The Dos and Don’ts of Creating an Effective Business Continuity Plan

Disruptions, from natural disasters to cyberattacks, can hit any business. A strong business continuity plan (BCP) is essential to protect your company, employees, and customers. It’s an investment that helps you handle the unexpected and get back on your feet quickly.

Here are the key dos and don’ts for building your plan.

The Dos

Here are five things you should consider doing to enhance your business’ continuity plan:

  • Assess your risks – Before you can plan, you need to understand the specific threats and vulnerabilities your business faces. A thorough risk assessment will help you prioritize what to prepare for.
  • Test your plan regularly – A plan that isn’t tested is useless. Conduct drills and simulations to identify gaps and ensure everyone knows their role in a crisis.
  • Include all employees – A BCP isn’t just for management. Every employee needs to know the protocols and communication channels to follow during an emergency.
  • Create a communication strategy – Clear, consistent communication is vital during a crisis. Establish how you’ll communicate with employees, customers, and partners using emergency channels and pre-approved messages.
  • Keep it current – Your business and its risks are always changing. Review and update your BCP at least once a year or after any significant changes to your business, such as new technology or key personnel.

The Don’ts

Conversely, there are some things you should never do. Here are five:

  • Don’t focus only on IT – A comprehensive plan should cover all aspects of your business, including physical infrastructure, human resources, and the supply chain—not just data and systems.
  • Don’t underestimate a disaster – It’s better to be over-prepared. Plan for a worst-case scenario, including a backup recovery site, in case your primary location is unusable.
  • Don’t rely on one person – Make sure every critical role has a backup. Your plan should have a line of succession and redundant roles in case a key employee is unavailable.
  • Don’t forget your partners – Your business depends on suppliers. Ensure they have their own continuity plans and have alternative vendors in mind.
  • Don’t improvise – A crisis is not the time to wing it. A detailed, step-by-step plan is crucial for minimizing downtime and getting your business back on track fast.

If your goal is to build a resilient business that’s ready to face any challenge with confidence, having a comprehensive business continuity strategy in place is one of the most important factors. If you would like help with your BCP and protecting your business’ assets in the face of serious consequences, give the IT professionals at White Mountain IT Services a call today at (603) 889-0800.

White Mountain IT

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