When it comes to continuity of operations planning, companies often feel like they have to focus on a lot of areas at once. However, by breaking down different processes and aspects of operations into a few different categories, many of these efforts can be simplified and essential preparation can be accomplished more effectively. Ultimately, business continuity comes down to three primary areas.

These are:

• Data – Recovery, access and security are all major factors that affect data during a crisis, but ultimately, proper data management can minimize risk while optimizing data usage through a disaster. Firms that implement a strong everyday data management policy will be able to see it continue through continuity efforts and support workflow demands, even if workers are accessing systems from a hot site.
• People – Proper people management is also an essential aspect of disaster recovery. Companies need to know where their employees are, if they are safe and how quickly they will be able to return to work. The right plan will incorporate these questions and minimize the amount of time it takes to find out this information and start giving employees the assistance and tools they need to recover.
• Processes – Work processes need to be maintainable through a crisis and proper recovery efforts, as well as remote hosting, such as the use of cloud platforms for applications, can optimize process access. This will support the other two major aspects of disaster recovery while enabling the ability to track performance and loss throughout these trying times.

Firms will need to assess these three primary focuses and ensure their business continuity plan supports all of their needs. Gaining assistance from continuity experts can assist with maximizing returns through these efforts.