Business Continuity Plan

The numbers speak for themselves. It is reported that nearly half of all small to medium sized business that lose their data will be out of business within two years. Another report states that over 25 percent of all business that experience as IT loss for more than 3 days go out of business almost immediately. With these statistics in mind, it is important for any business to have a comprehensive Business Continuity Plan (BCP) in place. The BCP is a way to ensure that key aspects of the business are managed and protected in such a way so the business can survive in the wake of a disaster. All plans need a policy and the BCP is no different.

The policy statement outlines the key elements of a successful BCP. These key elements are: Purpose, Scope, Roles and Responsibility, Resources, Training, Testing, Plan Maintenance and Other Considerations. The purpose statement may not seem important, but it is this statement that provides a brief overview of what the BCP is for and how it will work. Scope describes those that the plan encompasses either the organization as a whole, or certain divisions within the organization. Roles and Responsibilities describes the players that are involved with the BCP and the functions those individuals are to provide. The resource section is a statement that provides for allocation of funds to develop and support the plan. The training requirements section outlines how employees are to be trained for the implementation of the BCP. In the testing section it should be noted when tests should be conducted on the plan. The section will also describe the type of testing to be done, a white paper test or a walk trough. Plan maintenance is designed to ensure that the BCP is not just developed and forgotten. All plans need to be updated on a regular basis, and this section is in place to ensure the plan is review periodically. The elements of the BCP are in place, so it is now time to develop a plan. To start with, a business...