What is Business Continuity Plan?

Business Continuity Plan, explained

A business continuity plan identifies the activities a business cannot afford to stop, the people and systems they depend on, and how to keep them going when something goes wrong. It covers broader issues than IT disaster recovery, including staff safety, alternative work locations, supplier failures, communication with customers, and manual workarounds.

For example, a pharmacy's plan might explain how to keep dispensing prescriptions if the internet fails, who contacts suppliers, where backup records are kept, and how customers will be informed. Building a plan usually starts with a business impact analysis that ranks processes by how quickly their loss causes harm. Plans need contact lists, clear roles, and regular testing through tabletop exercises, since untested plans often fail when they are needed most.