How To Write a Business Continuity Plan Template

Want to know how to write a business continuity plan template that is effective? Many businesses don’t think such a plan is important – until it is! The procedures you develop for disaster recovery may well save your business one day.

Operational Resilience

Operational resilience is the ability of a business to identify, control, mitigate, manage and recover from operational disruptions. Some regulators make operational resilience a legal requirement. Examples include those in the financial services sector. The processes are intended to consider what could go wrong and put measures into place beforehand. Proactive instead of reactive!

Business continuity is an essential part of operational resilience. Most business disruptions will require activating the controls and systems set out in the business continuity plan. These policies and processes enable a firm to recovery and continue trading following a disruption or disaster.

Information Security

Another area the business continuity plan is related to is Information Security. This compliance function relates to the identification, security, management, use, storage and dispose of information and physical assets. It also focuses on information technology functions such as remote access, password security and encryptions.

Business continuity relies heavily on effective and secure information security systems and protocols. Thus, having a compliant disaster recovery plan in place is essential.

What is Business Continuity Planning?

Business continuity planning are the processes that enable a company to react to and recovery after a disruption. All businesses should have some form of recovery program. However, for those in consumer credit and financial services industries it is mandatory. They are required to have fully documented, tested plans to protect consumer interests and safeguard assets.

Vital technology infrastructure and systems are susceptible to disruptions when dealing with potential threats. Therefore, disaster recovery plans form an extensive program from documenting systems, assets and information flows, through to stress-testing and back-ups. Any event that compromises or negatively impacts standard operations within a business must be documented and mitigated in the plan.

What is Involved in Writing the Plan?

A plan will usually include a range of threats, risks and disasters. These can relates to internal and external incidents. Also, the plan should consider natural and human-based risks. This criteria will enable you to assess each scenario and implement measures and controls before any arises. The objective is to focus on any risks, vulnerabilities or incidents that could occur, not just the obvious ones.

For example, most businesses will consider the usual threats to business such as fire, electricity outage or a network virus. However, not everyone would consider a severe staff shortage as a possible threat. For instance, a contagious illness or virus could affect 80% of a business’s workforce. Thus, it would be difficult to continue operating as normal. Surprisingly, staff shortages were not always considered in business continuity plaaning. Or at least they weren’t pre-Covid!

Business Impact Analysis

One of the most important parts of writing a business continuity plan is the business impact analysis. This process is used to identify, evaulate and document what the effects could be from any disruption. The effects are those caused to critical business functions and business operations and analyse what the potential impact(s) could be.

The analysis goes hand in hand with a risk assessment style process so that events and impacts can be properly rated and planned for. The process aids understanding of critical functions and risks to the continued operation of the business. Furthermore, it allows a plan for recovery to be implemented.

The business impact analysis differentiates the critical (urgent) and non-critical (non-urgent) functions of the business. This lends itself to setting a priority order in which to allocate resources and start restoration actions and measures. Critical functions are then assigned a priority to describe which order critical functions are restored.

BCP Policies & Templates

Below are some of our policies, procedures and template toolkits that centre around the business continuity plan framework.

• Business Continuity Plan Template £25.00 (ex vat)
• Operational Resilience Policy Template & Checklist £45.00 (ex vat)
• Information Security Toolkit £125.00 (ex vat)
• Communication Strategy Policy Template £32.00 (ex vat)
• Training & Development Policy Pack £45.00 (ex vat)

BCP Template Headings

The below are suggested headings and sections to be included when you write your business continuity plan. They are not exhaustive and should always suit the size, scope and type of your business.

• Policy Statement, Purpose, Scope & Objectives.
• Distribution List.
• Business Impact Analysis.
• Critical Functions & Processes Checklist.
• Critical Function Assessment & Recovery Process.
• Non-Critical Functions.
• Specific Disaster Scenarios.
• Contact Lists
  • Recovery.
  • Employee.
  • Key Suppliers.
  • Key Customers.
  • Utilities.
• Key Resources & Experts.
• Office & Alternate Physical Locations.
• Important Business Service Disruption.
• Communication Strategy.
• Scenario Testing.
• Emergency Pack.
• Updates & Annual Review.
• Actions and Expenses Log.