CHAPTER 10Steps 7–10: Create, Communicate, Test, and Regularly Update Your Written Plan
Because all of the remaining steps occur in quick succession, one right after the other, they’re grouped together in this chapter. However, if you noticed the section title, the creation of the written plan will come first.
A COMPLETE BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLAN
When all is said and done, your written business continuity plan (BCP) should answer all of the questions that could possibly come up during a disaster. Some of the most common are:
- Where else can we work from? What are potential alternative physical locations?
- How will we get our work done? What alternate computer systems can we use and what software applications and data are critical?
- Which of our employees needs to be back at work first?
- What equipment do we need to keep working? If it’s damaged, can we rent, repair, or replace it?
- Who will provide our materials if a vendor is impacted? Do we have alternate suppliers?
- How will we pay our bills?
- How will we keep track of transactions?
- How will we process payroll and pay our staff?
- How will we handle the insurance claim?
- How will we interact with the community and our stakeholders?
Admittedly, coming up with how you’re going to present all of this information clearly and concisely in one neatly written plan can feel a little overwhelming. That’s why it helps to break it down into smaller pieces, each of which feels a whole lot more manageable.
With that thought in mind, the six ...
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