Gain Insight Into Your Practice with Business Impact Analysis

A business impact analysis (BIA) is a systematic process used to evaluate and dictate the possible effects of a disruption to critical business operations as a result of a disaster, accident or emergency. A business impact analysis quantifies the impacts of the disruption on service delivery, risks to service delivery, and recovery time objectives (RTOs) and recovery point objectives (RPOs).

• A business impact analysis is typically performed during the practice continuity planning process. It helps organizations to:
• Understand which processes are critical to operations and survival
• Determine the resources (e.g., people, systems, facilities) required to support these critical processes
• Estimate the time required to recover each critical process
• Identify any dependencies on other organizations or business functions

While a BIA can be a useful tool, it is important to note that it only provides a snapshot in time. Organizations should regularly review and update their BIAs as processes and dependencies change. Additionally, a BIA should not be confused with a risk assessment, which identifies potential threats to an organization and estimates the likelihood of those threats materializing.

If you’re thinking of conducting a business impact analysis, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, identify the continuity team who will be responsible for leading the BIA process. This team should have a good understanding of the organization’s business processes and dependencies. Additionally, they should be able to engage with key stakeholders across the organization to get input and buy-in for the BIA. Second, establish clear objectives for the BIA. What information do you hope to gain from the analysis? What decisions need to be made as a result of the BIA? Third, create a timeline for conducting the BIA. Depending on the size and complexity of your organization, this process can take anywhere from several weeks to several months. Finally, once the BIA is complete, be sure to review and update it on a regular basis.

Conducting a business impact analysis can seem like a daunting task, but it’s important to remember that the goal is to improve your organization’s resilience in the face of disruptions. By taking the time to understand your critical business processes and dependencies, you can make informed decisions about how to best protect your business in the event of an interruption.

Here at Good Stewart Consulting, LLC, we can help with your business impact analysis. We believe in maintaining a positive mindset, creating partnerships with a purpose and always striving for significant outcomes.