Course Details

Continuity Strategies for Critical Business Functions Training Course

Introduction

In an increasingly unpredictable global environment, the ability of an organization to sustain its core operations through any disruption is paramount to its survival and reputation. Our intensive 10-day "Continuity Strategies for Critical Business Functions" training course is meticulously designed for professionals tasked with translating Business Impact Analysis (BIA) findings into tangible, effective, and resilient recovery solutions. This program moves beyond theoretical understanding, providing in-depth knowledge and practical methodologies for developing, evaluating, and implementing a diverse range of continuity strategies that ensure the uninterrupted delivery of essential services and products, even in the face of significant challenges.

This hands-on course will guide participants through the strategic selection of recovery options for IT systems, facilities, human resources, and supply chains, aligning chosen strategies with defined Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs). You will learn to perform cost-benefit analyses, manage vendor relationships for continuity, and integrate various recovery components into a cohesive resilience framework. By the end of this comprehensive training, you will be proficient in designing and implementing robust continuity strategies, empowering your organization to safeguard its critical functions and maintain operational integrity during and after disruptive incidents.

Duration

10 Days

Target Audience

The "Continuity Strategies for Critical Business Functions" training course is essential for professionals who are responsible for designing, selecting, and implementing recovery solutions for their organization's critical operations. This includes:

• Business Continuity Managers/Coordinators: Responsible for the overall BCM program and strategy development.
• IT Disaster Recovery Planners: Focusing on the technical recovery of systems and data, needing to align with business needs.
• Operations Managers: Directly responsible for the continuity of specific business processes and services.
• Risk Management Professionals: Evaluating the effectiveness of continuity strategies in mitigating identified risks.
• Department Heads and Process Owners: Who need to understand the recovery options for their critical functions.
• Procurement and Supply Chain Managers: Involved in ensuring continuity of critical resources.
• Facilities Managers: Planning for alternative workspaces and infrastructure resilience.
• Financial Analysts: Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of various continuity strategies.
• Consultants: Advising clients on appropriate business continuity solutions.
• Anyone responsible for ensuring the operational resilience and recovery capability of an organization.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of the "Continuity Strategies for Critical Business Functions" training course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the range of available continuity strategies for various critical business functions.
• Select appropriate recovery strategies based on Business Impact Analysis (BIA) outputs (RTOs, RPOs, MTDS).
• Evaluate the feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and risks associated with different continuity solutions.
• Develop robust strategies for the recovery of IT systems, data, and applications.
• Formulate plans for alternative work locations and facilities continuity.
• Design strategies for maintaining human resource availability and support during disruptions.
• Implement resilience strategies for critical supply chains and third-party dependencies.
• Perform a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of proposed continuity strategies.
• Integrate chosen strategies into a cohesive business continuity framework.
• Justify and present continuity strategy recommendations to executive management.

Course Modules

Module 1: Foundations of Continuity Strategies

• Review of BCM lifecycle: BIA outputs informing strategy development.
• Understanding the relationship between RTO, RPO, and continuity strategy selection.
• Overview of the different categories of continuity strategies (e.g., proactive vs. reactive).
• Key principles guiding strategy selection: alignment with risk appetite, feasibility, cost-effectiveness.
• Common pitfalls in selecting and implementing continuity strategies.

Module 2: IT System Recovery Strategies (Part 1: Data & Applications)

• In-depth analysis of data backup methodologies (full, incremental, differential, continuous).
• Understanding data replication techniques (synchronous vs. asynchronous) and their RPO implications.
• Strategies for application recovery and restoration: order of restoration, dependency mapping.
• Database recovery methods: point-in-time recovery, log shipping, mirroring.
• Cloud-based backup and recovery solutions (BaaS, DRaaS).

Module 3: IT System Recovery Strategies (Part 2: Infrastructure & Network)

• Hardware recovery options: warm spares, hot spares, cloud instances.
• Network recovery strategies: redundant links, alternative routing, network virtualization.
• Server recovery: physical to virtual (P2V), virtual machine replication.
• Strategies for securing recovered IT environments.
• Evaluating IT infrastructure resilience: single points of failure, redundancy levels.

Module 4: Workspace and Facilities Continuity Strategies

• Options for alternative work locations: hot sites, warm sites, cold sites, mobile recovery units.
• Strategies for enabling remote work capabilities and distributed teams.
• Developing agreements for mutual aid and reciprocal arrangements with other organizations.
• Planning for critical utilities and infrastructure (power, water, communication).
• Logistics for office equipment, supplies, and vital records at recovery sites.

Module 5: Human Resources Continuity Strategies

• Strategies for ensuring the availability and well-being of critical personnel.
• Cross-training and succession planning for key roles.
• Emergency communication plans for employees during a disruption.
• Employee support programs (counseling, financial assistance) during extended disruptions.
• Policies for alternative work schedules and compensation during recovery.

Module 6: Supply Chain and Third-Party Continuity Strategies

• Identifying critical suppliers and third-party service providers.
• Strategies for supply chain resilience: multiple sourcing, inventory stockpiling.
• Developing contractual agreements with vendors that include BCM clauses (e.g., SLAs, recovery commitments).
• Monitoring and assessing third-party BCM capabilities.
• Contingency plans for managing supplier failures and disruptions.

Module 7: Operational & Process-Specific Continuity Strategies

• Developing manual workarounds for critical processes during system unavailability.
• Strategies for maintaining essential service delivery with degraded capabilities.
• Implementing temporary process adjustments and prioritization during recovery.
• Ensuring access to critical operational data and information.
• Specific strategies for unique operational functions (e.g., manufacturing, customer service).

Module 8: Cost-Benefit Analysis of Continuity Strategies

• Methodologies for quantifying the costs of different continuity strategies (CAPEX, OPEX).
• Estimating the benefits of implemented strategies (avoided losses, reputational protection, compliance).
• Conducting a formal cost-benefit analysis (CBA) to justify investment in resilience.
• Presenting CBA findings to management for informed decision-making.
• Understanding the return on investment (ROI) for BCM strategies.

Module 9: Integration and Documentation of Strategies

• Integrating chosen strategies into a cohesive Business Continuity Plan (BCP).
• Ensuring alignment between IT DR strategies and business recovery objectives.
• Documenting strategies clearly and concisely for operational teams.
• Developing runbooks, checklists, and procedures for strategy activation.
• Maintaining a centralized repository of all continuity strategy documentation.

Module 10: Strategy Testing, Review & Continuous Improvement

• Planning and conducting various types of tests for continuity strategies (e.g., component testing, integrated testing).
• Evaluating the effectiveness and feasibility of implemented strategies through exercises.
• Identifying gaps and areas for improvement in existing strategies.
• Establishing a periodic review cycle for continuity strategies based on BIA updates and risk changes.
• Adapting strategies to technological advancements and evolving threats.

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