Description

Implementing and Maintaining Business Continuity Plans and
Processes

Business continuity plans (BCPs) are vital documents that help an organisation to maintain its operations during an unplanned event. BCPs identify the essential functions of a business and its technology systems, processes and data. They can cover risks such as cyber-attacks, pandemics, natural disasters and human error.

It is paramount that businesses meaningfully create and regularly update their BPCs in order to ensure their longevity and protect their reputations; having a thorough plan decreases the chance of costly outages occurring. IT administrators generally develop BCPs with oversight from executive staff who understand the company’s needs.

Organisational success hinges on business continuity planning (BCP). This process is a proactive strategy that helps organisations to understand and respond quickly during times of upheaval. BCP promotes ongoing customer service and reduces the risk of customers turning to competitors by decreasing business downtime. To ensure optimal functioning, companies create emergency plans that outline steps taken before, during, and after an emergency event in order to maintain financial viability. In other words, BCP allows companies to remain agile and move forward despite any business interruption.

About this course

•  Training Provider: OHS.com.au
•  Location: Online
•  Course length: Varies average 20 minutes
• Time: Self-paced
•  Certification / Accreditation: Certificate of Completion

Background – Lifecycle of a Business Continuity Plan
Business continuity planning employs a five-step cycle in order to ensure consistent results across the board. This includes information gathering and analysis (which includes business impact analysis, risk assessment, etc.), plan development and design, implementation, testing and maintenance/updates.

By following this repeating cycle, organisations are better able to maintain their continuity plans effectively over time.

Once a business begins the planning process, it is necessary to conduct Business Impact Analysis (BIA) and Risk Assessment (RA) to be informed of potential threats and risks. The BIA elaborates on the functions that must remain operational during a crisis and necessary resources, while the RA evaluates both internal and external risks as well as their likelihood and risk magnitude. After these steps are completed, it is critical to develop an effective strategy to best address any potential risks or threats identified through BIA and RA. A successful business continuity plan should include step-
by-step procedures for reaction in case of an incident.

The Business Continuity Plan should be concise, yet comprehensive enough to keep the business running in case of an unexpected disruption. For small businesses, this can take the form of a one- page plan that outlines the minimum resources required for continuity, potential locations where it can take place, personnel needed to execute it successfully and any associated costs.

Organisations must continually monitor their technology, processes, staff and facilities to ensure the effectiveness of a business continuity plan (BCP). When testing and reviewing a BCP, team members can carry out a variety of activities such as tabletop exercises, walk-throughs, practice crisis management communications and emergency enactments. Ultimately these tests aim to test how employees and executives would act in an unexpected situation.

A thorough test of the BCP involves carrying out actions that mimic what would happen during a disruption. A successful test should show that all personnel are trained on executing the correct procedures during an incident. Regular testing helps ensure the accuracy of all parts of the BCP.

BCPs must be updated regularly, and staff members with roles in the plan should get regular training. Periodic internal or external audits can appraise the BCP's effectiveness and uncover areas for improvement. Testing of the plan can occur spontaneously to replicate unplanned crises. If certain issues arise during testing, the BCP should be adjusted accordingly throughout maintenance. During this phase, it is essential to review each critical function listed in the BIA along with all risks
outlined in the RA, making modifications as necessary.

Course Outline
OHS’s Implement and Maintain Business Continuity Plans and Processes training course is designed to cover the skills and knowledge needed to work in accordance with a business continuity framework, when developing and implementing plans to manage risk and ensure resilience against disruptive events.

Learning Outcomes

•  Identify the relationship between corporate risk and the organisation’s business   continuity management framework.

•  Analyse and determine internal and external risk context by collecting   information     that relates to the organisation's priorities, operations and   environment.

• Analyse and identify potential internal and external sources of disruption to the organisation's priorities, operations and environment.

•  Identify the organisation's critical business functions and their dependencies   and interdependencies and analyse and evaluate risks through the business   impact     assessment/s.

•  Develop risk and disruption scenarios through the business impact assessment/s.
•  Validate risk and disruption scenarios through the business impact assessment/s.
•  Analyse, validate and report on the outcomes of the business impact   assessment/s            to management.

•  Develop the organisation's emergency response, continuity and recovery   strategies
•  Consult and seek endorsement on the organisation's emergency response,   continuity and recovery strategies from management and other appropriate   personnel.

•  Identify and manage synergies and conflicts in resource availability and access in   conjunction with management.

•  Coordinate the organisation's emergency response, continuity and   recovery   strategies.