You invested in building a recovery plan, and hopefully tested it and your team, but it doesn’t end there. Business continuity isn’t a project – it’s a program, and your plan needs to be maintained. Here is what plan maintenance involves.
Regular Reviews and Updates – Periodically reassess the plan to incorporate changes in the business environment, technology, or organizational structure.
Testing and Drills – Conduct tabletop exercises, full-scale drills, or scenario planning of the recovery procedures to identify weaknesses and improve the plan’s effectiveness.
Training and Awareness – Provide ongoing training and refreshers to ensure that employees are familiar with their recovery roles and responsibilities.
Documentation Updates – Keep contact lists, recovery procedures, and asset inventories up to date.
Vendor and Third-Party Coordination – Regularly review and update agreements with external partners and vendors to ensure their recovery capabilities align with your business needs.
Compliance and Regulation – Adjust the plan to ensure compliance with evolving regulations and industry standards.
Risk Assessment – Continuously monitor and assess risks to identify new threats and vulnerabilities and update the recovery plan accordingly.
Resource Management – Ensure that resources required for recovery, such as backup systems, alternate facilities, and personnel, are adequately maintained and accessible.
Effective maintenance of a business recovery plan helps ensure that your organization can quickly adapt to and recover from unexpected disruptions, minimizing downtime and operational impact.
