Business Continuity Week and Preparing for the Worst

In the modern age, organisations operating across and within the recognised key business verticals (including transport, construction, healthcare, retail, leisure and education) are faced by a burgeoning risk landscape.

Cyber attacks, data breaches, terrorist activity, unwanted disruption within the supply chain, fire episodes, utility supply interruptions, telecoms outages and natural disasters are just some of the potential threats on the horizon.

Given that the damage wrought by one major incident could render a company unable to continue trading, it’s imperative that Best Practice is adopted when it comes to planning around business continuity.

Business Continuity Awareness Week 2014

17-21 March is Business Continuity Awareness Week 2014. As always, this annual event brings together the collective experience and extensive expertise of the Business Continuity Institute’s (BCI) myriad members and partner organisations.

Importantly, this year’s theme is ‘Counting The Cost’. It’s all about spelling out the potential cost of not having efficient and effective business continuity planning and management regimes in place.

Coinciding with Business Continuity Awareness Week (which this year runs in partnership with IBM Business Continuity and Resilience Services), the BCI has issued an excellent and detailed report analysing the real cost of ineffective business continuity. The report’s author, BCI research associate Patrick Alcantara, explains: “The false economy created by cutting down on business continuity may create bigger problems that could impact on both organisational resilience and viability.”

Business continuity management is most often viewed as a risk management function. Typically, it will also impact on related areas – among them information security, governance and compliance.

That said, the BCI is quick to point out that efforts designed to instigate and maintain an effective and robust business continuity programme are not only the responsibility of management and budget holders but indeed every member of staff.

Further, the BCI states: “Whether a global multinational or a small business, whether operating in financial services, public administration or manufacturing, business continuity is a dynamic management practice that’s proven to help organisations anticipate, prepare, respond and adapt to an ever-changing risk environment.”

Solid business continuity planning is based on adherence to recognised standards including ISO 22301:2012, ISO 22313:2012 and ISO/IEC 27031:2011 (the latter referencing information and communications technology). Also key is the development of business continuity programmes that are regularly learned and practised in order to ensure a given company may continue to operate when confronted by adverse circumstances.

Security installation and integration firms of all shapes and sizes are not exempt from this statement. The question that must be asked of themselves by the leaders of such companies, then, is: ‘Could your business survive a disaster?’

Business planning advice at IFSEC International 2014

Security installers and integrators can engage with this vital subject by attending IFSEC International 2014, which runs at London’s ExCeL Exhibition and Conference Centre from 17-19 June.

Security and Fire Installer Live, for example, is a unique and dedicated event held within IFSEC International and designed to suit specific business needs. It’s important that the right systems are installed on behalf of end users as part of business continuity planning. With this in mind, there’ll be live product demonstrations for installers and integrators courtesy of the leading solutions providers.

IFSEC International will also be actively connecting installers and system integrators with information supplied by the leading trainers and specialists such that the former can future-proof and build their businesses. In addition, a ‘Plug and Play’ Zone affords visitors an opportunity to test the latest kit.

Necessarily, the subjects of regulation, legislation and insurance will be high on the agenda.

The three-day IFSEC Academy Conference Programme – which is free to attend – also contains sessions focused on business continuity, including Darren Chalmers-Stevens (Vice-President – EMEA Operations at VidSys) who will be presenting a session entitled ‘PSIM and Business Continuity: a match made in heaven?’ on Thursday 19 June (from 2.00 pm-2.30 pm) in the IFSECGlobal.com Centre Stage Theatre.

 

IFSEC International 2014 will showcase security solutions in Access Control, Integrated Security, Smart Buildings, Intruder Alarms, Perimeter Protection, Physical Security, Safe Cities and Video Surveillance, among others.