Business continuity (BC) and disaster recovery (DR) programs work hand in hand to ensure that companies have systems in place to protect and
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restore data if something disrupts a data storage system.
Paul Kirvan, an independent consultant in business continuity, noticed several trends in BC this year. "There's a growing interest in compliance with industry standards, most likely fueled by the Department of Homeland Security's Public Sector Preparedness (PS-Prep) program," said Kirvan. "Another trend is the growing demand by contracting firms for evidence that their suppliers have documented and exercised business continuity and disaster recovery plan."
To help you learn more about business continuity, we've compiled our five best tips on business continuity from 2009. Whether you want to improve business continuity management performance, need some advice on how to manage BC during a recession, or are trying to figure out the best way to plan for a pandemic disaster, we have all the information here on SearchDisasterRecovery.com.
TIP #1-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Business
continuity and disaster recovery outsourcing tutorial
For many organizations, outsourcing disaster recovery and business continuity services is a good
idea: it's convenient, saves time and money and increases productivity. However, as with any
change, it's important to look at the advantages and disadvantages. In this tutorial
on business continuity and disaster recovery outsourcing, learn who should outsource their BC
and DR services, available service providers, questions to ask BC/DR firms and a RFI checklist for
providers.
TIP #2-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Metrics
for measuring business continuity management performance
An important aspect of business continuity management is measuring its performance. In order to
ensure all processes are running smoothly and all company objectives are fulfilled in a business, a
management review and assessment should be performed. In this tip on
metrics for measuring business continuity management performance, learn how to measure your
company's BC performance by using this two-tier model.
TIP #3-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Twelve
tips for business continuity management in a recession
Business continuity management can be difficult, but managing
business continuity during a recession is an even harder task. Recessions can increase the
chances of disruptive impacts in data backup environments. In this article, Paul Kirvan discusses
12
important tips for business continuity management during a recession. They include following a
standardized BC format, reviewing your current BC staff and discussing emergency financing
options.
TIP #4-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NFPA
1600 vs. BS 25999: Which is right for your business continuity program?
The NFPA 1600 and the BS 25999 are two business continuity standards used in business continuity
and disaster recovery plans. Business continuity standards are important for BC programs because
they use a common language, have access to a common set of rules, processes and performance
measurements, making tasks more uniform across a company's BC program. So which one is right for
you? In this tip, learn about the differences between NFPA
1600 and BS 25999 and which one best fits your business continuity program.
TIP #5-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The
swine flu outbreak: Business continuity and disaster recovery planning for a pandemic
The importance of having a solid pandemic plan included in an organization's disaster recovery plan
grew in 2009 with the H1N1
flu outbreak. The H1N1 flu spread rapidly in 2009 and is still a threat to many organizations
as we enter into 2010. Organizations were encouraged to review their DR plans to make sure they
were prepared for a pandemic by establishing policies for a pandemic outbreak, educate employees
about the dangers of a pandemic outbreak and coordinate with external organizations to help your
community if necessary. In this tip, learn more about the H1N1 flu
outbreak and business continuity and disaster recovery planning for a pandemic.
To help you stay up to date on business continuity in 2010, bookmark our page on business
continuity and disaster recovery for the latest news, tips and tutorials on business continuity
and disaster recovery.
This was first published in December 2009