Business Continuity Planning: Importance of Conferencing

  

  

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Every company should have a Business Continuity Planning Checklist. This critical document can help an organization of any size to prepare for disruptions in business operations, including natural disasters, pandemics or outbreaks. As the flu season struck early with the emergence of the H1N1 virus, the idea of a complete office shut down is not out of the question.

Business continuity planning is something that enterprises with multiple data centers have down to a science – they have to in order to ensure they survive. For the smaller business or non-profit, it may be a concept that simply sits in the back of the mind of an administrator or even IT manager. In such cases, there is generally a plan for data backup or system restore. To be effective, however, your checklist must go beyond the obvious.

Can Your Business Survive a Closure?

No matter what your corporate policy, the inevitable cannot be planned. Instead, you have to plan for what you will do when the inevitable happens. What is important is planning how your business can continue to operate effectively if you have to close your doors for even a short period of time.

If this were to happen, adjustments would have to be made to daily operations. It does not mean that work comes to a full stop. With the right voice and data solutions in place, employees can still communicate with colleagues and clients, keeping the main focus on driving business initiatives.

In a Forrester study titled "Businesses Take Business Continuity Planning More Seriously,” the research firm recommends that business continuity plans (BCP) be documented, actionable and up-to-date. While Forrester recommends BCPs be updated continuously, especially when there are changes to business or IT operations, few businesses reach this goal.

The Role of Conferencing

While conferencing should be a key focus for any company wishing to compete in a global economy, it also plays an important role in business continuity planning. This technology allows for the planning of meetings “on the fly” that can take place at any time and from any location. Providing Web and audio conferencing to remote locations and offsite workers keeps the communication lines open, especially with those unaffected by the office closure.

No business can effectively predict when an outside occurrence or internal illnesses will disrupt the normal flow of business. With a business continuity checklist in place, the organization is ready for any interruption to drive business as usual, serve customers and keep the company moving in the right direction.