How do you make sure your business keeps running? 

Your biggest fear is that your organization's IT systems are failing. Obviously, the survival of your business is objective number one, but how do you ensure business continuity and all that entails? Several policies will help you be better prepared for an emergency. We explain them to you one by one.

A business continuity policy 

A business continuity policy consists of systems and plans to keep your business running during and after an emergency. This policy identifies the risks to your business so you can base your plans on them. Here are the key components: 

• Roles and responsibilities 
  Someone within management is designated as responsible. Structure is set up and the necessary resources are allocated. 
• Scope of the process 
  Determine which parts of the organization and processes are within the risk range and which measures are covered by policy. 
• Setting up the process 
  Prioritize aspects of the process, determine whether existing initiatives are covered by the policy, and decide on funding. 
• Preconditions
  In order for the process to be successful, conditions are established. These may include rules and laws, whether it is useful to outsource certain tasks and ensuring good communication and information. 

An operational emergency plan 

An emergency plan ensures that your business can recover quickly after an emergency and be operational again. Proper preparation and testing are essential to a successful plan. It helps to make and keep a plan executable, relevant and up-to-date. You tailor the emergency plan to the specific needs and goals of your business. Any operational emergency plan should include three key aspects: 

• Recognizing the emergency 
  First, as an organization, you need to know what an emergency is. An emergency involves a disruption that is critical to your operations.  
• Responding to the emergency 
  It is important that all your employees know what to do when an emergency occurs and that they act according to their ability. It is management's responsibility to train and prepare employees for any situation.  
• Preparation for recovery 
  The contingency plan should develop strategies to resume normal business operations after a disaster. It should focus on minimizing damage and loss, ensure rapid recovery actions, and include clearly communicated steps for rebuilding business functions. 

A Disaster Recovery Plan

A DRP is a documented set of guidelines for getting an organization back up and running quickly after a disaster, such as a hack. It addresses all IT-dependent aspects of a business and includes plans for restoring IT systems and data. 

The Need for a Disaster Recovery Plan 

When your organization relies on IT systems, it's a nightmare when it suddenly stops working. Downtime causes major losses in terms of image and efficiency, and thus revenue. That is why it is imperative to have a Disaster Recovery Plan.  

Inform stakeholder 

During or after an incident, it is important to inform the right people and agencies to restore trust and meet legal obligations. The right tone, timing and format are critical. How you communicate can determine whether the stakeholder responds negatively or positively. Who can you inform: 

• Staff 
• Customers 
• Supplier 
• Contracting parties and other partners or stakeholders 
• Police and judiciary 
• Insurer or bank 
• Advisors  
• Collaborations 

What best fits your situation? 

To determine which plan or policy is most important for your business to create, you must have your goal clear. A business continuity policy focuses on ensuring the continuity of your business. An operational emergency plan focuses on responding immediately to emergencies to ensure the safety of people and daily operations. A disaster recovery plan focuses on restoring IT systems after an emergency to ensure long-term business operations. Still have questions or want advice on business continuity? Our consultants are here to help.