CERTIFIED BUSINESS CONTINUITY PROFESSIONAL

BCP Exam Topics & Course in Detail

Accredited best practices of Business Continuity Management within an enterprise. May be used as a step-by-step quick start by those new to Business Continuity Management or an update for the more seasoned professional.

Prepares student for the certification exam in business continuity management provided by:

• Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRII, USA)
• Business Continuity Institute (BCI, UK)

Performance-Based Objectives

Upon successful completion of the course, students will:

• posses a though understanding of the BC Planning & Management model,
• practice with samples of a real BC plans that you can use for your business,
• are familiar with the proven method of developing plans,
• understand the Best Practices of BCP/DR planning,
• understand how to take advantage of the Incident Command System,
• understand what is expected by Government and Emergency response agencies,
• can begin the preperation and documentation of plans,
• are prepared for the DRI International professional certification examination

Course Content

Interactive course with case studies, sample plans & checklists to build proficency. Students will gain valuable experience in the concepts through classroom practice exercises. Excellent quickstart skills for persons new to BC planning.

PROJECT INITIATION & MANAGEMENT

Or how to become a superhero. Learn how approach the BCP process and gain senior management support. What to say, How to say it, and What to do for success. Look & act like a pro.

• Business Continuity Project - Activities
• Defining the Need: Scope, Disaster Defined , Recovery Timescale
• Communicating the Need: Awareness, Dangers, Benefits of Business Continuity Planning
• Establish BC Policy, Project Plans, Steering Committee
• Develop Initial Budgetary Requirements
• Reporting to Senior Management

RISK EVALUATION & CONTROL

Early steps in the process start with identification and classification of resources or assets that need to be protection because they are vulnerable to threats.

• Needs & Definitions: Hazards, Threats, Risks and Assets
• Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (COMAH)
• Risk Management for the Finance & Government-regulated Industry Compliance
• Risk Assessment Process, Critical Component Failure Analysis

BUSINESS IMPACT ANALYSIS

The mystical heart and soul of all plans. The BIA is a cooperative analysis involving all departments and key end user personnel. Learn how it's done step by step. You will learn how to calculate the maximum allowable downtime, establish enterprise wide recovery priorities, demonstrate what is truely important to your organizations survival.

• BIA Defined & Explained
• BIA Data Collection Methods
  • Critical Success Factor / Business Process Matrix
  • Key Performance Indicators
  • Process Flows
  • Generating Outputs & Deliverables
  • Discovery process using Questionnaires and Interviews
• Creating Real Financial Justifications
• Calculating Costs & Impacts

DEVELOPING CONTINUITY STRATEGIES

Everyone needs an intuitive strategy for survival. In business, downtime is like a slow acting poison. Just five days of downtime will result in 90% of business ceasing operations within twelve months following a disaster. Learn how to create a workable strategy that you can use for building your framework.

• Vital Materials and Strategy
• Contractual Arrangements
• Recovery Options and Recovery Timescale
• Creative Thinking
• Role of Insurance

EMERGENCY RESPONSE & OPERATIONS

Understanding how to communicate and organize for maximum efficiency. Real techniques of successful emergency managers. Learn how to get insider information during a crisis, how to communicate with your staff when all normal communications fail, how to portray a positive image to motive others.

• Coordination with Public Authorities
• Public Relations & Crisis Communication
• Managing communications with Media and Stakeholders
• Cordinating Salvage and Restoration

DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING THE BCP

Learn what to say and how to get the ball rolling. Use our guidelines and templates to insure a successful startup and highly productive planning process. You will be able to define and control specific functions like a pro.

• Plan Introduction
• Identify Teams
• Tasks, Actions and Functions
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Alternative Locations (Standby Locations)
• Internal and External Contacts
• Vital Documents and Materials
• Resource Requirements, Reporting Processes, Audit Trail
• Confidentiality Status, Version Control and Document Configuration Management
• Structure of Plan

CREATING AWARENESS & TRAINING PROGRAMS

Get your people onboard with targeted awareness and training programs to insure the staff focuses on truely critical success factors and maintains direction. Learn how to cultivate available resources for your success.

• Establishing Objectives
• Gain recognition from management
• Developing the Training Methodology
• Staff Skills Assessment Matrix
• Resources available for training

MAINTAINING & EXERCISING THE BCP

The best plans are worthless unless they are up to date and in working condition. Learn how to stay ahead of the curve and keep your plans current with minimum possible effort. Demonstrate to management your ability to be a leader.

• BC Plan Audit & Review
• Exercise Strategy and Methods
• Structured Approach

STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES

Learn the in's & out's of major planning and contengency programs around the world. Experience their strengths and apply the knowledge to your own framework.

• USA NFPA 1600 - the Standard on Disaster/emergency Management and Business
• US Federal Emergency Agency FEMA Disaster Planning for Business and Industry
• Canadian Standards Association CAN/CSA-7731-M95, National Standard Emergency Planning for Industry
• ISO 17799 & British Standard BS 7799-2 Standard in Information Security Management