Business continuity fit for the future

Ensuring the availability of public services in a changing world

Planning for business continuity is essential for all organisations not least those in the public sector. As the Council of the Future becomes ever more dependent on information and the systems which deliver it, the focus of business continuity planning is also changing over time.

This intensive and interactive one-day course from industry expert James Royds is essential for all those involved in ensuring the availability of services to communities and citizens both now and in the future.

Business continuity management can be very different for public services compared to the commercial world. This course is specifically designed for public sector and not-for-profit organisations.

Those attending will learn about:

• the importance and principles of Business Continuity Management (BCM)
• how to identify key risks to operations and then develop the capability to mitigate and manage them
• the elements of effective business continuity and incident response
• the development and review of the required set of business continuity plans and ensuring that they are likely to work
• how the approach to business continuity needs to evolve as information becomes the dominant organisational asset and approaches to both service delivery and customer engagement change
• ways to integrate information assurance and business continuity
• embedding business continuity in the mainstream of strategic business planning
• how organisational arrangements and culture contribute to effective BCM

Delegates will also have the opportunity to network with other organisations.

Course Content

Overview of Business Continuity Management (BCM)

• What is it?
• Business benefits
• Drivers
• Legal and compliance environment (including the Civil Contingencies Act)
• BCM and Risk Management
• Information Management – Information: the critical asset 
• Making the link between Business Continuity and Information Assurance

Threats to service operations

• What types are there?
• Which should be in or out of scope for BCM
• Determining priorities

Developing Business Continuity 

• The six stages of the BCM Lifecycle
• Mapping business continuity and information assurance processes 
• Characteristics of a ‘good’ business continuity plan
• Range and scope of required plans

The strategic approach to BCM

• Determining BC strategies
• The synergy between BCM and both ICT and information management strategies
• Technology trends and BCM
• Types of business continuity arrangements and options for their use and implementation
• How future business models (including partnerships) will influence approaches to BCM
• How can business continuity influence business strategy
• Implementing and managing a Business Continuity Management programme

Governance and organisational factors

• Policies and structures
• Roles and responsibilities
• Establishing ownership
• BCM culture and communications

Resources and Skills

• The role of the BCM practitioner
• Benefits of in-house versus outsourced BC planning
• What help is there for BC planners
• BC qualifications
• Business Continuity / Information Assurance Organisations

Tools and techniques

• Understanding the organisation (and dependence on partners)
• Business Impact Analysis
• Assessing Risks
• Available British and International Standards
• Good Practice Guidelines

Scenarios

• What to do and how to respond 
• Crisis management decision-making
• Early Effect and decisive acts
• How to prepare and run an exercise

Who Should Attend?

Anyone involved in implementing and maintaining business continuity including:

• Business Continuity Managers
• Heads of Service
• Directors and Chief Executives
• ICT management
• Business Continuity Managers
• Emergency planners and communications managers 
• Those involved in service transformation and redesign
• Audit, risk and insurance managers
• Facilities and HR managers
• Those responsible for Information Security

Pre-Event Activities

In order to get the most out of the event, delegates will be asked to complete a short questionnaire in advance about their learning requirements.

Post-Event Activities

Issues raised and learning points will be summarised, made anonymous and made available via an online forum after the event. The forum will also support ongoing discussions and shared learning.

SFIA/ Government IT Profession Skills

This course will help participants to develop the following skills:

• Continuity Management COPL
• Information Assurance INAS
• Business Risk Management BURM

CPD Scheme Points

Those attendees participating in the Socitm Continuous Professional Development Scheme may claim 4.5 points.