Paladion Blog Prioritize your critical functions for business continuity during times of crisis - ISO 22301:2019

Introduction Businesses are established with the intention of continuing to operate profitably for the foreseeable future, and business plans often project this aspiration. But what happens in the event of unforeseen, disruptive incidents? Whether it be a natural disaster, cybersecurity attack, or a pandemic, the impact can be detrimental. Although one can never predict if or when such incidents will occur, there is a responsibility for leaders to prepare the organization to their best ability; one way to do this is through a strategic, resilient approach involving a Business Continuity Plan (BCP). A BCP is designed to keep the business afloat despite the circumstances, by allowing it to remain operational and productive. A significant part of BCP is to identify critical business operations. Critical functions are ones which if interrupted, can lead to serious financial (and other) problems, which will have the most negative impact on the organization. In essence, a business that cannot sustain critical functions cannot remain viable. Categorizing the impact of disrupted business functions in the event of a crisis can help in prioritizing their effect on business sustainability. If a business is to be sustainable, restoration of these critical business activities needs to be achieved within a determined time frame.