Business continuity planning (BCP) has become the go-to way to thwart any major issues that happen within any enterprise. However, to most of the firms engaged with BCP, it's just a subscription they have to keep shoveling money at until it is necessary to whip out the emergency kit. There's no ROI, there's no real solid predictable figure for how often BCPs are actually needed, and there's no telling when your next incident will happen. You're paying for something you might not need in another decade. That's why most firms come to the conclusion that BCP is just a money-drainer.
This year is not really a good year for businesses with BCP. Continuity Central says that 38 percent of business continuity professionals have stated that a lack of budget, funds, and resources are likely to make BCP a significant problem in 2014. So, how can you keep your business alive without having to lose a ton of money the moment your BCP has to be applied?
Well, think about what’s making you lose productivity when catastrophe strikes. During a flood, a chemical leak, or some sort of other disaster, your employees might find it very difficult to arrive at their place of work. But what if their place of work didn't have to be at the office? What if you had a contingency plan that allowed them to complete their work from home? With telecommuting in place, you'd experience a much smaller loss in productivity than if you didn’t include this in your contingency plan.
There are also many ways to reduce facility expenses that will help enhance your business continuity plan. For example, you can make it easier to make your business mobile by establishing mobility policies and slicing off unnecessary office space.
In the end, business continuity relies upon a smart approach that will keep everything running as normally as possible during a disaster.