Business Continuity Plan Template
Business Continuity Plan Template
Business Continuity Plan Template
plan
TEMPLATE
You are free to use this publication in line with the licence terms. You must
keep this copyright notice on the publication.
www.business.qld.gov.au 1
[Business name]
Business continuity plan
[This template contains instruction text and examples that you can delete when
adapting this business continuity plan for your business.]
www.business.qld.gov.au 2
Section 1: Plan overview_____________________________________4
Executive summary (optional).....................................................................................................4
Objectives....................................................................................................................................4
Distribution List............................................................................................................................4
Introduction..................................................................................................................................5
Glossary.......................................................................................................................................6
Section 5: Recovery________________________________________28
Recovery plan............................................................................................................................29
Crisis and recovery checklist.....................................................................................................30
Recovery contacts.....................................................................................................................33
Insurance claims........................................................................................................................34
Market assessment....................................................................................................................34
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Section 1: Plan overview
[Business continuity planning resources and support for completing this section of
the business continuity plan can be found on the Business Queensland website.]
Depending on the size of your business and the length of your document, you may
choose not to include an executive summary.]
Objectives
[Objectives serve as a means of clarifying the purpose of your plan and should
describe the intended result. An example of plan objectives is listed below.]
The objectives of this plan are to:
undertake risk management assessment
define and prioritise your critical business functions
detail your immediate response to a critical incident
detail strategies and actions to be taken to enable you to stay in business
review and update this plan on a regular basis.
Distribution list
[To assist in updating and revising the plan, an up-to-date list of all plan locations
and persons supplied with a copy of the plan should be included.]
001
002
003
004
005
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Introduction
The purpose of this business continuity plan is to ensure the continuation of the
business during and following any critical incident that results in disruption to normal
operation.
[Reproduced from materials available on Prevention Preparedness, Response and Recovery Disaster
Management Guideline published under a Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International.
© State of Queensland 2022]
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Glossary
[This table provides a consistent and commonly agreed set of definitions for terms
used in the plan. Customise this list to suit your business.]
Recovery Time The time from which you declare a crisis/disaster to the time
Objective (RTO) that the critical business functions must be fully operational
in order to avoid serious financial loss.
Risk management The process of defining and analysing risks, and then
deciding on the appropriate course of action in order to
minimise these risks, whilst still achieving business goals.
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Section 2: Risk management planning
[Identifying and managing business risk resources and support for completing this
section of the business continuity plan can be found on the Business Queensland
website.
Manage the risks to your business by identifying and considering the things that may
have an adverse effect on your business and choosing the best method of dealing
with each of these identified risks.
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Risk management plan
Prepared by: Click or tap here to enter text. Date: Click or tap to enter a date.
Reviewed by: Click or tap here to enter text. Date: Click or tap to enter a date.
Key:
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Level of risk
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Level of risk
Likelihood
Risk description Preventative action Contingency plans
Impact
Interruption to 2 4 8 ensure adequate insurance cover in place immediate access to
production Medium Very High
including business interruption and personal resources whilst
processes high
general property waiting for insurance
breakdown of key set up agreement with suitable supplier for 24 payments
plant and hour repairs and replacement for key plant
equipment and equipment
damage to plant source alternative production site (if location
and equipment and equipment have been damaged)
(e.g. fire)
Burglary 3 3 9 ensure adequate insurance cover in place keep a list of sources for
High High High
including business interruption and replacement
general property including theft property/equipment
install alarm and video surveillance camera
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Insurance
[As part of your plan determine what types of insurance are available and put in place the insurance your business needs.]
Insurance company
Insurance type Policy coverage Policy exclusions Last review date Payments due
and contact
Business Business terrorism XYZ Insurance, A Person 00/00/00 Amount you pay and
interruption interruption due to: tsunami Ph: 07 3000 0000 frequency (e.g.
fire monthly, yearly)
landslide
flood
theft
Customer database Weekly External hard drive A person Remove external drive from fire safe
Copy data from Customer database
Return external drive to fire safe
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Frequency of Backup media/
Data for backup Person responsible Backup procedure steps
backup service
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Section 3: Business impact analysis
[Identifying and managing business risk resources and support for completing this
section of the business continuity plan can be found on the Business Queensland
website.
Critical activities are the primary business functions that must continue in order to
support your business.
Identify:
The following questions may assist you to determine your critical activities.]
