Business Continuity Plan - BCP

BCP - Business Continuity Plan. This is a plan to ensure that the essential business functions of the organisation are able to continue (or re-start) in the event of unforeseen circumstances; normally a disaster of some sort. However, BCP is not to be confused with Disaster Recovery Planning which is focussed upon crisis management.

Having dealt with the immediate crisis: securing the health and safety of people and preventing further spread or continuation of the crisis (e.g. a fire), the Disaster Recovery Plan will hand over to those responsible for executing the Business Continuity Plan.

The BCP will identify the critical people (roles / functions), information, systems and other infrastructure, e.g. telephones, which are required to enable the business to operate. The BCP will lay out a detailed plan which, if called upon, should be executed to assure minimum additional disruption.