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Is your business vulnerable?

How well would you cope with business disruption? Answer our simple questions to assess your preparedness!

Disasters do happen. Don’t wait for one to affect you before realising that your business depends on maintaining the flow of information through it. The following questions will provide you with a brief indication of whether, and where, your business is vulnerable.

 

Do you have a manager responsible for Business Continuity and a Board level sponsor?

(BC Projects have the greatest chance of success when properly supported by the business)

 

Do you recognise the interdependency of business and technology?

(you depend on IT to do business, so can you afford any downtime?)

 

Do you develop business processes, technology solutions, information security and business continuity in tandem?

(If not, you could be creating vulnerabilities that are only evident when disaster strikes)

 

Do you have alternate workplace facilities?

(If your office becomes unavailable where will your people go and how will you ensure it is ‘business as usual’?)

 

Do you have a business continuity plan that prioritises the critical business applications that cannot afford any downtime?

(Have you conducted a Business Impact Analysis and Risk Assessment programme and developed an appropriate response?)

 

Do you regularly test your business continuity plan and processes?

(Testing keeps plans current and relevant, eliminates any oversights or omissions, creates confidence and competence and ensures your plan evolves as your organisation changes)

 

Do you have a method of creating business continuity awareness and competence within your company

(Tell your employees what continuity provision you have in place and how they can support the process)

 

Do you have strict guidelines for staff roles and responsibilities should disaster strike?

(Key personnel must be informed and trained in their emergency role. Knowledge and control lessens the impact of a disaster and instils confidence across all stakeholder groups)

 

Do you have a crisis communications policy?

(Mishandling crisis communications can have dire consequences in terms of customer, shareholder, supplier and staff response)

 

Do you audit, exercise and maintain your business continuity plans?

(You need to keep pre-existing or new business continuity arrangements fit for purpose)

 

Do you know if all of your vital suppliers have a business continuity plan? If so do you have evidence of it?

(You cannot let internal and external chains of supply fail you in delivering mission-critical support. Consider the consequences of failure. Get a new supplier if need be.)

If you have answered “No” to any of the questions you should to act now to reduce your businesses vulnerability. SunGard can help.

If you want to understand how well prepared your business is compared to others in your sector, take SunGard’s BS 25999 self assessment survey.