Creating a team is the first step in creating a successful Business Continuity Plan. The members of the business continuity team provide efficient direction and leadership in the event of a disaster. Make sure the team you build includes skilled communicators with expertise in logistics, capable of executing emergency response protocols. Leadership team members might include the chief executive officer, chief compliance officer, chief operations officer, chief financial officer, facilities manager, and human resources director.
Once a team is in place, you will be able to create a plan to keep your team and business safe. Start by assessing your business processes and determining which areas are the most vulnerable. Once weaknesses and vulnerabilities are discovered, create a solid plan with these 6 steps:
6 Steps to Create a Business Continuity Plan
- Identify the scope of the plan
- Identify key business areas
- Identify critical functions
- Identify dependencies between various business areas and functions
- Determine acceptable downtime for each critical function
- Create a plan to maintain operations
Source: CIO.com
Once a plan is put in place, you’ll want to test it out and practice as if a disaster has just occurred. Similar to a fire drill, you’ll want to make sure your team and staff do not feel scared or overwhelmed if and when a disaster strikes. Testing and practice will also help you to spot if there are any weaknesses in your plan, which can be fixed before an actual disaster.
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Source: CIO.com