Disaster Recovery Journal

It’s that time of year again.

A new year, with new challenges to be met. So it’s the time of year when many organisations decide to reorganise or restructure the business, in order to meet those new challenges. Which is all well and good, but it could mean that the business continuity strategies, solutions and plans you had in place last year might not now fit the bill.

An out of date business continuity plan is, at best, of little use. And, at worst, it may even be dangerous if it gives a false sense of security. In many ways, an out of date plan is worse than no plan at all.

So it’s also the time of year for taking stock and making some resolutions, to ensure that changes to the business are reflected in the business continuity plans. As part of this, why not resolve to…

* Review previous business impact or risk assessment data (or, if you’ve never actually done a business impact analysis or risk assessment, to do one now)

* Carry out a plan health check or audit

* Do some training and awareness

* Conduct some exercises and tests

A new year brings new challenges and new opportunities. Why not take this opportunity to ensure that your business continuity plans are up to scratch?

Happy New Year.

Happy new year to DRJ members and blog readers.

I just wanted to let you know about the Christmas competition on my own blog site (Oz's Blog at www.acumen-bcp.co.uk/blog) and give you the opportunity to have a go and win a fabulous prize!

Do you believe in Father Christmas?

For some, perhaps the more innocent or naïve amongst us, he’s real. For others, perhaps those of us who are a little more worldly-wise, he’s completely fictional; a myth; a charming fairy story. Many of us get to a certain age and start to question our previously perceived reality; maybe start to look for proof. For some of us, the realisation that things weren’t as we thought they were can be a painful experience.

A few weeks ago I bought a new toy and I’ve spent the last couple of days playing with it.

The ‘toy’ in question is a chainsaw. Unlike other midlife crisis sufferers, I have no desire to buy a motorbike or a sports car or a speedboat, or to go bungee jumping or white-water rafting. In fact one of my favourite pastimes is gardening and, as it’s fair to say that the opportunities for an adreneline rush are a tad limited here, a chainsaw was the obvious answer.

This week saw a significant milestone in the Osborne household and, regrettably, one of my worst fears realised. Yes, my younger son was officially proclaimed to be taller than me!

It’s not as if I didn’t see it coming – he’s been sneaking up on me height-wise for a while now – but all of a sudden the fear has become reality and, I have to say, it’s pretty hard to take. He’s fourteen, for goodness sake.