The standard deals with broad goals and is therefore non prescriptive so as to make it applicable to small and large business and local or global organisations.

The standard aims to achieve the following

• Provides a basis for understanding business continuity management
• Provides a means of measurement that is consistent and recognised
• Provides a system based on established good practice

It does not deal with emergency planning

Is the standard for me?

• If I have a business continuity management plan already in place, why should I use this standard?
• Is it just for large organisations?
• Is it complicated and going to tie me up in red tape?
• Is is just a British Standard, not relevant if I live in the USA

The standard was prepared by BSI Technical Committee BCM/1 whose membership included representatives from the financial services industry, government, academia, the emergency services, business organisations and a number of specialist practitioners from around the world.

It has been designed to be applicable to all sizes and types of organisations as the broad principles and practices described can be adapted to suite each individual organisation, considerable flexibility exists in implementation of the standard Although many industry sectors have a mature business continuity capability, many do not, particularly small to medium business.

Having a non prescriptive, moderately easy to understand and consistent set of principles will enable business continuity to mature in a greater number of businesses. BSI have delivered a standard for the needs of the British market but it is just as applicable in New York or Munich as it is in London.

Of course, complying with the standard does not infer any immunity from problems, this must be understood clearly by any organisations looking to use it but lays down a common framework that will ultimately enable measurement, benchmarking and certification.

Measurement, benchmarking and certification will provide market assurance that the organisation is well prepared to meet a range of events that may threaten its sustainability and existence

The Part 1 and Part 2 content in this section serves as an overview. The How To section contains more detailed information on certain business continuity aspects and is less tied into BS25999

Document Author - Harvey Fawcett

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