How to craft an effective business continuity plan

The article uses the turbulent journey of the Sex Pistols as an analogy to emphasize the importance of business continuity planning (BCP) for organizations, highlighting the need for structured strategies to maintain operations during unexpected disruptions such as natural disasters or cyberattacks. A BCP ensures minimal downtime, protects revenue and reputation, and meets legal requirements by outlining steps for resource allocation, customer service maintenance, and employee safety during crises. The article details five steps for creating a successful BCP: analyzing the company, assessing risks, creating procedures, communicating the plan, and iterating for improvement. It also outlines the essential sections of a BCP, including version history, executive summary, critical function prioritization, plan activation, governance, recovery plans, crisis communication, emergency locations, and review processes. An example of a ransomware attack on the Royal Dutch Football Association illustrates the practical application of a BCP, emphasizing the role of regular testing and updates to ensure resilience.