Business Continuity
What is business continuity?
Business continuity refers to the ability of an organisation to have limited disruption to its essential processes during and after a disaster event by using measures aimed at allowing regular business activities to continue, resulting in a minimal financial and reputational loss. Business continuity plans consist of integrated scenario planning with outlined steps that the organisation will take to ensure that essential processes can be maintained with lessened disruption. At Resilient Services, we take a unique approach to ensure that you receive a clear, detailed plan that is specific to the needs and requirements of you and your business.
What is the importance of strategic business planning and formulating business recovery plans?
No matter the size of a business or the sector in which it operates, all organisations can be impacted at some stage by a disaster. When such a crisis occurs, the importance of having strategic recovery plans in place is made clear. By having detailed strategies and plans available, the protection of your business, its employees, and its stakeholders from any risks they may face are ensured. Strategic planning aids in giving businesses a sense of direction, increasing operational efficiency, increasing profitability and economic durability of a business. Having clear, detailed plans in place helps your business to be proactive rather than reactive in the event of a crisis or emergency.
What are a business continuity plan and a business impact assessment?
A business continuity plan (BCP) is a broad plan that helps a business to continue trading despite any disruption that it may face. The plan details all business processes that are critical to its operation as well as lists any resources that are required to ensure that those processes are completed on time.
A successfully written business continuity plan can be activated by any person in the event of a business disruption, and, with the help of subject matter experts, the plan can help ensure that any risks that could arise because of the disruption are mitigated and avoided. Common disruptions can include but are not limited to, power outages, internet outages, office unavailability, I.T. malfunctions, loss of critical staff, pandemics, and travel restrictions. More severe disruptions could lead to excessive profit loss, injury to staff and damage to company reputation.
To assist in the creation and implementation of a business continuity plan, we initially conduct a business impact assessment (BIA). To conduct this assessment, we spend a short amount of time meeting with and collating information from your business’s departments to ensure that all risks and essential processes are captured. This assessment is then used to construct a unique, detailed business continuity plan specific to your organisation.
Different phases and stages of a business continuity plan
One of the first stages of business continuity planning involves identifying the key business areas and the critical functions within those areas. Once these have been identified, we move on to dependencies between departments or business areas. The next steps are determining what the acceptable maximum outage of each critical function is. These then help determine the workarounds and the timeframes to create your detailed Business Continuity Plan to ensure your business returns to normal as soon as possible.
Previous business continuity plans we have prepared
Our approach is aligned with the best practices stated within “ISO 22301:2019 Security and resilience — Business continuity management systems — Requirements” and “AS/NZS 5050:2010 Business Continuity — Managing disruption-related risk”. Both standards have been used for ASX Top 100 companies and have been audited by the world’s “Big 4” consultancies, deemed as being ‘flawless and comprehensive’.
When a business decides to implement the “ISO 23001” and “AS/NZS 5050:2010” standards, they will have a well-structured framework designed to help the business effectively respond and recover from different disruptions. They are focused on cost-saving and decreasing the impact on a business’s performance. Additional benefits can result from having a robust understanding of the business after an analysis of vulnerability areas and critical issues.
Industries that are offered a business continuity plan
We create business continuity plans for a variety of industries and hold specialised knowledge that allows us to tailor a plan to meet all your business’ specific requirements. We can construct a specialised plan to meet your needs whether your business is within:
Enquire for a business continuity plan or a business impact assessment.
Want to discover how we can help your business? Fill out an enquiry form or call us on 0439 005 271 to find out more.
Resilient Services – Stronger, Smarter, More Secure
Acts
Some Australian legislation that may be applicable to your business in the energy & power industry may include, but may not be limited to:
- Ambulance Service Act 1991 (QLD)
- Australian Marine Oil Spill Centre (AMOSC)
- Bushfires Management Act 2016 (NT)
- Disaster Management Act 2003 (QLD)
- Disaster and Emergency Management Act 2001
- Electricity Act
- Electricity Safety Act 1998
- Electricity Safety (Electric Line Clearance) Regulations 2015
- Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Regulations 2013
- Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation Duties) Regulations 2017
- Electricity Distribution Code (EDC)
- Emergency Services Funding Act 1998 (SA)
- Emergency Management Act 2004 (SA)
- Emergency Management Act 2005 (WA)
- Emergency Management Act 2006 (TAS)
- Emergency Management Act 2013 (NT)
- Emergency Management Act 2013 (VIC)
- Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority Act 2004 (VIC)
- Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
- Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (Cth) (EPBC Act)
- Fire and Emergency Act 1996 (NT)
- Fire and Rescue NSW Act 1989 (NSW)
- Fire Services Joint Standing Committee Act 1998 (NSW)
- Gas Safety Act
- Health Services Act 1997 (NSW)
- National Emergency Declaration Act 2020 (Cth)
- Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Environment) Regulations 2009
- Offshore Petroleum Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006
- Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Safety) Regulations 2009
- Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Resource Management and Administration) Regulations 2011
- Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006
- Public Safety Business Agency Act 2014 (QLD)
- State Emergency Service Act 1989 (NSW)
- State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989 (NSW)
- Victoria State Emergency Service Act 2005 (VIC)
Some New Zealand legislation that may be applicable to your business in the energy & power industry may include, but may not be limited to:
- Biosecurity Act 1993
- Building Act 2004
- Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Act 2010
- Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Act 2002
- Defence Act 1990
- Earthquake Commission Act 1993
- Epidemic Preparedness Act 2006
- Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017
- Greater Christchurch Regeneration Act 2016
- Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996
- Health Act 1956
- Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
- International Terrorism (Emergency Powers) Act 1987
- Local Government Act 2002
- Maritime Transport Act 1994
- Public Works Act 1981
- Resource Management Act 1991