Business Continuity Plan Development
Needhams 1834 can create a complete Business Continuity Plan for a client or we can audit, develop and enhance a plan that has already been created.
- Risk Identification and Assessment - A full risk assessment on an organisation identifies the potential risks, the organisations exposure and vulnerabilities. The output can be presented in a variety of styles ranging from graded or colour coded tables to mind maps. In all cases a pragmatic and realistic perspective of risk is applied.
- Business Impact Analysis (BIA) - Our consultants make an appraisal of the essential operations underpinning the smooth running of the organisation, including key people, processes, systems, data and suppliers, and assess the impact of their non-availability on the business. The findings from a BIA are one of the key elements used to develop the Business Continuity Management Strategy and solutions. Our system also links potential reputational loss to the matrix as in many cases this issue can be more devastating than the pure financial losses.
- Strategy Development - Working in partnership with the client we identify and develop the overarching strategies that will enable the organisation to continue its business within acceptable timescales. Since every organisation has differing risks and tolerances, strategies will vary from one organisation to another. Selected strategies are then used to inform the planning process thereby ensuring that the plans are complimentary to corporate ambitions.
- Developing relevant Crisis Management plans - Having identified and agreed the appropriate strategy Needhams consultants will develop the plan documents that will enable the personnel concerned to fulfil their roles and responsibilities upon the invocation of the plan. Plans vary from the highly specific to the generic, but in all cases they are simple, clear, flexible and effective in managing the consequences of an incident.
- Identifying cost-effective Disaster Recovery (DR) options – Frequently disaster recovery options are influenced by the sales ambitions of the DR providers. Needhams impartial view of the suitable requirements can often save organisations considerable unnecessary costs and ensure that the site is fit for the intended purpose and has the most appropriate IT architecture.
- Implementation and Training and Awareness – Before a plan can be practised, the staff need to be trained. Needhams offers a range of training and awareness sessions for all participants in the response. These sessions range from the training of the strategic group in the likely issues arising to practical training of help desk response staff.
- Exercises and Rehearsal – Following training sessions, individual and team skills are developed by a progressive series of exercises and rehearsals. The exercises are all designed with the client to reflect the level of competence required. The process usually begins with seminars to discuss responses and builds staff confidence through desktop exercises before embarking upon advanced simulations.
- Review and Maintenance – Several clients have opted to retain Needhams to review and maintain their plans on an annual basis. This offers the client a very cost effective method of ensuring that the plan is up to date and the reassurance that regular professional reviews take place and remedial action is taken when necessary.
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Whatever the level of support required, our aim is always to ensure complete
client ownership of the plan.
Please telephone 020 7353 9498 or email enquiry@needhams1834.com for further details.
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