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When was the last time you and your management team took a detailed look at your business continuity plan?
Working practices have changed almost beyond recognition since the pandemic. Prior to that, the idea of individual staff, never mind whole teams, was, if not anathema, then certainly the exception rather than the rule.
In a wide range of sectors and disciplines, and particularly those relating to IT, software, digital services and administration, remote working and working from home has become the norm.
According to HR News, in 2024 around 40% of UK businesses now operate a hybrid model in terms of remote working. Before the pandemic, this figure was estimated to be just 4.7%.
In this regard, and indeed in other aspects such as cybersecurity and data protection, have you updated your business continuity plan to reflect the changes in your working model?
This sea change in the way we work has thrown up a host of new challenges. That makes comprehensive business continuity planning all the more important. Certain historic protocols no longer apply, whilst others require re-evaluation or further development to ensure business security.
There are of course some obvious areas for review with hybrid working. Is your digital infrastructure robust enough or are you leaving staff to sort out their own connectivity? Do you have comprehensive cybersecurity measures in place, and if these were to be compromised, do you have a back-up plan?
Operational stability and management control are equally important factors. If teams are located off site, with individuals working from home or in smaller remote groups, do you have policies in place to maintain customer service levels and productivity?
And has your workforce got the right level of training and HR support to maximise their skills and avoid isolating themselves? Hybrid working requires an agile, flexible workforce. So it is crucial that digitisation and technology gives your staff the right tools to react and adapt to changing circumstances.
It’s also imperative that your workforce benefits from effective communications methods, especially in terms of crisis planning and disaster recovery.
The above aspects are perhaps what you might call easy controllables. But modern business impact risk assessments need to go further in a world where we all operate within inter-connected online systems. There is a danger that your business continuity can be reliant on other service providers and suppliers.
Best practice in business continuity planning should include end-to-end reviews of your supply chain. Is it resilient and what would be the alternative if things go wrong?
The adoption of smart technology is perhaps a good case in point. Previously, many companies relied on single physical data centres rather than cloud-based systems across multiple sites which better suit hybrid working.
Either way, if you have not looked at your data storage and recovery procedures in the last few years, perhaps now is the time to do so. In unforeseen circumstances, it is imperative that you can minimise downtime and protect business operations and your workforce.
Security risks have increased with the advent of wholesale remote working too. An unsecured network means your business data is more vulnerable. And with the rising frequency of cyber-attacks, you need to ensure that your IT infrastructure and connectivity is secure.
The upheaval caused by the pandemic also sent financial shockwaves across the world. The subsequent inflationary challenges and rising costs across the world amply demonstrate that businesses need robust plans in place to maintain appropriate working capital and cash reserves.
At SRM, our BCP specialists are perfectly placed to help you get your outdated business continuity plan up to scratch. Get in touch today.
