How to Build a Strategic Business Continuity Plan beyond COVID-19

After the rapid spread of COVID–19, arguably, every organization around the world shifted its primary priorities dramatically. As a result, several concerns surfaced, such as disruption in the workforce, daily business operations, and supply chain. A recent report on “business responses to the COVID–19 outbreak” suggests, 51% of enterprises around the globe do not have a business continuity plan. Out of more than 300 businesses, half of the organizations are not ready to combat disasters. Well, with employees working remotely in the wake of coronavirus-themed attacks, companies need a sound IT disaster recovery and business continuity plan.

As the updates on the disease fill the news, business leaders are struggling to keep up. Moreover, the traditional disaster recovery plan steps focus on recovering utilities and physical resources. Yet, they fail to cover the sustenance of daily activities during such tough times.   

In this blog, we have put together the crucial steps to shape a pandemic response plan.

3 Elements of a Business Continuity Plan during the COVID-19 pandemic  

The following components will address the ways to keep the business operations running at the time of unforeseen events.   

1. Business resilience

A healthy business continuity plan should focus on business resilience. Today, companies are fighting an unexpected war to keep their daily activities going. To summarize, they need an evolution in protocols to keep their businesses running.   

Furthermore, business resilience needs the evaluation of core business systems. Enterprises rely on hybrid infrastructure, the right blend of on-premise and cloud-based infrastructure. The arrangement is perfect for leveraging new technologies while managing financial burden within an acceptable limit.

Thus, generating the need for a better business continuity plan. It should ensure smooth access to company tools and resources when working from home. 

2. Licensing requirements 

Another factor to consider is licensing requirements for the entire staff. For instance, a firm has 500 employees but owns only 300 VPN licenses. Organizations must have a policy dealing with such a situation in the time of need. Meanwhile, configure the firewall architecture to accommodate the sudden increase in network traffic. Even other network security solutions, including Intrusion Prevention System (IPS), needs to work accordingly.

3. Address themed attacks 

Unfortunately, cybercriminals are using the impacts of the pandemic to their advantage. They are carrying out phishing scams to target vulnerable individuals and organizations. Employees eagerly waiting for updates on COVID-19 are most likely to fall prey to these scams. The plan should incorporate an efficient system to stop phishing campaigns. It will also help in shutting down a potential cyberattack.

Source: eccouncil.org