Risk management

How to explain to the board why BCM is needed

A board thinks in money and strategy, not methodology. We break down how to justify business continuity so that you get support and a budget.

Updated: June 28, 2026 · Author: Evgeny Telenkov · ≈ 6 min read
How to explain to the board why BCM is needed

Speak the language of money and risk

A board does not need terms for their own sake — it needs an answer to "what do we lose without this and what do we get in return". So BCM is presented through money: the cost of a downtime day for key processes, the size of potential damage and the cost of measures compared with it.

Strong arguments

How to present it: one slide — three critical processes, the cost of their downtime, the main vulnerabilities and the proposed measures with a budget. The decision is made once risk is translated into money.

How a mature model works, where risk is an equal voice in governance, is shown in "risk management in a large bank".

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FAQ

How do I justify a continuity budget to the board?

Translate risk into money: show the cost of a downtime day for key processes, the potential damage and the cost of measures compared with it. Decisions are made in the language of money, not methodology.

What is risk appetite and why is it a board-level question?

Risk appetite is the boundaries within which a company is willing to take risk to reach its goals. It is a strategic decision, so it is set at board and top-management level.

Evgeny Telenkov
Evgeny Telenkov
Chief Risk Officer · PhD in Economics · "Best Risk Manager of Russia 2020"
20 years in risk management. Led risk management at Beeline, Nornickel, Rosneft and EY. Built business continuity plans for Nornickel, Rostec, NSD and DIA. Trained 300+ risk and BCM specialists.
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