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"We have knowledgeable and capable people at ICM providing a DR safety net for us."

Paul Bonser, Scottish Borders Housing Association

• • Business Continuity Information
  • Starting Out in Business Continuity
  • Disaster Cover Direct
  • Questions you should be asking a BC Provider
  • 5 Golden Rules of Outsourcing Syndicated BC Services
  • The Route Map to Business Continuity Management
  • The Role of the Information Security Specialist
  • White Papers
  • Useful Business Continuity Links
  • Business Continuity FAQs

Business Continuity Basics

Business Continuity is vital if you're looking to protect your business and achieve greater resilience for future growth and development. For many industries, it has become mandatory and in all others it is best practice at the very least.

If you're looking to break into a new or international market, business continuity should be a necessary element to the planning and it will be a consideration for potential clients and business partners who are likely to scrutinize your business continuity capabilities as they assess the strengths and risks within their supply chain.

It's a hard time for business and this means that it’s a hard time for business continuity professionals, as they are expected to do more with less. Budgets for business continuity are being squeezed despite the fact that current economic conditions are exerting increased pressure on business continuity plans and demand additional resilience.

John Sharp, Senior Industry Advisor to ICM, explains that "Many businesses and organisations are facing their greatest challenge for many years and as a result are examining how they can reduce their overheads. There is a risk that business recovery solutions may be seen as an expensive overhead and therefore investments in these services may be delayed or reduced.

However, now is not the time to reduce continuity capabilities but rather to improve them. Any disruption of systems, whether due to technology failure or denial of access, will not only increase public concerns but may also threaten the very existence of the organisation disrupted.

By maintaining and enhancing current continuity arrangements organisations are better prepared to meet the challenges of today, and into the future, and ensure their ongoing survival."

John Sharp, Senior Industry Advisor

John Sharp FBCI (Hons) FCMI MCIM
ICM Senior Industry Advisor