Business Continuity and Resilience

Business continuity extends risk management from prevention and mitigation into preparedness, response and recovery.

Why it matters

Some disruptions cannot be prevented. Continuity capability helps the organization preserve critical services, recover faster and reduce the duration and consequence of disruption.

Core concepts

• Business continuity planning identifies critical activities and the resources needed to sustain them.

• Continuity plans should define responsibilities, communication and recovery actions.

• Alternative suppliers, routes, capacity or facilities can support continuity where appropriate.

• Plans should include clear triggers for activation and escalation.

• Continuity plans should be tested and maintained rather than stored without review.

• Resilience is strengthened when the organization can prepare, respond, recover and learn.

Remember for the exam

• Business continuity prepares for disruption, not just prevention.

• Critical activities and recovery priorities should be identified in advance.

• Plans need testing and maintenance.

• Resilience includes recovery and learning.

Apply it

• Use this concept in a practical decision by asking: Business Continuity and Resilience

• Then check the decision against this principle: Business continuity extends risk management from prevention and mitigation into preparedness, response and recovery.

Exam trap

Watch for questions that test this distinction or principle: Some disruptions cannot be prevented. Continuity capability helps the organization preserve critical services, recover faster and reduce the duration and consequence of disruption.

Key takeaway

Business continuity planning prepares the organization to maintain or restore critical supply chain capabilities when disruptive events occur.