BSI supports launch of new website to help manage the impact of business disruptions
Press release - 17 July 2008
As Business Continuity Management moves higher up boardroom agendas than ever before, a comprehensive new BCM portal website has been launched to help organizations of all kinds deal with business disruptions from unexpected events.
The site is supported by BSI Group, the world’s leading standards-based business solutions provider and the publisher of the world’s first Business Continuity Management requirements standard, BS 25999-2.
Available at www.talkingbusinesscontinuity.com, the site is aimed at any organization with an interest in maintaining business continuity. It provides clear, practical information on what Business Continuity Management is and does, and outlines why it is important across all sectors. It also looks at the role of the Business Continuity Management standard, BS 25999, and the business value of getting certified; and offers help with gaining certification.
The site incorporates explanatory videos, as well as numerous free downloads, a discussion forum, news, an advice request section, certification case studies and links to other BCM sites and training.
Says Alexandre Meerson, BSI Group’s e-Commerce Director: “When Business Continuity Management standard BS 25999 was being written, the Draft for Public Comment received more comments than any previous standard. It became clear to us that there was unprecedented interest in Business Continuity Management across the public and private sector. And since the publication of BS 25999- 2, the certifiable part of the standard, we have seen record demand for certification.
“Plainly there is a requirement for a website which explains BCM to the vast number of non-BCM professionals who are becoming more and more aware of its role as a management discipline. As a result we are supporting the new portal which is designed to be fresh, dynamic and accessible. We believe it meets a pressing need for straightforward and practical information on this important subject.”
Says BCM expert, Lyndon Bird, Technical Director of the Business Continuity Institute: “This website for business continuity will be of value to many organizations. It will improve the opportunities for people to learn about business continuity and move towards being more professional in its application, which is a good thing.”
About BCM
Business Continuity Management is defined as a holistic management process that identifies potential impacts that threaten an organization, and provides a framework for building resilience and effective responses which safeguard the interests of the organization. It helps to ensure continuity of service to key customers and to protect brand and reputation.
Business disruptions are a fact of life. According to the latest government figures , the top four disruptions experienced last year were:
- loss of IT (43%)
- loss of people (35%)
- loss of telecommunications (30%)
- extreme weather such as flooding or high winds (29%)
- loss of key skills (21%)
Fire and Terrorist damage were at the bottom of the list at 5% and 3% respectively.
Drivers behind the growth in interest in BCM:
- the greater risk and reduced resilience inherent in globalisation and interdependence: outsourcing, off-shoring, subcontracting, franchising and extended supply chains
- increased regulation: the UK Civil Contingencies Act 2004 requires frontline services to maintain internal BCM arrangements. Since May 2006 local authorities have been required to promote BCM to business and voluntary organizations in their communities.
- supply chain mandates
- perception of an increase in adverse events such as extreme weather, diseases pandemics and terrorism
- a growing recognition of the benefits of managing risk proactively, maintaining and enhancing brand and reputation; and enhancing business efficiency from comprehensive process review
About the BS 25999 Business Continuity Management standard
- BS 25999 is playing an important role in galvanizing interest in BCM. Comments BCM expert Lyndon Bird, Technical Director of the Business Continuity Institute: “The emergence of the standard has been significant in focusing people’s attention on BCM and it has created an understanding among non-BCM professionals that ‘business continuity’ is not just a set of isolated problems that are handled in separate ways. As a result BCM is increasingly on the senior management radar in a way that it wasn’t possibly five, or even two years ago.”
- BS 25999-1:2006 Business continuity management. Code of practice provides guidance and recommendations. It establishes the process, principles and terminology of business continuity management (BCM), providing a basis for understanding, developing and implementing business continuity within an organization and to provide confidence in business-to-business and business-to-customer dealings. In addition, it provides a comprehensive set of controls based on BCM best practice and covers the whole BCM lifecycle.
- BS 25999-2:2007 Specification for Business Continuity Management. is the world's first BCM requirements standard and was developed to minimize the risks of disruptions which can impact an organization's ability to keep operating and trading. The standard, which was published in 2007, contains a comprehensive set of controls based on business continuity management best practice and covers the whole BCM lifecycle right down to having rehearsed methods of dealing with disasters. To date, BSI Group has certified companies in the UK, India, Japan, Brazil and Korea to the standard.
About BSI Group
BSI Group is a global independent business services organization that inspires confidence and delivers assurance to customers with standards-based solutions. Originating as the world’s first national standards body, the Group has over 2,250 staff operating in over 100 countries through more than 50 global offices. The Group’s key offerings are:
- The development and sale of private, national and international standards and supporting information
- Second and third-party management systems assessment and certification
- Product testing and certification of services and products
- Performance management software solutions
- Training services in support of standards implementation and business best practice.
For further information please visit www.bsigroup.com
