Which planning is to ensure the continuation of operations in the event of a catastrophic event?

According to Investopedia that the definition for BCP (Business Continuity Plan) is as follow:

Business continuity planning (BCP) is the process involved in creating a system of prevention and recovery from potential threats to a company. The plan ensures that personnel and assets are protected and are able to function quickly in the event of a disaster. The BCP is generally conceived in advance and involves input from key stakeholders and personnel.

Source: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/business-continuity-planning.asp

We are well aware that disasters of any dimension can strike us without prior warning. Even more so when our world is so connected digitally. We have seen government agencies as well as businesses being disrupted by a cyber attack. Is your business able to resume operation when an unforeseen catastrophic event attacks your company?

Is your employees adequately trained and carry out the critical processes so that the business can continue to operate with little interruption. This becomes extremely pertinent during the COVID-19 outbreak in the early part of 2020. In order to contain the widespread of the Corona Virus, the government advised the public to avoid crowded places, to seek medical treatment immediately if you are unwell. Companies have also taken the lead to begin to plan for their employee to work from home. Many companies have also activated their BCP plan and split their team into two so that they minimize the contact among the employee.

But is this really what a BCP plan is?

Will you still have access to your critical information if the workplace is closed due to virus widespread? Do you have a flexible work arrangement for such a situation including high-risk employees or employees who need to stay at home to take care of their family members? Are they equipped with the tools and know-how to continue with their work from home?

The DORSCON table according to the Ministry of Health (extracted on 3.Mar.20) clearly suggests that the impact on daily life when it turns to RED is to work from home. Many companies have already started doing so although ORANGE was only announced on 7.Feb.20.

Credit: MOH

Consider the following when you are planning for BCP:

Form your BCP team. Without support from the top management, most plans will fail. A well-committed team will ensure the plan is well prepared and executed. This team must be trained and constantly upgrade themselves annually to stay updated with the latest changes and development.

Engage qualified BCP professionals to help you design a plan. The plan will include all the details that every employee is expected to know and execute in the event of any crisis outbreak. You can also consider having a BCP audit by an external body to uncover any possible gaps. Your BCP master plan should be shared with all employees and rehearsed annually so that everyone is familiarised with the plan.

Have you already secure a remote working site? And are all your employees equipped with the necessary tools to perform their jobs from home or remote site? For example, do they have a private and secure connection to the company servers?

Do you have the necessary remote access setup that is secured between the server and the remote site where the employee is working from when BCP is activated? The most common setup is using VPN (Virtual Private Network) which protects your company valuable assets from the hackers out there.

Last but not least, make sure to keep proper documentation at all times and backup periodically. And at the same time, maintain open and friendly communication with all employees and stakeholders is crucial as well.

DISASTER RECOVERY PLANNING

In the event of a catastrophe, Racks Central can act as an alternate site for critical IT equipment. We have over 1500 recovery seats that includes all the necessary equipment (fax, laser printers, secured internet connectivity, hosting facilities, etc.) needed to facilitate continued business operations.

BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLANNING

In the event of a catastrophe, a company needs a contingency plan to ensure that business is not disrupted for prolonged periods of time. The aim of the BCP is to create, test and fine-tune a plan that will allow businesses to recover critical business operations in a timely manner, minimizing losses and meeting regulatory requirements.

BCP/DRP CONSULTANCY

Working with our partners, we can provide one-stop, end-to-end suite of training and consultancy services.  We have in-depth domain knowledge and unique delivery capabilities that deliver relevant training courses and plan implementations, audits, and risk assessments for professionals and organizations focusing on BCM, data center, emergency and resiliency matters.

DATA BACKUP

Data backup is crucial for any business and at Racks Central, we are determined to ensure that you have immediate and
continuous access to your business data without worry.

Our service offerings include:

Consultancy Services

• Development and implementing of Business Continuity Management Systems (ISO22301)
• Business Impact Analysis
• IT Disaster Recovery Project Management
• Internal Audit for BCMS
• Data Centre Risk Assessment
• Development and Implementing of SS507 Standard Certification for DR/BC Providers

Professional Courses and Workshops

• Certification in IT Business Continuity Management (CITBCM)
• ISO22301 Business Continuity Manager Workshop
• BCM Internal Auditor Workshop
• IT Disaster Recovery Project Management
• Data Centre Risk & Resiliency Workshop

What ensure that essential business functions are available during and after disaster?

Which plan is written to attempt to prevent a disaster from impacting the organization and or to lessen a disaster's impact?

What is disaster recovery planning?

What is business continuity planning and disaster recovery?