Federal Continuity Directive – How Your Organization Can Benefit From It

There are quite a few frameworks now available for continuity professionals to promote the discipline of BC/DR within an organization. Using a framework is always a good starting point, just because it is time tested, refined, and has broad applicability. Secondly, following a proven methodology increases the chance of success in a reasonable time period.… Continue reading Federal Continuity Directive – How Your Organization Can Benefit From It

Cross-Training Should Be SOP

Cross-training often is overlooked as a business continuity “tool” that benefits an organization beyond business continuity. Cross-training maximizes an organization’s personnel return on investment (ROI) by assuring that all – or at least most – personnel are able to perform multiple jobs. Cross-training should be standard operating procedure (SOP) if for no other reason than… Continue reading Cross-Training Should Be SOP

Extended Stay – Is Sustainability Testing The Way of the Future?

When the G20 Summit came to Toronto in June 2010, many businesses thought their preparations would be adequate for what lay ahead. They had tested their systems the same way that had been done many times over the previous years. The staff was well-educated on business continuity, and they had verified that employees could work… Continue reading Extended Stay – Is Sustainability Testing The Way of the Future?

Learning From ‘Public Relations Disasters’

A year after the Exxon Valdez oil spill a national magazine indicated that one of the positive lessons learned from Exxon’s experience was that all oil companies had learned how to avoid a “public relations disaster.” As I reviewed the BP Oil Co.’s handling of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill during 2010, I… Continue reading Learning From ‘Public Relations Disasters’

Addressing the ‘Critical Employee’ Quandary

Organizations frequently identify “critical employees” in business continuity (BC) plans. Leading practices, such as those in the Disaster Recovery Journal’s “Generally Accepted Practices” document, encourage planners to make this designation, and some regulatory bodies require organizations to perform the task. However, organizations retain flexibility in defining criticality. A range of disaster scenarios threaten to render… Continue reading Addressing the ‘Critical Employee’ Quandary