When the system no longer responds
Continuity and crisis management
ISO 22301 supplies a language. The craft is that this language survives the first minute of chaos: roles, evidence, communication and continuity of what actually matters.
- For whom.
- Senior leadership and owners of critical operations who must sustain the business when a system fails.
- Scope and deliverable.
- Roles for the first hours, a minimum operation and a communication criterion. May include a drill guide.
- Limit.
- It does not operate the data centre or replace the internal continuity team.
Perspective
Recovering a system is not recovering a company. Continuity is measured in clients served, payroll paid and trust intact.
ISO 22301 is a useful language. The craft is that this language survives the first minute of chaos.
Common risks
- Plans that live in a drawer.
- A single human bottleneck.
- DR without crisis communication.
- Theoretical RTOs that have never been restored.
Questions for a board
- If tomorrow at 07:00 there is no central system, who collects and who informs?
- When did we last restore the latest copy in earnest?
- What minimum operation do we sustain for 72 hours?
- Who stays outside the crisis room?