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US Treasury Secretary concerned over Wall St infrastructure preparedness

SecTreas investigates Wall Street preparations 


Hank Paulson, the newly appointed US Treasury Secretary, has said that he will launch a further review of Wall Streets ability to cope with another terrorist attack or a natural disaster amid concerns that power and telecommunications resilience has improved little since September 11, 2001.

On the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack, the Financial Times has reported that the US Treasury has asked the President's working group on financial markets to produce a report detailing the progress made on disaster preparedness in the past five years.

Thousands targeted by computer hacker

US Hacker strikes thousands in the UK 

THOUSANDS of computers in the UK have come under attack from a hacker in the US stealing credit card details and personal information. The Metropolitan Police's Computer Crime Unit has launched an investigation into material recovered on an American computer found to contain personal data accessed using a computer virus. 

More than 2,300 computers in the UK are thought to have been targeted and some 83,000 files affected. Email addresses and other confidential data have been recovered, including passwords, credit card numbers and information about on-line transactions. 

BRITISH STANDARD 25999 Consultation documents

Category Business Continuity Management BCM - Standards - BCM BS25999


Public Consultation begins for British Standard for BCM - BS25999

On the 3rd July the BSI is due to commence the public consultation on BS25999, the long awaited British Standard for Business Continuity. The Consultation will run for 60 days . The final standard will hopefully be published during November and we encourage all those interested to submit their thoughts and suggestions on the Standard.

IT directors failing to assess risk of human error in datacentre systems

 

Best Practice a must for Datacentres to prevent avoidable failures


Companies are investing hundreds of thousands of pounds in high-availability systems for datacentres but are failing to follow best practice maintenance procedures to avoid having a single point of failure. Even though the IT within data-centre sites can offer 99.99% availability and no single point of failure, IT directors are failing to assess the risk of human error in mechanical, electrical and IT systems, said Mick Dalton, chairman of the British Institute of Facilities Managers.

Back in action within five days of a serious fire

 

Case study: University of Southampton - business continuity


At 6am one Sunday last year, a fire broke out in the University of Southampton computer science department.  "The electronics department clean-room facility was a four-storey building fitted with lots vacuum pumps, which fanned the flames" says Joyce Lewis, IT and communications manager at the university.

A vital dress rehearsal for the day disaster struck

 

Case study: Finers Stephens Innocent - business continuity


Last year, the offices of City law firm Finers Stephens Innocent (FSI) were rocked by a fire, then an explosion on the fifth floor. Luckily, the incident was only a simulation, organised by the firm's business continuity advisers to put the team through its paces. But it was a simulation that proved crucial three months later when the Tavistock Square bus bomb went off just two streets away from FSI's offices.

When the bomb went off, the emergency services ordered local businesses to lock their doors and prevent staff from leaving the office. When employees were allowed to leave from 3pm, many were unable to get home because train stations were still closed and services cancelled.

Continuity Forum Events

The Continuity Forum provides a wide range of events suitable for all types of organisations. We provide a range of events, workshops and seminars featuring leading experts from all areas of Industry and Government that deliver exceptional value. Our events are free to members of the Continuity Forum and are also open to non-members at a small charge.


FOR MORE DETAILS ON OUR EVENTS or if you would like our assistance in running your own please contact SARA MCKENNA ON +44 208 993 1599 or email us HERE!.


Managing trauma ... minding the Mind

The psychological response to the report on London Bombings 

The ordinary, anonymous, predictability of a tube ride was shattered on July 7th by 4 bombers. The trauma, violence and horror that followed was made more powerful by the apparent normality of travelling in London. Everyday thousands of people travelled through London without a second thought. Journeys were planned, organised, and (usually) successful. However, the ordinariness and security of our transport network suddenly became dangerous and fragile.

This article comments on aspects of psychological trauma weaving through the details, and behaviour of people affected by the London Bombings. Every weave and turn could be commented on for its psychological component however, we have selected a few pertinent aspects for comment. The context of July 7th is important to mention in relation to the psychology of group behaviour.

Why does IT fail ...

Business Continuity Management Briefing BCM - IT Technology

If Information Technology be the foundation of your organisation, then read on

There can be very few modern organisations that do not rely, to a greater or lesser degree, on information, computing and telecoms to assist them in delivering their products and services. 

