |
