CyberGuide
Ensuring Continuity
FROM: MAR-APR 2004 ISSUE | BY ROBIN DAY
Most financial reporting is based on the assumption that an organization is, and will remain, a going concern. This month we take a look at a few of the many business continuity planning (BCP) resources that can be found online.
http://www.drj.com/
The Disaster Recovery Journal Web site provides access to a wide variety of resources including event listings, planning tools, and a special section for small businesses. You will need to subscribe to the free e-zine to access some resources, but it's definitely worth the effort.
http://www.drj.com/new2dr/newbies.htm
If you are new to continuity planning, be sure to check out the Business Continuity Page for Beginners. This site is also maintained by the Disaster Recovery Journal, but is dedicated to those who are new to the process. Resources include several sample plans, a glossary of terms, and links to a number of articles.
http://www3.gov.ab.ca/ma/ema/bus_resumption.cfm
Municipal Affairs, Emergency Management Alberta has published a series of very good BCP articles, which are recommended reading for anyone in a governance role.
http://www.dri.ca/
The Disaster Recovery Institute of Canada Web site is not exactly a work of art, but it gets the job done. Be sure to check out the Professional Practices Index on the education page, and explore some of the many links provided on the site.
Business continuity is one of those areas where the old adage, "failing to plan equals planning to fail" can provide some painful lessons. If your organization does not have a plan in place you might want to initiate the process. Either that or you could do a little personal disaster planning and make sure your resume is up to date.
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Robin Day, MBA, CGA, teaches financial management at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. He is also president of Virtual Information Technologies Inc.E-mail rday@virtualit.ca.