Prepare a Business Continuity Plan Now

The purpose of a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) is to prepare your company in the event of a business interruption caused by a natural disaster or a man-made event, and to minimize disruption to your business and restore services as soon as possible. With Hurricane Season here, these are 5 Tips to help you prepare a Business Continuity Plan. You can find more information at BackupExchange.

1. Prepare a Plan Objective

The plan is a guide that can be used as a reference for procedures and resources for the recovery team. It also documents storage and retrieval procedures for the retrieval of important records.

2.  Elect a Recovery Team

In the event of a disaster, you will need dependable people to call upon for the plan and recovery process. Each team member should be assigned a role and responsibility. All members should keep an updated list of emergency contacts, vendors and employee numbers in the office and at home.

3.  Prepare an Emergency Task Checklist

This document should include a timeline and instructions on what procedures should be followed days or hours before and after a disaster. It might include how to store and recover hardware and system files, emergency supplies needed, the building’s evacuation routes, and contact lists for employees, clients, and vendors.

4.  Damage Assessment

Immediately after a disaster, conduct an onsite inspection to assess the damage of the property and equipment. You might require expert opinions regarding the condition of equipment and damage to the facility.

5.  Plan Review and Maintenance

The Plan is intended to be a working document. It should be reviewed and tested regularly to assure its success in the event of a disaster. It is important to review and update the list of employees and vendors regularly.