Testing, Training & Exercising

What would you say if someone called and asked if you had tested your business continuity plan yet? If you wouldn't be able to say "yes," you should be starting right now to figure out how to exercise your plan. Remember, as this week's quote implies, your plan could fail if it is not tested (and you don't want it used for the first time in a real disaster). You have to be sure everyone knows what to do and how to do it and is able to get that experience without being under fire.

These tips, lessons and recommendations can help you develop and facilitate BC exercises. (Item #1)   Exercises should be done on a regular schedule to ensure it works and to learn from what doesn't work. (Item #2)   Testing & exercising can help train employees so they are competent in their roles if a disaster occurs. (Item #3)  

Here are some testing tips and a suggested schedule for exercising the plan. (Item #4)   This article covers the entire testing process, from setting goals to completing the post-test report. (Item #5)   FEMA offers help on how to design an exercise that provides the greatest value in the most cost-effective way. (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. The Business Continuity Exercise: Where the Rubber Meets the Road

While technology, requirements and standards will continue to evolve into the future, the fundamental elements of exercise planning, facilitation, review, and improvement will stay the same. Regardless of if you call it a test or a drill, the following lessons learned, tips and recommendations will enable you to develop and facilitate value-adding business continuity exercises.
http://perspectives.avalution.com/2012/the-business-continuity-exercise-where-the-rubber-meets-the-road/

2. Exercises & Testing

Exercising Business Continuity or Disaster Recovery Plans is necessary and should be completed on a regularly scheduled basis and whenever a BC or DR plan has had significant changes made to it. This is essential for ensuring that your plan is current, fully functional and addresses your current operational processes and procedures.
http://continuity.georgetown.edu/exercises/

3. How to Test a Business Continuity Plan

Companies develop business continuity plans to prepare for potential business disruptions. These plans help ensure that the company can deliver critical products and services throughout the disruption. However, business continuity plans should be tested regularly. A test, or exercise, is the best way to validate the plan's effectiveness. It also helps train employees to a high degree of readiness and competence.
http://www.soyouwanna.com/test-business-continuity-plan-8314.html#ixzz2D3vs76T1

4. When to test a business continuity plan

To keep your business continuity plan current, you'll want to establish a regular schedule for testing it. In this article are tips on performing each test, followed by a suggested time table for testing.
http://www.mir3.com/view/81-how-often-should-you-test-a-business-continuity-plan

5. Hints for Running Business Continuity Tests and Exercises

The following information is designed to help you if you are new to the process of designing and running of a desktop business continuity test/exercise. It covers the entire process, from establishing goals to the post-exercise report.
http://www.manchester.gov.uk/downloads/download/1999/
hints_for_running_business_continuity_tests_and_exercises

6. Designing a business continuity training program to maximize value and minimize cost

Employees are often unaware of the existence of a business continuity management program within their organization and if they are aware of it, they may not be aware of their specific role within the business continuity effort. Can management rely on a business continuity program if employees are unaware of their response and recovery strategies? No - and as a result, the time and resources invested in the planning effort are often wasted.
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/edu/docs/busind/BCCM%20-%20Session%2016%20-%20Handout%20I%20-%20Designing%20business%20continuity%20training%20program.pdf