BCM SmartPLAN : Business Continuity Management - A Database-Driven Planning System

by Andrew Hiles

You never thought a comprehensive and powerful database Business Continuity Plan could cost so little! Based on MS Access (run time version included) and developed by Fellows of the Business Continuity Institute with comprehensive user manual.

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FEATURES -

Database driven system -

Puts the power of world-class BC experts in your hands for leess than the cost of a half day's consulting -

Successfully used by a organizations ranging from smaller public sector operations to multinational financial institutions. -

Inexpensive enough for use by the smallest business, but powerful enough for use by global players. -

The Business Continuity Manager will give a consistent look and feel to all BC Plans, facilitating Plan Review and Audit; the same applies to departmental or business unit BC managers responsible for more than one action plan. -

It requires no special training or IT expertise -

Provides a Business Continuity Plan structure complying with the practices of the Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRII) and The Business Continuity Institute (BCI). -

Easy to use: it requires no special training or IT expertise, Suitable for use by either a novice or business continuity professional -

Provides a common but company-flexible format across business units and companies -

Relational database structure makes BC Plan maintenance easy -

Facilitates BC Plan Audit and Review -

Scaleable

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BCM SmartPLAN was designed using the Microsoft Access system, which operates in the Microsoft Windows environment.

DATABASE: This is a collection of related information (data) stored on the computer. The Business Continuity database stores all the information necessary for the operation of BCM SmartPLAN; that is, all the Information Tables and all the Information Links. The information in the database is not sorted or structured, and this database is invisible to the user.

MICROSOFT ACCESS: This is a database management system which stores and retrieves information held in the database and sorts it into the particular order or format required for viewing and printing specified reports.

The operation of BCM SmartPLAN combines features of BCM SmartPLAN with functions that are general to the Microsoft Access system.

The BCM SmartPLAN Business Continuity Planning (BCP) System is used to maintain all information and documentation relating to the BCM SmartPLAN Business Continuity plans.

The basic functions of the system are: -

maintaining (adding, changing and deleting) basic information details through the Information Tables screens -

linking the different types of information through the Information Links screens -

printing selected reports as required through the Reports screens.

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INFORMATION TABLES These contain all the basic information necessary for the operation of the BCP System:

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Departments Table: Contains details of all departments that could be affected by a disaster.

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Disasters Table: Contains details of all predetermined disaster scenarios which could affect the normal operation of the enterprise.

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Disaster Teams Table: Contains details of all identified teams of personnel which would be involved in any Business Continuity activity.

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Minimum Resources Table: Contains details of all physical resources required, including furniture, equipment, hardware and software.

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Personnel Table: Contains details of all staff members.

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Processes Table: Contains details of all essential business processes (functions).

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User Activities Table: Contains details of all identified activities. -

Vital Records Table: Contains details of all documents required, including manual and computerized information.

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INFORMATION LINKS

Links between the Information Tables provide a basis for producing reporting on any aspect of Business Continuity Planning: -

Disasters are assigned Departments and Teams.

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Teams are assigned Personnel, Control and IT Activities and User Activities.

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Processes are assigned Vital Records, Minimum Resources and Personnel.

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Data Communications link Departments to Minimum Resources.

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REPORTS

Three types of reports may be produced: -

Business Processes, which detail all the processes necessary for the normal operation of the enterprise in order of priority, providing a checklist of recovery procedures. -

Resource Requirements, which detail all the physical resources and their required allocation across all departments for the duration of the recovery process. -

Selectable by Disaster, in which Business Continuity requirements are r...

300 pages, CD-ROM

First published November 15, 2000