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Summer Edition 2009
Exercising: The Secret to Successful Business Continuity Plans
Table-Top
In a table-top exercise, participants gather in a room to execute documented plan activities in a stress-free environment. Table-top exercises can effectively demonstrate whether team members know their duties in an emergency and if they need training. Documentation errors, missing information and inconsistencies across BCM plans can be identified in a table-top exercise.
Simulation
To determine if BCM procedures and resources work in a realistic situation, a simulation exercise is desirable. This exercise uses established business continuity resources, such as the recovery site, backup equipment, services from recovery vendors and transportation. It can require sending teams to alternate sites to restart technology as well as business functions. Errors, omissions, missing or insufficient resources, incomplete coverage, and limited vendor capabilities may surface in this exercise. Simulations may also uncover staff issues regarding the nature and the size of their tasks. The use of a scenario is highly recommended for simulations.
BY: DENIS GOULET, MBCI & PAUL KIRVAN, FBCI
After you have completed all the necessary activities associated with a developing business continuity plan, you may think you’re finished. In reality, BCM plans are useless until you exercise them. Fortunately, many types of exercises are possible, ranging from simple to very complex. The key is to incorporate exercising as part of the overall BCM process.
Exercise Types
Three fundamental exercise types can be defined: the plan review, table-top exercise, and simulation exercise. Let’s examine each briefly.
Plan Review
In a plan review, the BCM plan owner and business continuity team discuss the BCM plan. They look for missing elements and inconsistencies within the plan or with the organization. This type of exercise is comparable to plan auditing, and is useful to train new members of a team, including the business function owner.
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