Understanding risks to your criticial operations
A key first step to identifying and evaluating the risks to your critical operations is to complete a Business Impact Analysis (BIA).
It will review what key products and services your organisation provides that, if disrupted, would have the largest impact on the organisation.
The impact is documented for different periods, and then the maximum length of time that the organisation can manage the disruption without it threatening the organisations viability, either economically or through loss of character.
This will determine the impact over time that a disruption to these activities would have on your business and what resources you need to maintain them to an acceptable level.
The following should be considered when undertaking a business impact analysis for your organisation:
- Identify which roles and individuals are vital for fulfilling business commitments
- Identify what equipment, IT, transport etc. staff will need to maintain operations
- How long your business can function before full operations need to be restored
- What departments are vital for fulfilling orders and contractual obligations
- Which supplier and other third parties are essential to daily routines