What Is the Best Business Continuity Management Process?

If you’re in the process of future-proofing your business against breaches, outages, and disasters, you’re making our IT hearts very happy. There’s almost nothing more important than ensuring you have a business continuity plan to keep serving your customers when disaster decides to knock on your door.

And since most of Michigan isn’t on par with Silicon Valley-level IT infrastructure, the business continuity process may seem like a bit of a mystery. Here’s what you need to know about the business continuity management process and how it can help your company stay afloat during tough times.

Is There a One-Stop-Shop for Business Continuity Plans?

Wouldn’t it be nice to just buy a ready-made business continuity plan and be done with it?

Here’s a hard truth: there’s no magical, one-size-fits-all business continuity plan that suits every organization. The key to a successful BCMP lies in regular updates, rehearsals, and the innate power of adaptability.

If your plan gathers dust or doesn’t evolve with emerging threats, it might as well serve as a paperweight. Trust us, the worst thing you can do is create a static continuity plan that’s never put to the test or lacks updates relevant to new threats.

The Finer Points of the Business Continuity Management Process

Now that we’ve laid the foundation, let’s construct your sturdy BCMP. Follow these strategic steps, and you’ll keep your business on a steady course no matter the storm:

1. Develop Business Continuity Policy and Objectives

Start small. Outline your policy, objectives, and goals that define your continuity plan. Ask yourself, “What functions are vital to my business?” “How quickly do we need to bounce back during a crisis?” This is the time to align your mission statement with continuity aspirations, ensuring minimal disruption.

2. Conduct an Impact Analysis & Cybersecurity Risk Assessment

Carefully evaluate which operations are most crucial and assess both current and potential threats. For example, Michigan experiences some of the longest power outages nationwide. This is a major threat that your team will have to plan for.

With cybersecurity, be thorough in identifying potential vulnerabilities. It’s like going to the dentist; it might not be pleasant, but you’ll thank yourself once it’s done.

3. Craft Continuity Strategies for Disasters, Cyberattacks, & Outages

From hurricanes to hackers, your plan should cover all bases:

• Natural Disasters: Will you need a remote command center? How will you communicate with employees during a power outage?
• Cyberattacks: How will you restore damaged data and resume operations? Who will lead the recovery effort, and what tools do they need?
• Outages & Equipment Failures: What is your backup plan for critical systems? Can your network withstand a DDoS attack?

Developing strategies such as remote work capabilities, alternative suppliers, secure off-site data storage, and secondary communication channels will make sure your crew steers clear of panic, even when the storm hits.

4. Allocate Leadership Responsibilities

A chain of command is critical. Assign teams to handle specific tasks and outline their roles during a crisis, including communication and decision-making.

5. Conduct Trainings

What good is your plan if no one knows how to execute it? Conduct regular training sessions, workshops, and simulations to familiarize your team with procedures during an actual incident. They should operate on a “muscle memory” basis during disruptions so that your business regains its balance swiftly.

6. Test the Plan & Update it Regularly

Regular testing ensures the effectiveness of your business continuity management process. After each exercise, scrutinize your results and gather feedback. Deem what worked, what didn’t, and—most importantly—update your plan to fix the hiccups.

How Do You Know Where to Start?

While you can use the advice in this blog to get started on the business continuity management process, you’ll save time and get more specific direction by working with a managed service provider (MSP).

MSPs have experience with disaster recovery and continuity planning, so it’s like having a business continuity specialist on call. They can identify any vulnerabilities specific to your business and provide an objective perspective to build a customized BCMP. Plus, they’re IT pros who know the latest cybersecurity threats that could cripple your operations.

Think of them like your business continuity superheroes—always ready to swoop in and save the day.

Create a BCMP Designed Just for You with Common Angle

What’s better than one-size-fits-all? Something tailormade specifically for you and your business. At Common Angle, we specialize in creating customized business continuity management plans that fit our clients’ specific needs and goals. We understand the importance of being prepared for any eventuality and work tirelessly to ensure your business stays operational, no matter what comes your way.

Let us be your IT superheroes and create the best business continuity management process for your business! We’re only a call away.