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Business activity review
[In the following table, list the critical business activities that must be performed to
ensure your business continues to operate effectively.
If you have a number of business units/departments, complete one table for the
critical business activities of each.]
1 [Production processes]
[For each critical business activity listed above, complete the following.]
a) What are the losses if this business activity could not be provided?
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b) For what maximum amount of time could this business activity be unavailable
(either 100% or partial) before the losses would occur?
xx hrs
xx days
2 weeks
xx months
Comments:
If stock is not produced for more than 2 weeks, the business will lose sales and customers
will source alternative widget manufacturer.
c) Does this activity depend on any outside services or products for its successful
completion?
NO ✘ YES – If yes, check one of the following:
1 2 3 4 5
Comments:
Widgets production is the primary activity of the business.
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1. Critical business activity: Click or tap here to enter text.
Business activity description: Click or tap here to enter text.
a) What are the losses if this business activity could not be provided?
Loss of revenue: Click or tap here to enter text.
Increased costs: Click or tap here to enter text.
Staffing: Click or tap here to enter text.
Product/service: Click or tap here to enter text.
Fines or penalties due to missed deadlines: Click or tap here to enter text.
Legal liability, personal damage, public harm: Click or tap here to enter text.
Loss of good will, public image: Click or tap here to enter text.
Comments:
Click or tap here to enter text.
b) For what maximum amount of time could this business activity be unavailable
(either 100% or partial) before the losses would occur?
xx hrs
xx days
xx weeks
xx months
Comments:
Click or tap here to enter text.
c) Does this activity depend on any outside services or products for its successful
completion?
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d) On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being the most important, 5 being the least important),
where would this business activity fall in terms of being important to the operation
of your department or business?
1 2 3 4 5
Comments:
Click or tap here to enter text.
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2. Critical business activity: Click or tap here to enter text.
Business activity description: Click or tap here to enter text.
a) What are the losses if this business activity could not be provided?
Loss of revenue:
Increased costs: $
Staffing:
Product/service:
Fines or penalties due to missed deadlines:
Legal liability, personal damage, public harm:
Loss of good will, public image:
Comments:
Click or tap here to enter text.
b) For what maximum amount of time could this business activity be unavailable
(either 100% or partial) before the losses would occur?
xx hrs
xx days
xx weeks
xx months
Comments:
Click or tap here to enter text.
c) Does this activity depend on any outside services or products for its successful
completion?
NO YES — If yes, check one of the following:
Sole supplier Major supplier Many alternate suppliers
Comments:
Click or tap here to enter text.
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d) On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being the Most Important, 5 being the Least Important),
where would this business activity fall in terms of being important to the
operation of your department or business?
1 2 3 4 5
Comments:
Click or tap here to enter text.
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Business impact analysis
Critical business Description Priority Impact of loss RTO
activity (describe losses in terms of financial, (critical period
staffing, loss of reputation etc) before business
losses occur)
Production services Production of customised widgets High reduced $7,500 revenue per week 2 weeks
for individual customer orders. build up of stock and inventory
related to slow down in orders for
design and production services
customers will source alternate
suppliers
unable to meet business overheads
e.g. rent, staff wages
potential job losses (after 2 weeks).
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Section 4: Incident response plan
[Create an incident response plan resources and support for completing this section
of the Business Continuity Plan can be found on the Business Queensland website.
This plan prepares for a timely response to critical incidents, reduces the impact of
those incidents on your identified business operations, and prepares key staff to
provide an effective response to minimise disruption in the event of emergency.
Appointed a spokesperson
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Incident response Actions taken
disrupted
Evacuation procedures
You need to have appropriate evacuation procedures that cater for both staff and
visitors. These procedures should be stored in a place accessible to all staff.
Emergency kit
[If there is damage to the building or if it must be evacuated and operations need to
be moved to an alternative location, the emergency kit can be picked-up and quickly
and easily carried off-site or alternatively stored safely and securely off-site.
Document within your plan what is contained within your emergency kit and when it
was last checked.
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Documents
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Notes
Make sure this pack is stored safely and securely on-site and off-site (in
another location).
Ensure items in the pack are checked regularly, kept up-to-date, and in good
working order.
Remember that cash/credit cards may be needed for emergency expenditure.
This list is not exhaustive. Customise it to suit your business.]
