Business Continuity Plan Template
Business Continuity Plan Template
Table of Contents
2.0 Objectives 3
3.0 Assumptions 4
This document provides guidelines for identification, response, management, and recovery from a business interruptio
A crisis is a situation that occurs outside of normal operations that disrupts day-to-day business and if left unattended,
TIME
[Feel free to add any additional objectives if identified]
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3.0 ASSUMPTIONS
Key personnel have been identified and are aware of their responsibilities, recovery roles and are available to activate the recovery plan.
At least one method of communication such as Mobile phone, Landline phones is available with all Business Continuity teams.
The Crisis Management Team will initiate the plan and will be provided with ongoing status updates during a crisis event.
Skilled employees are available as per requirement of the process.
All employees are aware that in case of invocation of business continuity, they might be asked to work upon additional job areas apart from
This plan will be invoked in case of an incident categorised according to the impact assessment criteria in the table below.
The event can result in operational challenges and potential damage and liability to [Insert Name O[IrngsaenritsOatrigoann] isation Name] an
SYSTEMS > [Inse[rItnasmerotuantmoof uhnrst aocftihvrastinagcttihvias tpinlagn]this plan] Hrs total unavailability of
the system
EMAIL > [Inse[rItnasmerotuantmoof uhnrst aocftihvrastinagcttihvias tpinlagn]this plan] Hrs total unavailability of
the system
SITE Incident causing site unavailability/inaccessibility of site such as fire, transport disruption, flooding
STAFF Incident causing personnel unavailability (e.g health and safety incident, pandemic)
[InsertName] • Ensure minimum service levels are • Shall authorise the decision to use the
LEAD maintained for critical operations listed alternative procedures
• Liaise with implementing partners to
OPERATIONS
ensure continuity of operations
[InsertName]
ALTERNATE
[InsertName] • Documentation and dissemination of • Shall notify the press on
LEAD an approved position statement to [Inse[Irnt
internal and external stakeholders sNearmtOergOargnaisnaistaiotinoNna
• Collection and consolidation of ] me] ’s position
outside inquiries and preparing • Shall maintain appropriate contracts
COMMUNICATIONS /coordinating the response statements with PR and Media agencies
[InsertName] to the inquiries.
ALTERNATE • Monitor public reaction and media
coverage related to
[Inser[tInNsaemrteOOrgrgaannisisaat
tiioonnN] ame]
or its stakeholders
[InsertName] • Report to the CMT on the ongoing of • Implement changes to systems in order
LEAD recovery and resumption of critical to re-establishing information system
systems communications
• Responsible for restoration of • Maintain a log documenting any and all
ICT availability, integrity and changes in technical/network
[InsertName] confidentiality of ICT services configurations for change control
ALTERNATE following a crisis/disaster purposes.
• Communicate change management
requests to the suppliers
[InsertName] • Act as the secretary of the CMT and • Identify adequate command centre
LEAD take and disseminate minutes during • Document and disseminate as well as
CMT meetings coordinate the approval of the BCP
• Ensure crisis meetings are set up. • Continually assess and monitor the
BUSINESS • Co-ordinate the implementation of an recovery and restoration activities
CONTINUITY effective Business Continuity and assist the CMT team in resolution
MANAGER [InsertName] Management System of any issues that the team leads
ALTERNATE cannot resolve until normal business
• Co-ordinate training in Business
Continuity and Disaster Planning operations are restored at the primary
facility.
• Fire and other hazards protection • Emergency Response • Revert back to Head office/ primary
• Identification and training of fire • Work from home sites
PREMISES marshals and first aiders • Communication and relationship • Communication and relationship
• Identify critical staff management with interested parties management with interested parties
• Consolidate lessons learnt
• Backup procedures for critical • Conduct manual processes • Re-enter data back to restored
information systems
SYSTEMS
• Communication with interested
parties
COMMUNICATION: • Purchase of Mobile data • Use of mobile phone data to • Review of Internet Service Provider
INTERNET connect performance
• Update contacts off the system. • Communication with interested • Consolidate lessons learnt
• Update of critical supplier contacts parties via different channels
COMMUNICATION: EMAIL
e.g medical providers, insurance
• Set up of corporate WhatsApp
• Background checks and due diligence • Resource and skills replacement • Communication and Relationship
on employees/consultants • Hiring temporary staff management with customers
• Staff welfare monitoring and • Communication protocols with • Consolidate lessons learnt and
PEOPLE engagement interested parties review BCP return to normal.
• Medical cover
• Succession planning
• Upskilling of staff and job rotation
[Insert N[aInmseerOt has designated the following recovery locations in case of a crisis or
rOgragnaisnaistiaotnio]n Name]
disaster that causes unavailability of its primary locations.
