BCP Testing and Training

The reason we talk so often about testing your business continuity plans if because it’s so important. No matter how hard we work to write the plan, things change over time. People leave, job responsibilities evolve, and these can affect the plan. Take the advice in this week’s articles and begin to plan your testing now.

It’s not just what individuals know that matters in a crisis; you have to test the BC team’s crisis decision-making. (Item #1) It’s important to know the steps needed in testing your plan. (Item #2) This listing of objectives can be very helpful in planning your exercises. (Item #3)

Testing a business recovery plan is an important step to validate and check its content and approaches to ensure that plans are actionable before a possible real disruption. (Item #4) Involve your employees in testing and exercising your plans and get their input on it. (Item #5) For the general employee population, awareness of the business continuity plan is essential for on-going support and commitment. (Item #6)

As always, we look forward to hearing about your concerns with regard to business continuity. If you have a topic you’d like to see covered, please email me.


Read it all at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Holiday Issues

Holidays give employers an opportunity to provide time off from work and employees get to spend extra time with family and friends. Holidays also present challenges for both employers and employees:  which holidays to observe, how or if to pay for holiday leave, accommodating diversity and religious beliefs and practices, whether or how much bonus or gifts to give to employees, serving alcoholic beverages at company parties, and handling the holiday blues or depression that some employees experience. This week’s articles may help you with these issues.

Your business continuity could be compromised during the holidays, if you don’t make sure your plan can be implemented with people off on holiday breaks. (Item #1) Here’s a look at the legal issues and some cases addressing employer liability for alcohol-related incidents. (Item #2) If you’ve got questions, the expert has answers. (Item #3)

If you’re concerned about holiday party risks, here are some alternatives to the annual event. (Item #4) Here are some tips on how to avoid sexual harassment claims as a result of the holiday party. (Item #5) If your workplace is diverse, you should appreciate the help in this article. (Item #6)

As always, we look forward to hearing about your concerns with regard to business continuity. If you have a topic you’d like to see covered, please email me.


This issue, as well as all of our back issues, are available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Emergency Supplies

Once again, it's time for our annual issue featuring suppliers of emergency supplies as well as the ready.gov checklist. This is a much requested edition of the NewsBriefs, and we hope you will find it useful. Please note, however, that the inclusion of a supplier in the newsletter is not an endorsement, but simply an acknowledgement that these providers have supplies available. If you're considering getting your emergency kits together, see what's offered here and also try looking for "emergency supplies" with your favorite search engine.

The ready.gov web site provides us with a checklist to guide us in creating emergency kits. (Item #1) This supplier provides a variety of goods and information that might be helpful to you as you put your kits together. (Item #2) Here you'll find items you need for your emergency kits, plus some suggestions for gifts to help make others safer. (Item #3)

This supplier specializes in complete 72-hour kits – enough supplies to last for 72 hours. (Item #4) Here's another supplier of all types of materials and kits to get you through a crisis. (Item #5) Don't forget water—here's all you need to know about preparing and storing it. (Item #6)

For the complete issue or to subscribe, go to http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Do we need to re-think Terrorism?

Last week’s attempt by terrorists to get explosives into the US has made us all stop and think about how real the terror threat still is. Because it’s become more difficult to attack large prominent locations, terrorists are beginning to focus on smaller facilities. If you’re wondering how to make your organization safer, this week’s articles can help.

Terrorism preparedness requires two actions: taking steps to harden a specific facility from a terrorist act, and taking steps to mitigate an act should it occur. (Item #1) This article contains good guidance for risk assessment and creating business continuity plans that will lessen the impact of events that threaten a business or organization. (Item #2) Planning for the aftermath of terrorist incidents is very similar to planning for other disruptions... you have to consider consequences and resources. (Item #3)

Terrorism experts agree that an attack is likely to succeed because of complacency; look over these tips from a security consultant. (Item #4) Taking these steps can help you be better prepared to face terrorist threats. (Item #5) If your building has suffered damage from a terrorist action, here’s how to help employees believe it’s safe again. (Item #6)

Get it all at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs