Some say the most valuable outcome of a test is failure, because from failure you can learn where the faults are and you can make corrections. At the very least you should be able to run the test and identify any weaknesses. These articles address the need for testing and for training your people what's required to their roles.
You just never know what weather surprises Mother Nature has in store for the winter, so it's best to be as prepared as possible for whatever challenges arise. We all are familiar with some of the problems... blizzards that prevent employees from getting to work (or getting home); power losses that can span days; frozen pipes, flooding or other building damages; and more. If you haven't thought about what you might be facing this winter, these articles can help you figure out where your planning runs short and what you can do about it.
Flu season is creeping up on us and that means employees are home sick or slowed down at the office by flu symptoms. There does not seem to be any flu pandemic on the near horizon, so at least we don't have that to worry about this year, but experts seem to think that a pandemic is coming (It is about 100 years since the Spanish flu epidemic killed millions worldwide). We need to ensure that we have plans in place to help prevent the spread of flu in the workplace. But we also need to be thinking long-term and look at how we should update our business continuity plans to help us deal with whatever is ahead.
With Christmas less than 50 days away, many employers' thoughts turn to holiday parties. At first glance, you might say, "What do holiday parties have to do with business continuity?" But think about it... many of the holiday activities both in the workplace and outside it can create risky situations (food poisoning, sexual harassment, drunken driving) that might end in liability for your company. And liabilities can endanger your bottom line. These articles were chosen to help you avoid potentially litigious and unsafe situations.
Most of us have planned carefully for all the things that can go wrong and have plans in place to mitigate the effects of various disasters. But have you thought about the period after the disaster is over? Do you know what you are going to do to overcome the challenge of insufficient funding while the business gets back on its feet? What about recovering records? And getting employees back to work if the workplace is gone? These articles might help you consider what must be done right after the disruption but before things are back to whatever passes for normal at that point.
By now, you no doubt have a business continuity plan. When, however, did you last review it? Update it? We have to remember that a BCP is not a static thing; it is a dynamic plan that has to change with changes in the organization. If you haven't reviewed your plan lately, these articles can help you incorporate newer threats into your old plan.
Today, more than ever before, risk assessment and management are critical functions in every organization. We've said before that you cannot plan for every contingency, but you should be aware of the most critical risks facing your organization. Since you created your business continuity plan, have you reviewed and updated the risks you face? No? Review these articles to help you reconsider whether you've covered everything you should.
When dealing with communicating in a crisis, the first concerns should be to respond quickly, accurately and consistently. Obviously, the best approach is to have a plan to work from before the crisis hits. This will shorten your response time and enable everyone to hit the ground running. It's also important to ensure that everyone knows what's going on and what to say or not say in any situation. Take a look at these articles to see if your plans for crisis response are everything they need to be.