When the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) asked managers across all sizes and types of organisation what would have the greatest impact on their organisation they replied, the loss of IT. So why is it that major systems still fail?

Who turned the lights off?

 

Thousands of homes and businesses in central London had to face extended power cuts as temperatures soared in capital at the end of July.

Engineers from the power group EDF worked through the night to restore supply, but the effects of the power outage caused extensive problems for many businesses.

Connecting Insurance and BCM ... A legal perspective

Insurance, Professional Indemnity and Pensions: In Case of Emergency


Recent natural and man-made disasters are a chilling reminder that no business is immune from unforeseen circumstances.

Sound business managers plan to mitigate against such risks, says Sarah Turpin The past decade has witnessed severe flooding in parts of the UK, devastating hurricanes in the US, the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington DC, the 7/7 terrorist attacks in London and countless other disasters such as the Buncefield oil depot explosion.

The personal side of Business Continuity

The benefits of Business Continuity for small business

Often those charged with developing organisational BCM speak of the difficult of engaging with 'management' and of a considerable amount of lip service being paid to both the scope and depth of BCM planning. The modern world of business is a rum old place these days. 

A recent study by the Economic Research Council showed that for senior managers and business owners the concept of a 9 till 5 job is nothing but a distant memory, if it ever really existed at all. Success on the career ladder has meant long hours, often extensive travel either to get to and from the office or travelling to secure the next deal. Lunches are taken at desks and grabbing 20 minutes of quiet time during the hectic pace of the day is often seen as a luxury. The pressure to achieve is intense and it adds up to show an extended work schedule often adding well over 15 hours a week in 'extra' time spent working. 

Amidst, this frantic pace Business Continuity has been struggling to command the executive attention really needed to develop effective planning and I can easily sympathise, but only to a certain extent, as often it takes a real crisis to rock people out of their inertia and really appreciate what Business Continuity Management is really all about. The headlines often use big disasters or terrorism such as 9/11 to show why BCM is vital for organisations and this is understandable to a degree, but I often feel that paints the wrong picture, disconnecting people from the real threats and consequently the benefits. 

One of the lesser known facts about 9/11 is the unemployment it caused; in the immediate aftermath of the attacks on the WTC over 250,000 were virtually immediately unemployed, without any warning at all. One minute the pay cheques were coming regular as clockwork, the next nothing and we are not just talking low pay grade roles here either. Many senior executives were also left wondering what they were going to do to meet the monthly payments. Ironically, often these were same people who had not been able to spare the time to make the plans that the organisations now desperately needed. 

Now as I said earlier the big disasters tend to warp the view, but the lesson above translates to all serious disruption events one minute every thing is fine and the next your in the middle of a crisis that could change your whole life in a very personal way! 

It doesn't really matter what causes the crisis, it can be a large or small scale event affecting thousands of organisations or just one. What matters is the ability to cope with it. Two thirds of new business ventures fail within the first 18 months and only around 10% of companies make it to their 5 year anniversary, business is risky and to succeed learning to manage commercial issues is vital, but year after year businesses that otherwise may be successful fail due to their failure to develop a robust BCM programme with all the problems that brings. 

Our latest research shows that for smaller companies a serious event will drive them over the edge and some 50% of them will not see out the year. For them especially it's crazy to get through the business minefield and then leave it all to chance by not having a proper BCM programme in place. Think about all those hours worked, all that time at the office, on motorways, at airports or on trains; a few hours working on your Business Continuity Management process is the safety net to make sure that investment is not wasted. More than that BCM is a positive investment in the future of the organisation and ultimately yours too. 

Our work at the Continuity Forum takes us around some of the best prepared organisations in world, companies that carefully calculate the returns on every penny spent and it should be noted that the biggest, most successful ones are most often those with the most developed and extensive plans in place. It is not coincidence in my opinion, but rather compelling proof of value. 

Now many in smaller businesses may at this point say it's “all right for them, they have the money and resources to do it”, but that is rather a short sighted, even simplistic view. These corporate leaders don't do it for fun, they do it for money, pure and simple, yet their operational structures are far more complex and resource intensive. The truth is for smaller organisations BCM is actually far simpler and offers even greater returns especially for the owners and executives. With the large corporate there is, for most scenarios, a resilience that arises from diversity; the spread of income and resources reduces the likelihood of a catastrophic event wiping out the organisation. However, with smaller organisations the exposure is far greater due to an inherent and almost inevitable concentration of critical risk factors. 

