DRJ Glossary of Business Continuity Terms

Antibody

A blood protein made by the immune system in response to an invader (pathogen), such as a virus. Antibodies are unique to a particular pathogen. When the unique pathogen is present, the body has mounted an immune response to a previous infection. Antibodies protect against a reinfection, at least for a certain amount of time. The time varies by the illness.

Antibody Test

A test for a specific disease blood antigen, or protein, following an infection, to understand if the body has produced antibodies to the disease.

Antigen

An antigen is part of a virus that your immune system uses to recognize as a foreign substance. This signals your body to start making antibodies to fight the virus.

Application Recovery

The component of Disaster Recovery that deals specifically with the restoration of business system software and data after the processing platform has been restored or replaced.

Assembly Area

The designated area at which employees, visitors, and contractors assemble if evacuated from their building/site.

Asymptomatic

An individual who has the infection but no symptoms and will not develop them later. Some individuals without symptoms may be able to spread a virus.

Auditor

A person with competence to conduct an audit.

Awareness

To create understanding of basic BC issues and limitations. This will enable staff to recognise threats and respond accordingly.

Backlog

a) The amount of work that accumulates when a system or process is unavailable for a long period of time. This work needs to be processed once the system or process becomes available and may take a considerable amount of time to process. b) A situation whereby a backlog of work requires more time to action than is available through normal working patterns. In extreme circumstances, the backlog may become so large that the backlog cannot be cleared.

Backup (Data)

A process by which data (electronic or paper-based) and programs are copied in some form so as to be available and used if the original data from which it originated are lost, destroyed or corrupted.