Introduction

The Q1 Consulting approach to Business Continuity Planning encompasses the key stages of the process recommended by the Business Continuity Institute namely:

• Project Initiation and Management
• Risk Assessment and Control
• Business Impact Analysis
• Development of Business Continuity Strategies
• Preparation of Options, Costs and Selection
• Implementation
• BCP Preparation
• BCP Documentation
• BCP Testing
• BCP Maintenance

The Process

Project Initiation and Management

This initial stage focuses on:

• Establishing the need for a Business Continuity Plan
• Obtaining Management support, selling the project to staff
• Definition of objectives, policies and critical success factors
• Development of the project plan and budget
• Definition of the project structure and management
• Management of the process

Risk Assessment and Control

To determine the events and environmental surroundings that could adversely affect the organisation and its facilities through disruption or disaster, the damage such events might cause and the controls needed to prevent or minimise the effects of potential loss.

• Identify potential risks to the organisation
• Identify vulnerabilities, threats and exposures
• Identify risk reduction or mitigation options
• Interface with management regarding acceptable risk levels

Business Impact Analysis

This vital stage identifies the impacts that may result from the disaster or disruption scenarios determined during the Risk Assessment, which could affect the organisation. It also looks at the techniques that could be used to quantify and qualify these impacts.  It includes:

• Identification of key business functions
• Identification and definition of criticality criteria
• Definition of recovery objectives and timeframes, including recovery times, expected losses and priorities
• Identification of current working practices and any interdependencies
• Identification of vital information or records
• Identification of minimum resource requirements (voice, data and fax communications, accommodation, support facilities etc.)

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