It need not be so though, with sensible management acting responsibly and creating a Business Continuity Management process, suitably structured and focused on the most serious risks facing the organisation. These risks can be reduced dramatically, very often averting the events from occurring and if they do enabling the business to cope very much better with the disruption caused. As a final thought let me ask you what you'd be thinking, in a few months or even a few years, if you were standing outside your burnt out or flooded office, will you be wondering what to do next or wishing you had heeded this warning, or will you be quietly thanking your lucky stars that you had the good sense to put plans in place to deal with the crisis in front of you. I certainly know which I'd prefer. 

Russell Price Continuity Forum The Continuity Forum will be continuing our work promoting BCM to smaller companies both directly and through or public and private sector partners. For more details on these activities and the general activities of the Continuity Forum please contact us directly on +44 208 993 1599 or mail us HERE! Please do contact Sara Mckenna or Russell Price . END 

BC Basics EVENT - BC and Suppliers - London & Birmingham

Business Continuity Management BCM - EVENT - Support - Advice

Business Continuity Basics Educational Workshop SERIES TWO 

Following various successful Events held by the Continuity Forum, a number of our members and associates have requested that we run a special Programme of BCM Development Events. Aimed at those looking to develop their BC planning skills, or those at the very start of the BC Planning phase within their organisation, these events are specifically to help ensure that your planning is as efficient and effective as possible. 

To ensure that best value is gained, the events will be run in a specific order, and we strongly recommend that participants attend the entire programme, in order. The Forum will therefore offer a series of half day Round Table Workshop Events, allowing each of the delegates to build their knowledge and skills in a logical format. 

Each of the events will be hosted and facilitated by the Continuity Forum, and will use real life examples to encourage a free and open exchange of views. 

The aim of the events is to establish a clear understanding of key elements of BCM in order to enable further development of skills and knowledge relevant to each particular group of delegates. 

Business Continuity and your Suppliers 

Your organisation, whether public, private or voluntary and regardless of size is dependent upon suppliers. Many will also have outsourced key activities and use intermediaries to deliver their products and services to their customers and clients. A failure by a key supplier, outsource organisation or intermediary may disrupt the supply to clients and customers who will hold you responsible for the disruption. 

Managing suppliers is therefore critical. The event will examine the role of procurement in including BCM requirement in contracts. Session Leaders: Winston Kobylka, Government Management College and the Continuity Forum

Outline Agenda for all Events in this Programme 

09.30 Introduction & Housekeeping 

09.40 Opening Address - The Continuity Forum 

10.00 Round Table 1 - Discussion Exercise based on Continuity, relevant to the Audience 11.00 Coffee & Networking 

11.30 Round Table 2 - A discussion of topical issues relevant to the Audience 

12.30 Round Up Closing Comments from The Continuity Forum 

To book your place on this event please email Sara McKenna HERE! or call us on 0208 993 1599 We will rerun these events as required, but plan to re-run during September in a location further North. Details will follow shortly. Please do contact us ASAP to book your place on these highly valuable sessions.

If you would like to know more about how your organisation can get involved and benefit from working with the Continuity Forum, please email us HERE! or call on + 44 (0) 208 993 1599. 

 


BC Basics EVENT - Identification of Critical Activities - London & Birmingham

Category Business Continuity Management BCM - EVENT - Support - Advice


Business Continuity Basics Educational Workshop SERIES

The Continuity Forum run a special Programme of BCM Development Events aimed at those looking to develop their BC planning skills, or those at the very start of the BC Planning phase within their organisation, these events are specifically to help ensure that your planning is as efficient and effective as possible.

NEW EVENTS - Continuity Forum launches new BCM Educational Workshop Series

Business Continuity Management BCM - EVENT - Support - Advice


Introducing Business Continuity Basics 

If you are new to Business Continuity Management, have just started (but find the task of implementing business continuity daunting) or if you need help in finding a way through the BCM jungle, then the Continuity Forum BC Basics series of educational events is for you. BC Basics is designed to lead you through the key steps of identifying where you need business continuity; gaining the support within the organisation and beyond and creating your first BC plans.

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Business Continuity Forum creating Resilince and security

Creating Continuity... Building Resilience...