When you think about risks posed by IT today, your concerns go way beyond what’s happening in the data centre or the IT department. Because in most organisations, IT has become an essential part of virtually every business process. As a result, managing Risk now means much more than protecting systems and data.  It means protecting the business itself. 

Preparing or Politics?

Proper preparation can prevent poor performance

10th Annual BCM report published by Cabinet Office and CMI

The CMI 2009 Business Continuity Management report reveals a pressing need for UK organisations to guard against disruption and to be wary of complacency towards possible risks. Supported by the Cabinet Office, the survey shows that 52 per cent of organisations across the UK have a business continuity plan (BCP) - the highest level recorded by the survey.

However, the percentage of managers reporting that continuity is regarded as important in their organisation has fallen over the past year from 76 per cent to 64 per cent.

With SMB's facing severe disruption the Continuity Forum asks is it always someone elses fault?

As business struggles in the face of economic recession, heavy snowfall across the UK has added to their woes, but also highlights the lack of Business Continuity Planning in most businesses.

The guidance says sensible preparation now will make the difference between just ‘getting through’ a pandemic and maximising the number of lives that can be saved. There were three pandemics in the last century which caused public health emergencies and many experts believe another one is overdue.

It is, however, impossible to predict its timing. The BMA/RCGP guidance is intended as a practical guide for GPs and practice managers. It details how GP surgeries will be expected to adapt from their usual method of working and gives information and guidance on the following:

Category Business Continuity legislative, regulatory and government

Environment Agency accepts Pitt Review in Full

The report of Sir Michael Pitt's Review into the floods of Summer 2007 was published in June 2008. The Government welcomes this Review, and pays tribute to Sir Michael Pitt and his team. They have thoroughly reviewed the flooding that happened in 2007 and identified clearly the lessons that should be learned.

Category Business Continuity legislative and regulatory

CCS support delivers further support for Category 1 and 2 responders

The Cabinet Office has published a set of Good Practice Guidelines for the Civil Contingencies Act (2004) and further supports the Resilience Capability Programme.

All organisations in the public and private should have created plans to curb the effects and mitigate the impact of the disruption caused by a Pandemic yet our study shows 73% do not have proper plans to protect the business or its employees.

This stark finding comes after the National Risk Register produced by the Cabinet Office highlighted the threat of a pandemic as the most serious threat to the UK.

BSI British Standard  BS 25777 for Information and Communications Technology continuity management.

Following on from the development of BS25999 BSI has announced a complimentary standard aimed at detailing good practice at the ICT level, BS25777 for ICT Continuity.

ICT continuity management, a key part of the overall business continuity management (BCM) process of an organization, ensures that ICT services are resilient and in the event of disaster, can be recovered within timescales agreed with senior management.

Category Business Continuity New Products - BCM & Risk Management - BS25999 - General

NHS resilience project embraces standard

The National Risk Register shows Pandemic Influenza as the most serious threat to national security

The National Risk Register aims to clarify the level of risks and their potential impact on the UK. Local Risk Registers have been produced for some time, but this is the first time that a national version has been made public.

American Standard Body to produce US Standard for Business Continuity

ASIS  based in Virginia has now started the work to develop its American National Standards Institute (ANSI) project to produce a Business Continuity Management (BCM) standard, for approval by ANSI.

Category - Business Continuity Management - Partner listing

Special Circumstances Demand Special Solutions

Adequate and readily available accommodation is a primary requirement and concern. Fires, floods, storms, hurricanes and other disasters leave people and businesses without a roof over their heads. War and unstable governments cause whole communities to flee.

All over the world, people are migrating. But those who are sent out to maintain the peace, or provide disaster relief also need accommodation. Epidemics could necessitate setting up an emergency hospital or medical post.

These are housing situations for which De Boer offers a solution in the form of high-endurance, secure temporary accommodation. Located all over the world, these shelters serve as reception centres for refugees and displaced persons, as medical posts, offices, schools or even as extra prison space. They are also used as army barracks: during the Gulf War De Boer tents served as temporary accommodation.

While the CCA regime provided a robust and effective mechanism for responding to all of the disruptive challenges that have occurred since 2005 (e.g. floods, Bluetongue disease, foot and mouth, and the Buncefield fire), these events and the subsequent reviews (particularly the Pitt and Newton Reviews) provided much new evidence which indicated that there are various aspects of the CCA regime which would merit a more thorough review.