Even if the worst happens, be prepared to stay Open for Business®

The Institute for Business & Home Safety

Disasters Happen

A business disaster is that

point in time after the “cause” when

you cannot provide your

customers and clients with the

minimum level of goods and

services they need and expect.

Protect Your Business

• Open for Business® was designed to provide small to mid-sized businesses with the tools needed to create a comprehensive business continuity plan.

www.DisasterSafety.org/OFB_Training

• Protect people and property• Resume critical business operations• Minimize downtime to retain clients and

customers

Objectives of Business Continuity Planning

Planning Process

• Identify potential impacts that threaten an organization

• Determine framework for building resilience

• Create procedures for effective response • Prepare for recovery

Determine Your Risks• Loss of Key

Employee

• Loss of Key Vendor

• Pandemic Flu

• Data Loss

• Utility Outage

Determine Your Risks

Look beyond natural disasters…– Geographic Location– Building Structure– Building Infrastructure– Vendor/Supplier

Continuity– Standard Company

Procedures– Data Storage

Put Controls In Place

• What can you do to prevent these determined risks from causing a business interruption?– You can’t stop the event, but you can:

• Prevent loss of data • Plan for a recovery location• Set up back-up telecommunications strategies• Encourage employees to return to work

Put Controls In Place

• Open for Business® Basic– Free from IBHS– Step-by-step instruction– Valuable planning

worksheets– Peril-specific property

mitigation information

www.DisasterSafety.org/OFB_Training

Communicate

• Employee Contact List• Key Suppliers/Vendors• Key Contacts

Maintain Operations

• Critical Business Functions• Vital Records• Critical Telephone Numbers• Critical Supplies• Equipment/Machinery/Vehicles

Recover

• Recovery Location• Computer Equipment & Software• Voice/Data Communications• Miscellaneous Resources

Before You Begin…• Senior-level support is

critical– Budgeting– Make planning a company-

wide priority• Engage your employees

– Planning is more manageable

– Employee cooperation: The plan is only as good as its execution

Make It Stick!

• Implement company-wide changes:– Make BC plan education part of new-hire

training– Add BC plan policies and procedures to

employee handbook• Maintenance, testing, and training

– Update the plan regularly– Test the plan at least once per year– Conduct periodic “reminder” training

Update

• At least once per year, better every 6 months

• Employee change• Major policy change

Test & Refine

• Hold regular drills– Fire/Tornado

• Table top exercises• Simulated exercises• Full exercises

Plan Now To Stay Open for Business®

Institute for Business & Home Safety

(813) 286-3400 | info@ibhs.org

www.DisasterSafety.org

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PRACTICES DESCRIBED IN THIS SLIDESHOW.  ALTERATIONS OR MODIFICATIONS TO ANY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS SLIDESHOW ARE

THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PERSON AND/OR BUSINESS MAKING SUCH ALTERATIONS OR MODIFICATIONS.  NOTHING

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