为什么业务连续性很重要？

今天，公司面临着空前的暴露。与天气有关的事件的频率和严重性似乎正在增加，并且依赖于复杂的技术和供应链网络正在扩大。这两种趋势都使企业容易受到各种现有和新兴风险的影响。通过制定业务连续性策略来管理这些风险是任何组织生存的关键。

为什么要业务连续性？

商业continuity planning is one of the most critical components of any recovery strategy. Unfortunately, not every company develops a continuity plan. Here are a few misconceptions and realities about business continuity planning.

Misconception #1: "Our people will know what to do in an emergency."

Even the best employees cannot be expected to know what to do when disaster strikes. Leaving each to respond in his or her own way only adds to the confusion of an event. Having a well-documented business continuity plan in advance, and training your employees to follow it, gets everyone on the same page — helping to ensure an organized, safe and timely recovery.

误解2：“我们有保险来承担损失。”

Insurance alone is NOT a business continuity strategy. Proper coverage is a significant and important part of the plan. But it may not fully cover some of the peripheral damages from an event, like loss of customers, loss of market share, or setbacks in development or release of a new product. Consult with your insurance agent to understand what is and is not covered under your policy.

误解3：“我们没有时间制定业务连续性计划。”

Time spent developing and maintaining a business continuity plan is an investment in your company. Your fixed costs will continue after an event, whether or not you are open for business. The faster you can return your operations to normal, the more likely you will recover from the event successfully. With so much at stake, your company cannot afford to NOT have a plan.

Misconception #4: "Business continuity and disaster recovery planning are the same."

业务连续性是一个主动计划，旨在避免和减轻与操作中断相关的风险。它详细介绍了在活动之前，之中和之后要采取的步骤，以维持组织的财务可行性。

灾难恢复是事件发生后响应的反应性计划。它涉及灾难后关键人员，位置和运营程序的安全和恢复，并且是业务连续性计划的一部分。

一项很好的投资

From Hurricane Sandy and 9/11 to the tornadoes in Oklahoma, companies that proactively consider how to respond to events are the first to get back to business, often at the expense of competitors. A predefined business continuity plan combined with the proper insurance coverage, maximizes the chance of a successful recovery by eliminating hasty decision-making under stressful conditions. It details how to get businesses back on track after a disruption – in the most thoughtful way possible.

Think Your Business Can Withstand a Disaster? Think Again

Twenty-five percent of businesses do not reopen following a major event.¹ It does not take a major catastrophe to shut down a business. In fact, seemingly minor disruptions compared to widespread natural disasters can often cause significant damage — power failures, broken water pipes, or loss of computer data.

一项旅行者的研究发现，有48％的小型企业在没有任何类型的业务连续性计划的情况下运营，但有95％的小型企业表明他们觉得自己已经做好了准备。

• 您的业​​务连续性计划主要是保险单吗？
• Is it predominately an emergency response or evacuation plan?
• 它主要是IT或数据恢复计划吗？
• Is it something you developed that sits in a binder on a shelf?

如果您对任何这些问题回答“是”，那么您的业务连续性计划可能会给您带来错误的安全感。

Natural Disasters Becoming More Common — and Costly

2012年，美国十大最昂贵的自然灾害中有9场发生在美国。2012年，2012年有770亿美元的保险损失，是有记录以来的第三年。首先是2011年，据报道有1,260亿美元的保险损失。²。

业务连续性计划以获得竞争优势

2012年，受旅客调查的48％令人震惊的企业主说，他们没有计划。这意味着业务连续性规划不仅仅是智能业务 - 它可以帮助您的公司保持更好的位置，从业务中断，财产损失，财务影响和自然灾害或人造事件可能造成的生命损失中恢复过来。

开始您的业务连续性计划

计划中断或灾难性事件时，应在业务进展顺利时发生，而不是灾难袭来。拥有预定的，有据可查的业务连续性计划，该计划清楚地传达了您的业务在活动期间的反应可以帮助降低风险 - 并且是您公司可以进行的最佳投资之一。

¹资料来源：商业与家庭安全保险研究所；
http://www.disastersafety.org/
²资料来源：保险杂志；
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2013/03/27/286235.htm