Testing & Training

We've probably all heard the phrase "fail early, fail cheap," but have we heeded its warning? When testing your business continuity plan, one of the most effective outcomes is learning where it failed -- before you need to use it. Early failure can be addressed and costs less -- in terms of money, manpower and business impact -- than failure when the plan is critically needed. If you think of testing and training as the keys to the continuity of operations, you’ll get busy now. This week's articles can provide some help.

Cyber scenarios have become much more common in business continuity exercises, due to the increasing concern about the impacts of information security threats. (Item #1)   These seven steps can help small businesses develop effective testing programs. (Item #2)   Disaster recovery testing is highly valued among standards and DR/BC organizations, but these tests are only effective if you perform them correctly. (Item #3)

This article looks at how Continuity 2.0 might be applied in practice. (Item #4)   Here are seven tips to think about to ensure that your next work area recovery test is successful. (Item #5)   Ideally all elements of business continuity plans should be exercised on regularly scheduled basis (at least annually). (Item #6)


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Getting Buy-In

Most people understand the importance of getting management buy-in, but many don’t know how to go about it and succeeding. Also, many are not aware of how critical it is to get support throughout the organization in order to make things happen. This week, we have assembled some articles and a video that can provide some guidance on the best ways to get buy-in.

No matter what you want to sell to top management, this article can help you do it. (Item #1)   With these five steps, you can implement change and ensure a smooth transition with employees who are on board and will work hard because they want to. (Item #2)   what are the obstacles to implementing a successful organizational resilience plan? (Item #3)

No matter how good your ideas and plans, without buy-in for them, nothing will happen. (Item #4)   In some cases, getting management on board might be as simple as asking them what would happen if a database containing sales leads was deleted and it couldn’t be restored for 24 hours. (Item #5)   Watch this 10-minute video for some insight into how you can help your ideas survive. (Item #6) 


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Social Media

Since 2000, social media use by businesses has grown and is now standard fare for many organizations. Others just don't want anything to do with it, fearing the risks it presents. But social media can play a critical role in business continuity, and this week's articles discuss that role and how to manage and/or mitigate the risks prevented.

Social media can now affect business continuity planning in countless ways. (Item #1)   Social media can save lives, keeping communities in touch during disasters, as well as managing corporate reputations during a crisis. (Item #2)   You will find yourself doing social media crisis management sooner rather than later.  (Item #3)

There are many ways business continuity managers can leverage social media in a crisis, but to be effective requires forethought and training. (Item #4)   It stands to reason that if companies do
not have a broad enough understanding of social media risks, they are likely not to have in place a broad enough approach to managing social media risks. (Item #5)   Firms need to identify the risks of social media, develop comprehensive governance policies to mitigate risk and then deploy the right technology to reinforce those policies. (Item #6)


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Crisis Communication

Crisis communication has been an evolving field for some years now. Most of us have learned that a prompt, well-considered response is critical in crisis situations. This week, not only can we learn what not to do, we can learn some specifics of what to do from the likes of Beyonce and the Somali pirates, as well as get some good tips from other experts. Read on...

Here’s what you need to do to ensure your crisis will flourish and grow (or how not to communicate in a crisis). (Item #1)   What do we know about crisis communication that can be applied reliably when a crisis occurs? (Item #2)   Crisis communication plans provide an organizational framework of who will be responsible for which specific task, when and if a crisis should occur. (Item #3)

The author of this article learned many things about crisis communications from a hijacking by Somali pirates. (Item #4)   Because the first two days following a crisis are the most critical, preparation is a key factor to ensure the situation is dealt with as quickly and efficiently as possible. (Item #5)   In one timely appearance, Beyonce essentially ran through the four key steps from the playbook of crisis communications and management. (Item #6)

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