Business Continuity Planning

Disasters such as Floods, Earth Quakes andmanual consists of an impact analysis, threat
pandemics occur that cause frequent distruptionanalysis, and impact scenarios with the resulting
to normal business cycle. Business however mustplan requirement documentation. An impact
continue in the event of such disasters. Planning inanalysis results in the distinction between critical
such cases involves planning for continuingand non-critical activities.
business operations in the face of disaster.Planning for continuity will involve planning for
Common disaster occur in the form of Disease,recovery from the worst disasters. Typically an
Earthquake, Fire, Flood, Cyber attack, Sabotageimpact of a threat that affects loss of buildings
Hurricane,Utility outage and Terrorism. All theseetc., should be covered under business continuity
have the effect of disrupting business operations.planning as opposed to minimal threats.
The first phase activity in BCM involves creating aThe design phase involves creation of a cost
manual and periodically updating these witheffective approach to implement business
anticipated threats. Threats can be unanticipatedcontinuity activities. The implementation phase
as well. For example the attack on the worldinvolves performing disaster recovery activities.
trade center was not anticipated by manyActivities may be creating an alternate operations
businesses. But businesses that had a anticipatorycenter say in a lower seismographic zone area
plan to mitigate such risks due to such disasterswhere earth quakes are common.
survived the attack.This risk mitigation and control process that
For example the Y2K problem was anticipated byaffects organizational performance must be
many businesses and so many businessescontinuously monitored and also updated within
survived the computer bug.the organization.
The analysis phase in the development of a BCP