Business Continuity Planning

Businesses, both large and small, are increasingly dependent on a continuous flow of information across their IT networks, and any disruption can be potentially disastrous, whether it be a virus attack or a power failure. Nevertheless, most businesses find themselves operating on a daily basis without a plan or set of emergency procedures.

Many organisations are looking for support in understanding and utilising practical methodologies that enable them to develop effective business continuity plans (BCP) that provide clear cost-effective strategies, and strategies that ensure BCP extends beyond the IT department and addresses the organisation as a whole, receiving management buy-in throughout the planning lifecycle.

IT departments or BCP departments are looking for the tools and methods that will allow them to identify countermeasures and associated solutions that address the recovery requirements of business, and yet do not place an unnecessary burden on budgets, management time and support costs. At the same time, Clients should be looking for an approach which provides simplicity around the maintenance of business continuity plans.

Service Summary

Predator IT addresses these typical challenges (and many more) that impact the successful planning and maintenance of BCP.

Able to work in multi-vendor environments, which encompass communications infrastructure, storage equipment, management platforms and operating systems, we develop risk management strategies and solutions that restore your operating environment with the stated recovery time objectives.

Furthermore the methodologies we use are simple and easy o follow, providing a smooth and effective transition of knowledge to your company.

The BCP Service is broken down into four distinct components, which can be delivered together as a total package or as individual work packages, depending on the requirements of needs of the Client.

Risk Management Planning - Critical systems analysis; IT network assessment; Storage strategy assessment; Security assessment (physical logical, personnel and policies, processes and procedures)

Business Continuity Solution Planning - Network countermeasures and solution planning; Storage countermeasures and solution planning; Security countermeasures and solution planning; Managed service and outsourcing assessments

Business Continuity Plan Implementation - Recovery plan testing; Outsourcing selection

Business Continuity Plan Maintenance - BCP audits; Network redundancy and resiliency assessments; Recovery plan testing; BCP seminars and workshops; Crisis management planning

Benefits

• Identifying the key threats and financial risks of potential disasters to your business
• Assessing the impact of critical systems loss and agree on the recovery time objectives and recovery point objectives
• Assisting management buy-in, sponsorship and commitment surrounding the need for business continuity and disaster recovery planning
• Identifying the key network architecture and design issues with your network that expose the continuity of your critical business operations, such as single points of failure or impractical operating procedures.
• Applying industry best practices to mitigate business risks with clear cost v profit recovery strategies and working with out Clients to identify and select the most appropriate solutions e.g. outsourcing, implementation of technology solutions, management counter measures
• Ensuring that a concise, readily accessible Recovery Plan is available to reference in the event of an emergency.
• Ensuring the Client is able to operate with the highest possible level of service under emergency conditions
• Providing information to help make better business decisions in weighing the cost of Disaster Impact Avoidance against potential loss due to various levels of disaster scenarios.
• Providing knowledge transfer to the Client, to ensure they can take over the proactive management of BCP

Duration

An assessment of the duration of a prospective engagement is made free of charge and is dependant on many factors.

Results

You will receive copies of all reports, surveys and notes in hardcopy and diskette/CD.

We can prepare and deliver to your senior management/executive team, a presentation on our findings and recommendations, in a review meeting of up to one (1) day’s duration at your site, however there is a cost associated with this.

Customer requirements

We will need from you before we begin:

1. Contacts for all responsible personnel in key business areas
2. Access to any existing BCP plans
3. Access any existing vendors supplying backup services
4. Reasonable access to business plans, capacity models, network roll-outs etc.
5. Current system and network documentation including diagrams, configuration information and specifications in hardcopy and CD.
6. Locations list

Price and Costs

The service will be provided at a fixed price (to an agreed scope) plus reasonable travel and living expenses.