Course Details

Testing, Exercising and Maintaining BCPs Training Course

Introduction

A Business Continuity Plan (BCP), no matter how meticulously developed, is merely a document until it is rigorously tested, regularly exercised, and diligently maintained. In today's dynamic threat landscape, the true measure of an organization's resilience lies in its proven ability to activate its plans and recover effectively when a disruption strikes. Our intensive 10-day "Testing, Exercising and Maintaining BCPs" training course is meticulously designed to equip professionals with the essential knowledge and practical skills required to validate, refine, and sustain their Business Continuity Plans and overall Business Continuity Management (BCM) program. This program moves beyond plan creation, focusing on the critical phase of ensuring plans are actionable, current, and capable of delivering desired recovery outcomes.

This hands-on course will guide participants through a spectrum of testing methodologies, from desk-based walk-throughs to full-scale simulations, emphasizing how to design, execute, and evaluate exercises that expose gaps and drive continuous improvement. You will learn to establish robust maintenance schedules, manage changes to plans, and implement effective training and awareness programs to embed a culture of preparedness throughout the organization. By the end of this comprehensive training, you will be proficient in leading BCP testing, exercising, and maintenance initiatives, ensuring your organization's resilience capabilities are not just theoretical, but proven and ready for any unforeseen challenge.

Duration

10 Days

Target Audience

The "Testing, Exercising and Maintaining BCPs" training course is crucial for professionals who are directly responsible for validating, refining, and sustaining the effectiveness of their organization's Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) and overall Business Continuity Management (BCM) program. This includes:

• Business Continuity Managers/Coordinators: The primary audience, responsible for the ongoing lifecycle of BCPs.
• BCM Program Test Coordinators: Individuals specifically tasked with planning and executing BCP exercises.
• Department Heads and Process Owners: Who need to participate in and understand the testing of their specific continuity procedures.
• IT Disaster Recovery Planners: Involved in testing the technical recovery of systems and data.
• Crisis Management Team Members: Participating in crisis communication and incident response exercises.
• Internal Auditors: Evaluating the effectiveness of BCM testing and maintenance processes.
• Training and Development Managers: Designing and delivering BCM awareness and training programs.
• Compliance Officers: Ensuring BCP testing meets regulatory and audit requirements.
• Risk Management Professionals: Assessing the residual risk after BCM testing.
• Anyone seeking to move beyond BCP development to ensure operational readiness and continuous improvement.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of the "Testing, Exercising and Maintaining BCPs" training course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the purpose and benefits of BCP testing and exercising within the BCM lifecycle.
• Differentiate between various types of BCP tests and exercises and select the most appropriate for different scenarios.
• Design, plan, and execute effective BCP exercises, including developing realistic scenarios and objectives.
• Evaluate exercise performance, identify gaps, and document lessons learned for continuous improvement.
• Establish a robust BCP maintenance program, including review cycles and change management processes.
• Develop and implement effective training and awareness programs for all relevant stakeholders.
• Manage corrective actions and ensure their timely implementation post-exercise or incident.
• Understand the importance of integrating BCP maintenance with broader organizational changes.
• Familiarize themselves with international standards (e.g., ISO 22301:2019) requirements for testing and maintenance.
• Contribute effectively to building a resilient and continuously improving BCM program.

10 Course Modules

Module 1: The Importance of BCP Testing & Exercising

• Why testing and exercising are crucial: validating assumptions, identifying gaps, training personnel.
• The relationship between BCP development, testing, and continuous improvement.
• Benefits of a robust testing program: enhanced confidence, reduced risk, improved recovery times.
• Common challenges in testing and how to overcome them.
• Linking testing to Business Impact Analysis (BIA) and Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs).

Module 2: Types of BCP Tests & Exercises

• Walk-throughs/Tabletop Exercises: Purpose, design, and execution.
• Simulation Exercises: Simulating realistic scenarios and team responses.
• Operational/Functional Exercises: Testing specific components or departments.
• Full-scale Exercises: Comprehensive testing involving multiple teams and resources.
• Selecting the appropriate test type based on objectives, resources, and maturity.

Module 3: Designing & Planning BCP Exercises

• Establishing clear exercise objectives and scope based on BCPs and BIA.
• Developing realistic and challenging exercise scenarios.
• Defining success criteria and key performance indicators (KPIs) for the exercise.
• Creating exercise documentation: facilitator guides, participant handbooks, injects.
• Logistics and resource planning for conducting an exercise.

Module 4: Executing BCP Exercises

• Briefing participants and setting expectations for the exercise.
• Facilitating the exercise: managing injects, time, and participant interactions.
• Monitoring team performance and decision-making during the exercise.
• Role of observers and evaluators during the exercise.
• Managing unexpected events and ensuring a safe exercise environment.

Module 5: Evaluating Exercise Performance & Lessons Learned

• Collecting qualitative and quantitative data during the exercise.
• Conducting effective post-exercise debriefs (hot washes, detailed reviews).
• Analyzing exercise performance against objectives and success criteria.
• Identifying gaps, weaknesses, and areas for improvement in the BCP.
• Documenting lessons learned and actionable recommendations for corrective action.

Module 6: BCP Maintenance Program Development

• Establishing a formal BCP maintenance policy and schedule.
• Triggers for BCP review and update: organizational changes, BIA updates, audit findings, incidents.
• Managing changes to processes, systems, and personnel that impact the BCP.
• Maintaining accurate and up-to-date contact lists and essential documentation.
• Ensuring version control and accessibility of current BCPs.

Module 7: BCP Documentation Control & Management

• Best practices for organizing and storing BCP documentation (physical and electronic).
• Implementing document control procedures: approval workflows, distribution lists.
• Ensuring secure storage and appropriate access controls for sensitive BCP information.
• Strategies for maintaining offsite copies of critical BCP documents.
• Using BCM software platforms for centralized document management.

Module 8: Training & Awareness Programs for BCM

• Developing a comprehensive BCM training strategy for all employee levels.
• Tailoring training content based on roles and responsibilities (e.g., basic awareness, team-specific training).
• Methods for delivering training: e-learning, workshops, drills, tabletop exercises.
• Measuring the effectiveness of training and awareness initiatives.
• Fostering a culture of preparedness and continuity through ongoing education.

Module 9: Managing Corrective Actions & Improvements

• Establishing a robust process for managing corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) from tests and incidents.
• Assigning ownership and timelines for corrective action implementation.
• Monitoring and tracking the progress of corrective actions.
• Verifying the effectiveness of implemented CAPAs.
• Integrating CAPA management with the overall BCM continuous improvement framework.

Module 10: Advanced Maintenance & Program Maturity

• Leveraging audit findings to enhance BCP maintenance and testing.
• Utilizing BCM maturity models to assess program effectiveness over time.
• Integrating BCP maintenance with broader organizational change management processes.
• Benchmarking BCM testing and maintenance practices against industry peers.
• Strategic planning for evolving the BCM program to meet future threats and organizational growth.

CERTIFICATION

• Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with Macskills Training and Development Institute Certificate

TRAINING VENUE

• Training will be held at Macskills Training Centre. We also tailor make the training upon request at different locations across the world.

AIRPORT PICK UP AND ACCOMMODATION

• Airport pick up and accommodation is arranged upon request

TERMS OF PAYMENT

• Payment should be made to Macskills Development Institute bank account before the start of the training and receipts sent to info@macskillsdevelopment.com