Business Continuity Planning (BCP) appeared in our business life some time ago. In the beginning it was considered a formality and “nice to have”. However, being an obligatory regulation, at least for some of the industries, companies complied with.

From nice to have to must have?

In a short while it became obvious there was a real need to protect daily activities regarding good and proper functioning of IT systems: hardware, software, communications in order to face potential cyberattacks, power outages etc.

Then SARS appeared, physical disasters and extreme weather events happened, financial crisis popped up and regulators as well corporations started to realize that BCP is an excellent tool where everybody has to invest on since there is a gain not a loss.

Because everybody needs to be well prepared in advance in order to serve customers in the best way, to protect their personnel to the maximum, and in the same time to decrease if not to avoid completely loses and malfunctions.

In this respect corporations have elaborated various scenarios based on which specific systems have been developed in order to prevent and recover from potential threats as well to be in position to support in a seamless manner ongoing activities and daily operations during crisis.

And Coronavirus appeared.

Travelling became a challenge, events where a lot of people attend turned into “better to avoid” or even canceled by the organizers or the authorities etc.

However, life continues; there are things that can be delayed but have to be done considering the financial and reputational impact. Therefore, thermal scanners appear, working from home has been imposed since telecom permits so, business travel has been restricted to specific areas though meetings take place using technology etc.

Business Continuity Planning during Coronavirus times

Companies have adapted a different way of working that fits to the new conditions, minimize risk, and protect people.

The majority of them following a specific plan, with people knowing what to do and how.

All these contingency plans have been implemented based on the BCPs companies have been developing, reviewing, and improving during the years.

Solutions have been designed after analyzing different threats scenarios; infrastructure has been prepared to support these solutions; people have been well informed about in order to be in position to implement in a fast and accurate manner.

There are specific procedures for specific roles, using specific systems infrastructure, communication and security channel.

From one hand it is not easy to develop such planning from the other hand there are experts having the proper knowledge on how to assist companies in this task.

Business Continuity Plan is unique for each business

Studying and analyzing the specific way each company works relevant BCP can be prepared to facilitate the continuation of the activity.

BCP has to fit to each company’s structure, infrastructure, and procedures in order to have the maximum result with the minimum cost.

BCP is activated for emergency situations and as such requires speed and accuracy in order to be implemented.

Therefore, has to be well structured and very well communicated to company’s personnel via specific training.

Every piece of the company has to be aware and well informed otherwise applying BCP may lead to confusion and mistakes which at the end will bring the exact opposite result than the expected, which is: the company to work smoothly, minimizing risks, and protecting its customers as well its personnel.

Coronavirus came to remind us that BCP is an important tool for every company, a real competitive advantage which prepares the company and its people on how to respond to unusual situations applying a well-organized and safeguarded approach.

Here to help!

Our company is here to join you in the journey of creating and updating your BCP.

We can assist in creating a BCP adapted to your company, to your infrastructure, to your way of working, to your procedures, to your risk scenarios, and also to assist you in training your personnel to be properly informed and aware about the actions that have to be taken for each case.

Send us an email at: anamaria@businessprocesses.expert