Is business continuity and disaster recovery planning important for all organizations?

Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning play an important part in the today’s business, if well planned and designed it will help the business to continue with their day to day functions, losing minimal productivity and profit. In the event that a business does not have a tested BCP and DRP and a disaster occur it will lead to bankruptcy and unemployment as the business only goal was profit and not recovery.

The Business Continuity Plan will help the business to continue after a disaster have occurred meaning they are still able to make money after a disruption. For example, half of the IT Department is down with a contagious illness and have been hospitalised for 3 weeks. The IT staff that’s left will be able to do the work of the sick staff members due to cross training or the BCP may stipulate that support staff from another branch will assist in their absence.

The Disaster Recovery Plan will provide the business with the steps to resume its business after a disruptive event. In the event that the premises is destroyed the DRP will provide the alternate location where the business can be re-established. For example, Due to a fire on the premises that caused major damage the DRP will be implemented and core business process will then either move to the nearest branch or to a hot site identified as part of the recovery point objective.