The Leading Source for Business Continuity News & Insight
Sharing Information and Public-Private Partnerships
August 31, 2007 8:00 pm | by JL Smither | Articles | CommentsOn April 19, 2004, the Department of Homeland Security and the Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism launched Lessons Learned Information Sharing (LLIS.gov). This system, designed to help prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from all hazards by connecting emergency response providers and homeland security officials, serves as the Nation's online resource for lessons learned and best practices. LLIS.gov contains over 10,000 homeland security-related documents, including after-action reports, federal guidelines, best practices, standard and emergency operations plans, and many others.
Great Ideas: Key Issues and Creative Solutions
August 31, 2007 8:00 pm | by Brian Zawada | Articles | CommentsEvery day, unexpected events occur that have business continuity implications. July 18, 2007, was no different. On this seemingly normal Wednesday in Midtown Manhattan, a steam pipe exploded. At first glance (and despite the fact that the explosion was "photogenic" and therefore appeared in every news outlet), the situation appeared to have minimal business impact. However, a number of businesses were significantly and immediately impacted due to lost utilities and other city services. In many cases, employees were unable to reach their workplace (for up to three days in a number of situations).
Guest Editorial: Minneapolis Continuity Planning in Action: A Bridge to Tomorrow
August 31, 2007 8:00 pm | by Doug Sievers | Articles | CommentsIf, on July 31, some soothsayer had told me that a major disaster was going to occur in Minneapolis the following day, I doubt my concerns would have flown to the section of Interstate 35W spanning the Mississippi River just east of the historic Stone Arch Bridge. My first thoughts might have included a terrorist attack at the Mall of America, a tornado, a plane crash, a rampage of violence committed by a deranged loner. But the sudden collapse of the nondescript bridge over which I had so often driven, over which virtually every driver in Minneapolis had driven-falling, without warning, into the Mississippi? Now, that's one I hadn't seen coming.
A Corporation and a College
August 31, 2007 8:00 pm | by Robbie LaRocca | Articles | CommentsAfter much research, Wyeth made a decision late in 2006 to develop an internal Business Continuity Certification course. While comfortable with the scope of their knowledge, they thought they could do a better job training future business continuity leaders and coordinators internally. They teamed with a local college to make it happen.
RIMS Presidents Talk BCP and ERM
August 31, 2007 8:00 pm | by Continuity Insights Staff | Articles | CommentsIn business continuity circles, risk management is a hot topic. Many business continuity professionals talk about integrating with enterprise risk management programs, wonder how to build bridges with risk managers in their organizations, and see risk management, business continuity, and related disciplines "converging" in the future. But what do risk managers think about their business continuity counterparts?
Final Thoughts: What Our Educational Programs Are Missing
August 31, 2007 8:00 pm | by John Stagl | Articles | CommentsCurrent educational programs in the field of business continuity (BC) planning are confronted with a problem of semantics. The old school educational effort associated with "disaster recovery (DR) planning" was oriented to internal processes that were going to be needed after a disaster. This information was identified by an internal survey of department managers. This same protocol is being used to try to construct business continuity plans.
BCP at Citi: It's Crystal Clear
August 31, 2007 8:00 pm | by Buffy Rojas Editor-in-Chief | Articles | CommentsAsk Rudy Garcia about his business continuity program and there are a few key phrases that you're going to hear quite a bit: crystal clear, business drivers, strategic planning, communication, useful information, day-to-day basis. Those phrases pretty well sum up Garcia's approach to BCP: Have a crystal clear understanding of the organization's business drivers. Develop a strategic business continuity program that is aligned with the business. Communicate that program to all relevant parties. Provide stakeholders, particularly top management, with useful information that will help them make business decisions. And add value to the organization on a day-to-day basis.
UpFront
June 30, 2007 8:00 pm | by Continuity Insights Staff | Articles | CommentsEight Southeastern states are working together to improve how frail and elderly citizens are cared for during a major disaster. Leadership from the state emergency command centers and long term care (LTC) organizations in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, Georgia, Virginia, and North Carolina met at a May Hurricane Summit to improve how LTC needs are incorporated into disaster planning. Federal level representatives from FEMA, CMS, and HHS also participated, along with representatives from the AARP.
End User Recovery: A Lesson for All
June 30, 2007 8:00 pm | by John Jackson | Articles | CommentsWhen you plan your work area space, make sure you anticipate not just day one needs, but also how end user requirements will change over time. Have a handle on the amount and configuration of space so that growth can occur without disrupting the recovery operation that is already in place.
The 2007 Hurricane Season Explained
June 30, 2007 8:00 pm | by Chris Hebert | Articles | CommentsIn May 2006, seasonal hurricane forecasters predicted 17 named storms, including nine hurricanes and five major hurricanes. In reality, the 2006 season ended with 10 named storms, five hurricanes, and two major hurricanes. There are several reasons for the bad 2006 forecasts. Let's look back at 2006 and ahead to 2007.
Great Ideas: Consider Leveraging Standard 25999
June 30, 2007 8:00 pm | by Brian Zawada | Articles | CommentsWithout exception, organizations leveraging BS 25999 are finding that the content is actionable and positioned to be understood by executive managers. And by evaluating and implementing the process recommendations found in BS 25999, business continuity management organizations are realizing higher levels of credibility with their executive management teams.
Professional Development: Compensation and the Business Continuity Profession
June 30, 2007 8:00 pm | by Cheyene Haase | Articles | CommentsCompensation for business continuity professionals has been on the rise since 2003. In fact, 2006 showed the highest increases in compensation for full-time, permanent employees (FTEs) with an average of 7 percent. Last year also marked the first time that average total compensation surpassed $100,000 for FTEs.
Ask the EAB - July/August 2007
June 30, 2007 8:00 pm | by Editorial Advisory Board | Articles | CommentsGlobally, the business continuity industry still lacks a common reference standard, but benchmarks and maturity models are emerging that will provide a framework for this type of communication. In the meantime, start by establishing controls within your organization - a central person or group should handle client and prospect requests. Speaking with one voice about your continuity program is as critical during normal business as it is during a disaster.
BCP at Citrix: A Follow the Sun Approach
June 30, 2007 8:00 pm | by Buffy Rojas Editor-in-Chief | Articles | CommentsWith employees in 35 countries worldwide, Citrix is pretty much everywhere. That global presence is at the heart of the company's business continuity and disaster recovery program. But while its reach is global, its headquarters is practically on the beach.
Beat the Odds: Avoid Corporate Death and Build a Truly Resilient Enterprise
June 30, 2007 8:00 pm | by Robert A. Rudzki | Articles | CommentsThe statistics regarding corporate longevity are sobering: 600,000 American businesses filed for bankruptcy in just the last 10 years. Based on several independent studies, the conclusion is that corporations have a "life expectancy" of less than 50 years.
