In our rapidly evolving business landscape, unexpected disasters and interruptions can emerge suddenly.
A business continuity plan (BCP) is a critical safeguard for essential business operations, assets, and services, enabling a prompt return to normalcy following a crisis.
Business continuity (BC) and IT disaster recovery (IT DR) professionals strive to create thorough and dependable BCPs.
Allocating resources for business continuity training and workshops plays a key role in accomplishing this objective.
BC and IT DR training should target an advanced understanding that surpasses merely explaining the concepts of BCP and IT DR, particularly for newcomers joining BRCCI’s training program.
These participants seek in-depth insights and solutions.
Common questions and expectations from those joining BRCCI’s training courses include:
I’m familiar with the requirements and expected outcomes for a Business Continuity and IT DR program, but what practical steps should I take to bridge the gap between requirements and deliverables?
What kind of BC and IT DR implementation roadmap, techniques, and tools can I apply directly to my organization’s program?
The BC and IT DR process seems complex.
How do all the pieces of BC and IT DR concepts fit together?
Will the BC and IT DR program I create within my organization, based on training knowledge, align with established standards and best practices?
How will the training help me prepare for professional certification in the BC and IT DR field?
These questions point towards training participants’ requirements for a training that starts with basic BC and IT DR program knowledge and gradually delves into more comprehensive understanding.
An effective training program must build on four crucial cornerstone elements which are aligned with the core questions and expectations of training participants:
1. Bridging Theory and Practice: Practical “How-to” Steps
2. Ready for Action: BC and IT DR Implementation Roadmap, Techniques, and Tools
3. Assembling the Puzzle: Grasping the Complex BC and IT DR Process
4. Embracing Best Practices: Aligning the BC and IT DR Program with Standards

Next, we will examine each of these four elements and point out how BRCCI addresses the requirements embedded within these elements.

1. Bridging Theory and Practice:
A primary objective of business continuity and IT DR training is converting theoretical knowledge into practical abilities. To accomplish this, participants need actionable “how-to” steps linking requirements to solutions. BRCCI’s training offers an in-depth, step-by-step method using real-life situations and case studies to illustrate business continuity principles in action. By closing the gap between theory and practice, participants can better apply their new knowledge when confronted with real-world issues, allowing them to develop effective business continuity plans capable of withstanding actual disasters or disruptions.

2. Ready for Action:
A successful business continuity and IT DR training program should enable participants to apply their knowledge in their organizations immediately. With this goal in mind, BRCCI’s business continuity and IT DR training equips participants with a roadmap, techniques, and tools for immediate application within their organizations. Key components of the BC and IT DR implementation roadmap include:

a. Well-defined milestones for developing, implementing, and maintaining the BCP.
b. A thorough set of techniques for risk assessment, business impact analysis, and strategy development.
c. Tools like templates, checklists, and software solutions to streamline BCP planning and execution.

Incorporating these elements into the training, participants are better equipped to implement their newly gained knowledge and enhance their organization’s resilience against potential disruptions.

3. Assembling the Puzzle:
Business continuity planning comprises a complex process with various interconnected components, such as risk management, business impact analysis, recovery strategies, and testing. BRCCI’s training helps participants comprehend how these components interlock to create a cohesive, holistic BCP. By emphasizing the interconnectedness of these components, participants gain a thorough understanding of the entire process, enabling them to distinguish the “right way” from the “wrong way” of developing a BC and IT plan, and guiding their program from basic to advanced maturity levels.

4. Adopting Best Practices:
Lastly, business continuity and IT DR training should be rooted in established best practices and industry standards, like ISO 22301, NFPA, and ITIL. Incorporating these best practices into the training allows participants to learn how to develop BCPs that comply with industry standards, ensuring their organizations follow tried-and-true methodologies. This approach not only boosts BCP effectiveness but also fosters a culture of compliance and professionalism within their organizations.

BRCCI’s Business Continuity Planning and Management Training Seminar (brcci.org) excels in this area. The course offers a detailed, step-by-step guide for crafting a successful business continuity plan addressing all aspects of the process. Participants gain a deep understanding of developing recovery strategies and solutions, creating business continuity plans based on requirements and solutions, testing and implementing BC solutions, maintaining BC plans, and executing BC plans during a disaster.

The course covers the six steps of the business continuity planning (BCP) process, including risk management, business impact analysis, strategy development, plan creation, testing, and business continuity maintenance. By attending this training, participants learn to create business continuity and disaster recovery plans that adhere to industry best practices and standards, such as ISO 22301, NFPA, and ITIL. This comprehensive approach ensures participants are well-prepared to implement and manage effective BC and IT DR programs within their organizations, enhancing overall resilience and readiness.