Testing and Training

You can't count on your business continuity plan until you've tested it. Completing the plan is just the beginning - the testing is the critical next step, along with training your employees and ensuring that everyone knows what they're supposed to do when and how. Read this week's articles to learn more about how to test your plan.

Once tested, your plan adds security and value to your organization. (Item #1)   The benefits of testing far outweigh any costs. (Item #2)   You can learn from the successes and failures of others how to ensure your plan works. (Item #3)  

The effectiveness of an exercise is directly related to the planning beforehand. (Item #4)   Just how do you come up scenarios for your test? And what about plot lines? (Item #5)   If you don't want the next disaster to test your plan, you'd better test it first. (Item #6)  

As always, we look forward to hearing your comments & insights regarding business continuity. If you have a topic you'd like us to cover, email me at [email protected].

Bob Mellinger, President
Attainium Corp

1. What Is the Optimal Method for Testing a Business Continuity Plan?

Your business continuity plan is not finished until it is tested. Formal testing assures management, employees, customers and suppliers that in the case of a real emergency, the plan will be effective. A tested business continuity plan provides an extra layer of security for your customers and adds value to your business.
http://thinkup.waldenu.edu/management/business-planning/item/11527-what-is-optimal-method-testing-business-continuity-plan

2. How to Test a Business Continuity Plan

Although a full interruption test of a business continuity plan takes time, effort, and money to complete, its benefits outweigh its cost. Testing the plan helps determine its feasibility, verifies backup facility compatibility, ensures the procedures for various continuity teams work separately and in conjunction with one another, identifies deficiencies and trains personnel.
http://paperworknightmare.com/2011/02/how-to-test-a-business-continuity-plan/

3. Why do Business Continuity Plans fail?

Business continuity plans (BCPs), once the narrow focus of risk managers and continuity practitioners, are on the front pages of the business press and on the minds of the world. By analyzing BCP successes and failures, companies can help prevent history from repeating itself. Business continuity plans fail most often because of a lack of initial effort and subsequent commitment; this is largely due to the fact that developing and implementing BCPs can be an arduous and politically sensitive project.
http://www.uplanit.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17:why-do-business-continuity-plans-fail&catid=4:business-continuity-planning&Itemid=22

4. The art of effective exercising

A business continuity plan can only be considered to be truly effective if the content and the components of the plan have been exercised. Continuous exercising ensures that there are no gaps or issues; that the key people involved in either the emergency response and / or business recovery teams are fully aware of their respective roles and responsibilities; and helps ensure that teams will interact effectively during a major operational disaster.
http://www.continuitycentral.com/feature0739.html

5. Some thoughts on exercise scenarios and plot lines

For many business continuity practitioners, one of the most challenging assignments is the development and delivery of realistic but stimulating exercises. Perhaps the toughest aspect is choosing a suitable basic plot line which can be adapted and embellished to form the basis of an imaginary event in line with your objectives and purpose.
http://www.continuitycentral.com/feature0298.htm

6. Testing Your Business Continuity Plan Before Disaster Does

Creating a Business Continuity Program (BCP) is one thing, putting it to the test is something entirely different. Your plan will be tested for sure in one of two ways, either pro-actively prior to an emergency event or reactively in response to a disaster recovery situation. Navigator Credit Union ($200M, Pascagoula, MS) put their BCP to the test in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
http://www.creditunions.com/article.aspx?articleid=2585