What a backup plan is
A backup plan is the practical part of continuity: the specific fallback resources and arrangements that kick in when the main option has failed. These are the business's "safety cushions", prepared in advance.
What to prepare in advance
- Data backups — including isolated (offline) copies against ransomware; with tested recovery.
- Backup suppliers for critical items (see "loss of a supplier").
- Backup communication channels with customers and the team.
- Duplicated critical competencies (see "loss of a key employee").
- A financial cushion for a downtime period.
- Roles and contacts for an incident — available offline.
Rule: a reserve you have not tested is not a reserve. Test backup recovery and the switchover procedure at least once a year.
The backup plan is built into the BCP and verified in drills.
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FAQ
How is a backup plan different from a continuity plan (BCP)?
A BCP is the full scenario of actions in a crisis. The backup plan is its "material" part: the specific fallback resources (copies, suppliers, channels, cushion) the BCP draws on.
How big should the financial cushion be?
A rule of thumb — the cost of several days of downtime of a key process plus a margin for recovery. The exact amount is calculated from the BIA.
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.