[FARM1] [INSERTRECOVERYOPTION]
[PACKHOUSE1] [INSERTRECOVERYOPTION]
[OTHER(SPECIFY)] [INSERTRECOVERYOPTION]
[OTHER(SPECIFY)] [INSERTRECOVERYOPTION]
1. Fire
2. Political Unrest
3. Heavy Rains or flooding
4. Bomb threat
5. Pandemic
Status of minimum operating requirements during one of the above mentioned (or similar) disaster scenarios:
Business Continuity Manager to assess the situation and advise [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
activation of the Business Continuity Plan (BCP). hours]
CMT Leader to take the decision to activate the CMT and invoke the [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
BCP hours]
Business Continuity Manager to inform all CMT members via Call/ [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
SMS/WhatsApp on the unavailability of Head Office. hours]
SITE: CMT to converge via conference call or physical meeting for [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
HEAD Damage Assessment and recovery review. hours]
OFFICE
CMT Leader advise staff through their department heads to relocate [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
to alternate site hours]
If allowed access to the primary site to retrieve vital records and other
materials necessary to carry out operations from alternate site [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
hours]
Coordinated statements will be issued to internal and external [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
stakeholders from alternate site. hours]
ICT to ensure all staff relocated from primary site have access to [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
systems and hardware to enable them to work hours]
Return to normal:
Business Continuity Manager to inform CMT Leader about the availability of the [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
1
primary site hours]
Department Heads to send communication to all other employees on the availability of [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
3
the Primary site and the decision to stand down from the disaster hours]
6 Headcount to ensure all employees have reported to the primary site [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
hours]
1. Hardware/Software Failure
2. Network Failure
3. Third Part failure (service provider)
4. Malicious technical acts by outsiders e.g. hacking, viruses, worms
5. Human Error
Status of minimum operating requirements during one of the above mentioned (or similar) disaster scenarios:
ICT to inform Business Continuity Manager about the extend to [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
which systems are unavailable hours]
ICT Team to proceed to liaise with service provider for recovery and [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
restoration hours]
Finance shall utilise manual documentation to raise and approve [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
payment requests hours]
Retrieve the previous month’s payroll data from the backup/server, Excel
sheet and use it to process current payroll if it falls due during the [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
hours]
disruption
Return to
ICT Lead to communicate to the CMT Leader and Business Continuity Manager on [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
1
the availability of Systems hours]
2 CMT Leader to advise on stand down from the crisis [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
hours]
ICT to inform about the availability of systems to users and the decision to stand down [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
3
hours]
4 Manual records to be put into the restored systems [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
hours]
ICT to inform users of extended unavailability of internet services [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
hours]
TECHNOLOGY: Affected teams to access the internet through personal phones/ [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
INTERNET portable WIFI modems and resume operations. hours]
ICT to communicate with ISP and proceed to oversee restoration as per [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
the Service Level Agreement for Internet services hours]
Return to normal:
ICT to inform about the availability of internet to all staff via the established mode of [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
1
communication and the decision to stand down hours]
ICT to inform Business Continuity Manager about the extended [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
unavailability of email hours]
TECHNOLOGY: Business Continuity Manager to communicate to the CMT Leader on [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
EMAIL the unavailability of email hours]
Return to
1 ICT to communicate to the BC Manager on the availability of the email [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
hours]
Business Continuity Manager to communicate to CMT Leader on the availability of [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
2
email hours]
ICT to inform about the availability of email to all staff via the established mode of [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
4
communication and the decision to stand down hours]
Functional Head to inform CMT Leader and Business Continuity [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
Manager about the unavailability of staff hours]
Functional Head to proceed to allocate alternative roles for staff [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
available based on assessed priorities and relevant skills needed hours]
PEOPLE:
STAFF Available staff to conduct basic induction to alternative staff [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
seconded to the department during the crisis hours]
If there are no available personnel to be reallocated, will prepare [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
advertisements for temporary staff to fill urgent gaps hours]
Return to normal:
Functional Heads to inform CMT Leader and Business Continuity Manager about the [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
1
availability of the adequate staff. hours]
Functional Head to inform CMT Leader and Business Continuity [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
Manager about the inability of supplier to deliver hours]
OUTSOURCED
PRODUCT/ [InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
Utilise buffer stock where applicable
SERVICE: hours]
SUPPLIER
[InsertName] [Insertamountof timetaken:minsor
Procurement to proceed to source from alternate supplier
hours]
8.7 Unavailability of
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r :
Recovery steps to undertake in case of [In[Isnesret ratdadditdioitnioanl
aBluBsuinseinssesAsreAar/eEan/Eanbalebrl]er] unavailability: