QUESTION 1: DISASTER RECOVERYAND BUSINESS CONTINUITYPLANS COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES. WHAT IS THE MOST CRUCIAL ASPECT OF A DR/BC PLAN AND WHY?

DANIEL LAVOIE ASSOCIATE ASSISTANT DEPUTY MINISTER, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND NATIONAL SECURITY, PUBLIC SAFETY

the most crucial aspect of a BCP in the government context is the delivery of critical services that Canadians rely upon and the continued operation of the Government of Canada. The Emergency Management Act stipulates that Public Safety Canada is responsible for reviewing departmental emergency management plans,which includes departmental business continuity plans.These plans are needed so that federal organizations can continue operating during an emergency.Under this act,Public Safety Canada is responsible for ensuring that business continuity plans meet the overall needs of the federal government. It had provided a self-assessment tool for departments to review their own business continuity plans.

PETER MARTIN PRESIDENT, AFI INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC.

the most crucial aspect of a plan-whether it’s for a labour dispute or a natural disaster-is not one specific part of the plan itself, but the assignment of a single point of accountability.  That individual requires full authority and buy-in to drive the process from the top executives down, which will allow a comprehensive plan to be developed.  Once a plan is completed it must be tested-either through a table top exercise or an actual drill.

JEAN SLICK PROGRAM HEAD, DISASTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM,ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY

we often focus on plans as products, and while a disaster recovery and business continuity plan is an essential component of a broader risk management plan,we need to remember that planning is equally a process, specifically a process of engagement of key internal and potentially external stakeholders.Stakeholder engagement is what creates a shift in mindset, from one which minimizes risk,to one that recognizes and attends to risk.  It is the process of disaster recovery and business continuity planning that cultivates a culture of risk reduction, and resiliency.  A resilient organization is the outcome we are seeking.Shifting from a focus on the paper plan,to the process of planning itself, and renewal of that planning, should be a central focus of any DR/BC planning activity.

QUESTION 2: TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION HAS REALLY ELEVATED DISASTER RECOVERY AND BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLANNING;WHAT INDUSTRY INNOVATION HAS HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON DR/BC PLANNING?

DANIEL LAVOIE ASSOCIATE ASSISTANT DEPUTY MINISTER, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND NATIONAL SECURITY, PUBLIC SAFETY

the advent of technology-based solutions has made it possible for organizations to create highly-detailed back-ups of their information and systems in the event of failure.  These systems can improve an organization’s ability to recover from disasters.

PETER MARTIN PRESIDENT, AFI INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC.

planning software has made the overall development of a plan less cumbersome.  Although development of software eases the process, it is important that the correct platform is chosen-one size does not fit all and it still requires an individual to drive the process.

JEAN SLICK PROGRAM HEAD, DISASTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY

technological innovations can be in the form of advancements of a product,with better performance.Or they can truly be innovations,doing something differently.In this regard,cloud computing,and other such shifts in technology, increases our interdependencies.  These interdependencies cannot be addressed in any one business continuity plan, and require us to think about the collective nature of activity, whatever that may be, and to reconsider what disaster recovery and business continuity planning may mean in these changing operational contexts.

QUESTION 3: WHY DO YOU BELIEVE MANY BUSINESSES SHOULD HAVE A PROPER DISASTER RECOVERY OR BUSINESS CONTINUITYPLAN OR ANY PLAN AT ALL?

DANIEL LAVOIE ASSOCIATE ASSISTANT DEPUTY MINISTER, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND NATIONAL SECURITY, PUBLIC SAFETY

it is important that organizations recognize that some services are critical and must be delivered without interruption. Having a business continuity plan in place will enable critical services or products to be continually delivered to clients or citizens. Every organization is at risk from potential and wide-ranging disasters. All Canadians and businesses have the responsibility to prepare for possible disruptions and having a BCP will help to ensure that organizations have the resources and information needed to deal with these emergencies and continue to serve the public.

PETER MARTIN PRESIDENT, AFI INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC.

Many individuals tasked with this type of responsibility have another primary function within the organization. The task of business continuity planning often takes a back seat due to other day-to-day responsibilities as well as the inherent notion that “it will never happen to our company.”  Many businesses do not see the full scope or impact that an incident can have on the organization and how it can effect every facet of the business.

JEAN SLICK PROGRAM HEAD,DISASTERAND EMERGENCYMANAGEMENT PROGRAM,ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY

we consider the future in light of our past experiences, and our past exposure to hazards and their impacts varies. Planning for future hazard scenarios requires us to grapple with uncertainty and probability,and to anticipate.The degree to which a business is aware of hazards and risk,and changing hazard and risk contexts, will influence their engagement in preparedness planning.

As a profession, disaster and emergency management is changing, and has much to contribute to engagement of businesses in preparedness planning.  Read more…

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