Unprecedented times call for unprecedented action to ensure business operations.
Climate change, global warming, long term climate cycle – regardless what you may call it, there is no denying that today we track and report an ever increasing number and severity of climate events through the increasing use of technology and advancements in satellite imagery.
What these changes mean for organizations related to keeping their business operational, up and running, and otherwise ‘open for business’ is what drives the increasing critical need for a steadfast Business Continuity Plan.
Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery — What’s the Difference?
The terms appear together so often it’s easy to think of them as the same. However, while they do go hand-in-hand, they are not the same.
Business Continuity is designed to ensure that critical business functions continue working with minimal downtime in the event of an interruption, natural or man-made.
Disaster Recovery considers how to restore business processes within a specified amount of time (the less the better), referred to as the RTO or recovery time objective, in the event of a disaster.
A Business Continuity Plan must be kicked off with an impact analysis (BIA) that determines the plan’s scope; determines legal, contractual, and regulatory obligations; and provides a basis for planning and justifying the costs of the plan. A BIA often gets conducted in tandem with a risk assessment. It also considers the impacts on your business that could occur if disaster strikes your service providers.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, employees were suddenly ill or working from home, so businesses scrambled to maintain critical functioning while transitioning to a new model. Risk management and compliance face unique challenges during pandemics, and experts predict that the many different manifestations of climate change will bring about more of them. Provisions for pandemic management should be part of your Business Continuity Plan.
In some cases, business continuity risks are easier. Natural disasters can more easily be identified than cyber events. If, for instance, you do business in coastal Texas, Louisiana or Florida, you know that you’re at a higher risk of business interruption from a hurricane or tornado. Businesses on the west coast, such as in California or Oregon, may need to account for interruption due to wildfires.
Regardless of where your business is located, a Business Continuity Plan is a crucial part of smart management. As climate change and global warming continue to have unexpected impact throughout the world, it simply is not safe to take a cavalier approach.
As the saying goes, “Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.”
While business continuity is the first line of defense against disasters which threaten the proper function of business; disaster recovery is a must-have for organizations which cannot function without vital business data. It’s good to know you can get help with both from VAZATA.
Contact VAZATA today for reliable information on Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery.