Business Continuity Management Workshop

BCM Business Continuity Management
for Executives, Management, Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Coordinators
(1 day workshop)

Description

This 1-day business continuity management workshop is designed for executives, IT directors and managers, disaster recovery and business continuity staff, or anyone who wants to understand business continuity management. The workshop provides a comprehensive overview of the business continuity management process and step-by-step program management methodology. It is based on industry best practices and guidelines for the seven phases of business continuity program management:

Phase A: Program Initiation
Phase B: Program Planning
Phase C: Program Functional Requirements Analysis
Phase D: Program Design and Development
Phase E: Program Implementation and Testing
Phase F: Program Maintenance
Phase G: BC Plan Execution

The workshop is consistent with international standards, guidelines, and best-practices such as BS 25999, ISO/IEC 17799, and NFPA 1600.

Students will gain an understanding of each program management phase and how to effectively plan, guide, and coordinate tasks and activities within each phase. The phases are presented in a road-map format that enables students to effectively manage disaster recovery and business continuity programs. Specific examples are used throughout the workshop to reinforce business continuity management principles and concepts.

Through this course, students will gain a solid understanding of the methods to address challenges and complexities associated with managing a business continuity program.

Workshop Dates

Please see course calendar >>

Features

A comprehensive overview business continuity management life-cycle process.
A step-by-step program management methodology based on industry standards, guidelines, and best practices.
Student workbook and handouts

Workshop Objectives

Upon completion of this workshop, students will be able to

Initiate, implement, and manage a business continuity program within their organization.
Successfully manage the overall execution of a business continuity plan during a crisis situation.
Avoid typical mistakes that lead to business continuity management program failures.
Establish a business continuity steering committee and continuity program office
Initiate efforts to gain management’s commitment and buy-in to the business continuity program.
Define expected objectives and deliverables for each phase of the business continuity management lifecycle.
Define a business continuity policy
Establish a process to raise corporate-wide business continuity culture
Create and execute a business continuity program project plan
Assess business continuity program budget requirements.
Manage assessments of business continuity risks to their organizations
Manage the Business Impact Analysis (BIA) project
Decide on a business continuity recovery strategy
Establish Service Level Agreements to maintain business continuity
Coordinate the development of the business continuity plan
Manage testing of the business continuity plan
Develop and implement a business continuity training and awareness plan

Workshop Topics

Introduction to Business Continuity Management

Understand Business Continuity Management (BCM) concepts

Business continuity management and program definition
Principles, history, and evolution of the business continuity program
Program management scope and objectives
Industry standards, best practices, guidelines for program management
Program management process and lifecycle phases overview
Business continuity planning process overview
Business continuity program plan overview
Business continuity plan overview
Program management elements including disaster recovery plan, crisis management plan, and business resumption plan

Phase A – Program Initiation

Initiate a business continuity program

Assess program business requirements
Establish need for development, maintenance, and implementation of business continuity program
Establish a preliminary program budget
Develop and present business case
Assess management commitment and buy-in
Select an executive program project sponsor
Obtain a go/no go approval and decisionv
Establish a business continuity steering committee and assign roles and responsibilities
Establish a corporate continuity program office
Create and implement an organization-wide business continuity policy
Create business continuity culture throughout organization

Phase B – Program Planning

Develop a business continuity program plan and obtain approval

Define scope, objectives, deliverables, and risks
Establish program phases, program timeline, and program team structure
Establish approval levels and approval process
Create business continuity program plan
Revise and update program budget

Phase C – Program Functional Requirements Analysis

Analyze requirements that need to be fulfilled by the business continuity program

Define requirements needed to prevent, reduce, and prepare for a disaster
Assess program budget, risk assessment and risk control implementation, critical business process resource and service requirements
Gather and review vital records, critical data, off-site storage area, office work area, and voice and data communication requirements
Evaluate training and awareness requirements
Review and agree on recovery time requirements: Maximum Tolerable Downtimes (MTD), Recovery Time Objectives (RTO), and Recovery Point Objectives (RPO).

Phase D – Program Design and Development

Design and develop the business continuity program to fulfill program functional requirements

Evaluate alternate recovery options and assess their cost-effectiveness
Develop business continuity strategy based on functional requirements
Develop essential business continuity elements: business continuity plan, disaster recovery plan, crisis management plan, and emergency response plan
Develop a training, awareness, and mentoring program
Review business continuity program

Phase E – Program Implementation and Testing

Implement and test the business continuity program

Apply and test business continuity risk controls
Implement and apply business continuity strategy and alternate recovery options
Implement and test business continuity plan
Implement essential business continuity elements
Establish training and awareness and external coordination

Phase F – Program Maintenance

Maintain the business continuity program in a constant state of readiness

Maintain and manage business continuity program in constant state of readiness
Establish change management process
Manage contract and service level agreement renewals and upgrades
Conduct periodic program reviews and business continuity audit
Integrate business continuity program into information technology projects

Phase G – Business Continuity Plan Execution

Execute the business continuity plan

Execute pre-established business continuity plan procedures and tasks
Mobilize business continuity recovery and crisis management teams
Manage recovery from crisis management center

Who Should Attend this Workshop?

This workshop is designed for anyone who is responsible for business continuity management, developing business continuity plans or program plans, or anyone participating in business continuity planning projects. It is especially useful for executives, IT directors and managers, and disaster recovery and business continuity staff.

The following personnel are strongly recommended to attend this workshop: