Get more sleep with Business Continuity Management
Sheena Downey
Director P3M | BCM - Resilience | Innovate | Optimise | Transform | Strategy
Does worrying about your business keep you up at night ?
Do you lie awake worrying about all the “what if’s” that could happen ?
We all know the importance of protecting our business but often struggle with what to do or how to do it to achieve peace of mind and a good night’s sleep.
Building a resilient business through Business Continuity Management (BCM) can significantly reduce your worries and have you snoring like a baby.
In this post, we’ll explore the drawbacks of having no BCM, the benefits of putting BCM in place (and getting it right), and a simple method to help you improve your resilience.
5 Key drawbacks of having no BCM
1.???? Increased Vulnerability: ?Without BCM, your business is more susceptible to any number of disruptions, from natural disasters to cyber-attacks.
2.???? Financial Losses: ?Unplanned interruptions can lead to significant financial losses, if you are not prepared to handle them efficiently.
3.???? Operational Downtime: ?A lack of continuity planning often results in prolonged downtime, affecting your productivity and impacting your customer satisfaction.
4.???? Reputational Damage: ?Failing to manage crises effectively can damage your brand’s reputation, eroding trust with your customers and stakeholders.
5.???? Regulatory Non-Compliance: ?If your industry has regulations requiring BCM plans, without one, you could be facing legal repercussions and fines.
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5 Key Benefits of getting BCM right
1.???? Enhanced Preparedness: ?Robust BCM ensures your business is prepared to handle disruptions, minimising their impact and protecting you, your team, and your customers.
2.???? Financial Stability: ?By mitigating risks and ensuring swift recovery, you can protect your revenue and reduce financial losses.
3.???? Continuous Operations: ?Effective continuity planning ensures your business can continue operating with minimal and managed downtime, maintaining your productivity.
4.???? Improved Reputation: ?Demonstrating your commitment to resilience builds trust with customers, partners, and stakeholders.
5.???? Regulatory Compliance: ?Well-implemented BCM helps you meet your industry regulations, avoiding potential legal issues.
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A Method for Building a Resilient Business
1.???? Conduct a Risk Assessment: ?Identify potential threats to your business, including natural disasters, cyber-attacks, and other disruptions.?
Example: Perform a comprehensive risk assessment to pinpoint and address or mitigate vulnerabilities in your operations and supply chain.?
2.???? Conduct a Business Impact Analysis (BIA): ?Assess the potential effects of disruptions on your business operations to identify critical functions and prioritise your recovery efforts.
Example: Evaluate how a disruption would affect your operations to identify and prioritise your essential business functions for recovery.
3.???? Develop a Business Continuity Plan (BCP): ?Create a detailed plan outlining how your business will respond to and recover from identified risks.
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Example: Outline potential alternative procedures to maintain critical operations during a disruption, including communication strategies and recovery steps.
4.???? Implement Risk Mitigation Strategies: ?Put measures in place to reduce the likelihood and impact of identified risks.
Example: Invest in cybersecurity measures, backup power supplies, succession planning, and alternative suppliers or processes to enhance your resilience.
5.???? Train Your Team: ?Ensure all employees are aware of the BCP and understand their roles and responsibilities in executing them during a disruption.?
Example: Conduct regular training sessions and simulations to keep your team prepared and confident in their response capabilities.
6.???? Test and Review Your Plan: ?Regularly test your BCP through drills and simulations to identify any weaknesses and make necessary adjustments.
Example: Schedule bi-annual tests of your BCP and update it based on feedback and changing circumstances.
7.???? Continuously Improve: ?BCM is an ongoing process. ?Regularly review and update your plan to address new risks or changes to your business, and improve your resilience strategies.
Example: Stay informed about emerging threats and incorporate new technologies and practices to enhance your BCM system.
The Bigger Picture
Building a resilient business is about more than just protecting your assets — it’s about ensuring the longevity and success of your business. ?By investing in robust BCM, you will not only secure your business against disruptions but also build a culture of resilience and preparedness across your team.
Start today. ?Conduct a risk assessment and BIA, develop your continuity plan, and engage your team in resilience-building activities.
By taking these steps, you’ll achieve greater peace of mind and worry less about your business’s security and resilience. ?You’ll be ready to face any challenge that comes your way, ensuring your business thrives in any situation.?
Get a good night’s sleep – build a better BCM !!!
Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences on building a resilient business in the comments below !
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How well prepared are you ?
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