Business continuity planning has to be precise in order to not only protect a company from the various threats to its operational integrity but also help it recover from those it cannot avoid. However, various factors constantly influence the state of operational resumption, and firms need to update their strategy on a regular basis in order to remain up to date and account for new technologies, services and trends that might have changed.
For companies considering working with business continuity consultants to update and improve their disaster preparedness and recovery, there are three primary reasons to do so. These include:
- New threats – There are always new threats to business continuity evolving, such as those related to new technology trends like cloud computing. Adapting to and overcoming these new threats is essential for a successful business continuity plan.
- Supporting technologies – While some technologies introduce new threats, others bring about the potential for faster and more effective recovery. Mobile solutions, virtualization, remote working and the cloud offer ways to support workflow despite local crisis, and allow employees access to critical resources regardless of time, place or what is affecting the central office.
- Changing regulations – Both new technologies and threats affect the regulations and standards that federal and state legislation put in place regarding business continuity as well. Updating strategy to account for regulatory compliance is as equally critical, as continuity in the "wrong way" can result in just as many problems as no continuity planning at all.
Ultimately, a continuity plan has to accommodate many of the same features, such as how to develop a proactive hot site, how to avoid data loss during a natural disaster and many other factors. However, an evolving business landscape will always present new threats, and advantages, for companies looking to optimize their disaster recovery planning.