SOUTH WALES CONSULTANCY FIRM OFFERS BUSINESS CONTINUITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SERVICE TO HELP ORGANISATIONS COMBAT UNCERTAINTY
A major South Wales business management systems consultancy has begun offering a service to UK companies to help them battle continuing operational uncertainty.
The Ideas Distillery, based in Cardiff, will now implement Business Continuity Management Systems to the ISO 22301:2019 standard, the de-facto benchmark for business continuity management (BCM) systems.
This international standard certification has been designed to accommodate businesses of all sizes and and sectors and provides the necessary tools for organisations to respond to disasters and maintain operational continuity.
The Managing Director of The Ideas Distillery, Russell Lawson, said: “Business continuity management is the process through which an organisation empowers itself with the ability to continue delivery of its products or services in the event of a disaster - even, or especially, a global pandemic!
“It entails the formulation and execution of plans, strategies, and actions to mitigate the effects of a disruptive event. The lack of a robust and effective business continuity management plan can lead to catastrophic losses, both financial and asset-wise.
“A well-planned and executed business continuity management system ensures that an organisation is able to continue operations, even at minimum levels, in the event of a disaster.
“BCM is integral to the survivability of an enterprise during and after a disaster, which can be in the form of, for example, damaged infrastructure (electrical fire, long-drawn power cuts); cyberattacks (phishing, ransomware, brute force attacks); natural disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, snowfall); sabotage (theft of files or deliberate sabotage of equipment) and, of course, pandemics and epidemics (COVID-19, SARS, MERS).
“Putting COVID-19 aside, considering the ever-rising threats of cyberattacks and the growing pace of natural and man-made disasters, it’s pertinent for every organisation to take BCM very seriously and implement robust business continuity plans at the earliest possible date,” he said.
Implementation of a successful BCM depends upon the integration of four main BCM disciplines, namely:
The business continuity planning phase is based on a set of specific procedures, which include:
Mr Lawson continued: “Business continuity management not only ensures the operational survivability of an enterprise but also brings a host of benefits that can help the organisation to boost its standing in the industry.
“For example, a well-implemented business continuity management system not only keeps an organisation standing on its feet but also enables it to safeguard the well-being of its employees. Certain steps taken such as fire drills, emergency drills, and evacuation plans can save a lot of lives in the event of a disaster.
“It enables an organisation to be compliant with industry regulations, even if it’s not required to. The presence of a BCM and the consequent compliance certifications also boost the faith of the stakeholders as the organisation is seen as a responsible one.
“A good business continuity management system cushions the financial impact incurred during a disaster and even in the aftermath of one. With the right backups and protocols in place, an organisation can mitigate losses and secure its invaluable data for faster recovery.
“Also, many organisations do not invest time and money in creating a good BCM system. This lack of foresight can easily be taken advantage of by a competitor who has a robust BCM plan in place. In case of a disaster, the former stands to lose everything, while the latter is most likely to bounce back from the aftermath and continue its operations, giving it a significant edge,” he said.
About The Ideas Distillery: We help companies to implement quality, environmental, health & safety and information security management systems, often so ISO certification can be achieved. As an ISO consultancy there is a big focus on taking a risk-based approach and the assessment of risk, evaluating effectiveness of control measures, complying with regulations, legislation, etc.
The Ideas Distillery, based in Cardiff, will now implement Business Continuity Management Systems to the ISO 22301:2019 standard, the de-facto benchmark for business continuity management (BCM) systems.
This international standard certification has been designed to accommodate businesses of all sizes and and sectors and provides the necessary tools for organisations to respond to disasters and maintain operational continuity.
The Managing Director of The Ideas Distillery, Russell Lawson, said: “Business continuity management is the process through which an organisation empowers itself with the ability to continue delivery of its products or services in the event of a disaster - even, or especially, a global pandemic!
“It entails the formulation and execution of plans, strategies, and actions to mitigate the effects of a disruptive event. The lack of a robust and effective business continuity management plan can lead to catastrophic losses, both financial and asset-wise.
“A well-planned and executed business continuity management system ensures that an organisation is able to continue operations, even at minimum levels, in the event of a disaster.
“BCM is integral to the survivability of an enterprise during and after a disaster, which can be in the form of, for example, damaged infrastructure (electrical fire, long-drawn power cuts); cyberattacks (phishing, ransomware, brute force attacks); natural disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, snowfall); sabotage (theft of files or deliberate sabotage of equipment) and, of course, pandemics and epidemics (COVID-19, SARS, MERS).
“Putting COVID-19 aside, considering the ever-rising threats of cyberattacks and the growing pace of natural and man-made disasters, it’s pertinent for every organisation to take BCM very seriously and implement robust business continuity plans at the earliest possible date,” he said.
Implementation of a successful BCM depends upon the integration of four main BCM disciplines, namely:
- Emergency Response
- Crisis Management
- Disaster Recovery
- Business Continuity
The business continuity planning phase is based on a set of specific procedures, which include:
- Project management
- Risk analysis & review
- Business impact analysis
- Recovery strategy
- Plan development
- Testing & exercising
- Programme management
Mr Lawson continued: “Business continuity management not only ensures the operational survivability of an enterprise but also brings a host of benefits that can help the organisation to boost its standing in the industry.
“For example, a well-implemented business continuity management system not only keeps an organisation standing on its feet but also enables it to safeguard the well-being of its employees. Certain steps taken such as fire drills, emergency drills, and evacuation plans can save a lot of lives in the event of a disaster.
“It enables an organisation to be compliant with industry regulations, even if it’s not required to. The presence of a BCM and the consequent compliance certifications also boost the faith of the stakeholders as the organisation is seen as a responsible one.
“A good business continuity management system cushions the financial impact incurred during a disaster and even in the aftermath of one. With the right backups and protocols in place, an organisation can mitigate losses and secure its invaluable data for faster recovery.
“Also, many organisations do not invest time and money in creating a good BCM system. This lack of foresight can easily be taken advantage of by a competitor who has a robust BCM plan in place. In case of a disaster, the former stands to lose everything, while the latter is most likely to bounce back from the aftermath and continue its operations, giving it a significant edge,” he said.
About The Ideas Distillery: We help companies to implement quality, environmental, health & safety and information security management systems, often so ISO certification can be achieved. As an ISO consultancy there is a big focus on taking a risk-based approach and the assessment of risk, evaluating effectiveness of control measures, complying with regulations, legislation, etc.