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What is BCP Structure?

Published in Business Continuity Planning 4 mins read

The structure of a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) refers to the organized framework and sections that make up the document, outlining how an organization will maintain essential functions during and after a disruption. A well-defined structure ensures that all critical aspects of continuity and recovery are addressed systematically and are easily accessible during a crisis.

A BCP isn't just a single document; it's typically composed of various sections designed to guide personnel through different phases of an incident and recovery. The ISO 22301 standard, a widely recognized framework for business continuity management, provides guidance on the key components that should be included in a BCP.

Key Components of a BCP Structure

Based on standards like ISO 22301, a typical BCP structure includes the following essential elements:

  • Purpose, Scope, and Users:

    • Clearly defines what the plan is for, which parts of the organization or processes it covers, and who is expected to use it.
    • Example: A BCP for a retail company might scope only the online sales platform and distribution centers, excluding administrative offices, and is intended for IT, logistics, and management teams.

  • Reference Documents:

    • Lists any related policies, standards, or other documents that support or are referenced within the BCP.

  • Assumptions:

    • Details any assumptions made during the planning process, such as the availability of certain resources or infrastructure after an incident.

  • Roles and Responsibilities:

    • Outlines who is responsible for what during an incident and recovery. This typically includes defining incident response teams and their specific duties.

  • Key Contacts:

    • Provides up-to-date contact information for internal personnel, external vendors, emergency services, and other critical parties.

  • Plan Activation and Deactivation:

    • Specifies the triggers for activating the BCP (e.g., data center outage, natural disaster) and the process for standing down or deactivating the plan once normal operations resume.

  • Communication:

    • Describes how information will be disseminated during an incident to employees, stakeholders, customers, and the public. This includes internal alerts and external statements.

  • Incident Response:

    • Provides immediate steps to take when an incident occurs, often focusing on initial assessment, safety, and containment. This is often linked to or includes an Incident Response Plan (IRP).

  • Physical Sites and Transportation:

    • Addresses alternative work locations and how personnel or resources might need to be transported during a disruption affecting primary sites.

  • Order of Recovery for Activities:

    • Based on business impact analysis (BIA), this section prioritizes business activities and outlines the sequence in which they should be recovered to minimize impact.

  • Recovery Plans for Activities:

    • Detailed step-by-step procedures for recovering specific critical business functions or IT systems identified in the order of recovery.

These components ensure that the BCP is comprehensive, actionable, and covers the entire lifecycle of a disruption, from the initial incident through to full recovery.

Example Structure Outline

Here is a simplified outline demonstrating how these components might be organized in a BCP document:

1. Introduction & Overview
    1.1 Purpose, Scope, Users
    1.2 Assumptions
    1.3 Reference Documents
2. Roles, Responsibilities, & Contacts
    2.1 Business Continuity Team Structure
    2.2 Team Member Roles
    2.3 Key Contact Information
3. Plan Activation & Incident Response
    3.1 Activation Criteria & Process
    3.2 Deactivation Process
    3.3 Initial Incident Response Steps
4. Communication Plan
    4.1 Internal Communication Procedures
    4.2 External Communication Procedures
    4.3 Stakeholder Communication
5. Recovery Strategies & Plans
    5.1 Physical Site Considerations
    5.2 Order of Activity Recovery (Priorities)
    5.3 Detailed Recovery Procedures for Critical Activities
    5.4 IT Recovery Procedures
6. Plan Maintenance
    6.1 Testing & Exercising Schedule
    6.2 Review & Update Process

Structuring a BCP in this manner makes it a practical tool rather than just documentation, enabling a coordinated and effective response when faced with unexpected disruptions.

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