The staff members involved should then be given this table in order to understand
their roles and as a task assignment list for completion of pre-emergency planning
and emergency tasks. You should customise this table to suit your business’s needs
and structure.]
Emergency responsibilities:
ensure the business continuity plan has been activated
oversee smooth implementation of the response and recovery section of the plan
determine the need for and activate the use of an alternate operation site and other
continuity tasks
communicate with key stakeholders as needed
provide important information to the Communication Officer for distribution
keep key staff apprised of any changes to situation.
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Role Designated employees Alternate
Click or tap here to Name: Name:
enter text. Click or tap here to enter text.
Click or tap here to enter text.
Contact information:
Click or tap here to enter text. Contact information:
Click or tap here to enter text.
Emergency responsibilities:
Click or tap here to enter text.
Emergency responsibilities:
Click or tap here to enter text.
Emergency responsibilities:
Click or tap here to enter text.
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Key contact sheet
Contact list - internal
[Use this table to document your staff emergency contact details. Each business will
have different positions identified in its contact list.]
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Contact list - external
[Use this table to document external services (including Emergency Services) contact
details. Each business will have different external suppliers and stakeholders.]
Emergency services
Ambulance
Medical
Security
Insurance company
Suppliers
Gas
Electricity
Telephone
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Event log
[Use the event log to record information, decision and actions in the period
immediately following the critical event or incident.]
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Section 5: Recovery
[Create a business recovery plan resources and support for completing this section of
the Business Continuity Plan can be found on the Business Queensland website.
You should complete this table with the intention of supporting recovery in ‘worst
case’ scenarios. It can then be modified according to the degree of loss to your
business. The recovery process includes:
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Recovery plan
Critical Preventative/Recovery actions Resource Recovery time Responsibility Completed
business requirements/ objective
activities outcomes
Production re-assess financial position of put aside cash 2 weeks Business 00/00/00
services— business including cash flows due reserves to owner/operator
halted to loss of revenue to meet minimal cover costs
overheads reduce costs
minimise overheads – review where able
expenses and develop plan of action research new
to reduce fixed and variable products and
overheads include reduction of casual services
and permanent staff hours
identify
negotiate with suppliers to prevent alternative
build-up of materials and reduce production site
costs
source alternative production site
diversify product range and services
offered (e.g. repairs and restoration).
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Crisis and recovery checklist
[Customise this list to include information specific to your business.]
Update staff
Conduct a critical incident debrief within 48 hours (preferably within 24 hours)
following a crisis.
Hold a meeting with your staff to ask them about their reactions to the crisis.
Your staff may need time and space to process their thoughts and feelings.
Encourage deeply affected staff to seek support from other staff members or
from counselling services and remember to monitor progress in the months
following a crisis.
Inform staff about the recovery process and schedule regular updates.
Advise staff whether they should turn up for work the next day.
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Seek support
Apply for any government support programs to help the recovery of your
business after a crisis.
Investigate support that might be available from banks and other businesses
(support is often available after a natural disaster).
Tax assistance
Consider contacting the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to find out about
assistance available for individuals and businesses affected by natural disasters.
Investigate whether the ATO can fast-track your refund or assistance.
Ask the ATO for extra time to pay any outstanding liabilities.
Request more time to meet activity statement, income tax and other lodgement
obligations
Consider and record what went well and what did not.
Other
Click or tap here to enter text.
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Recovery contacts
Include all organisations and people that will be essential to the recovery of your business.
Telephone/internet
services provider
Bank/building society
Supplier (main)
Supplier (backup)
Accountant
Lawyer
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Insurance claims
[What insurance policies have you claimed for?]
ABC Insurance 00/00/00 Enter details of claim and contact Actions required by the insurer to process
person claim, (e.g. photos, damage estimates)
Market assessment
[List any areas of you market that have changed due to the incident.]
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Market changes Impact to business Business options
What has changed in What impact will the market changes have on your How can your business adapt to suit these
the market? business? new market conditions?
The business continuity plan should also include support for you and your staff suffering trauma and anxiety in the face of a crisis.
You and your staff can access support with Beyond Blue.]
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Section 6: Rehearse, maintain and review
[Rehearse your plan to ensure that it remains relevant and useful. This may be done
as part of a training exercise and is a key factor in the successful implementation of
the plan during an emergency.
Ensure that you regularly review and update your plan to maintain accuracy and
reflect any changes inside or outside the business.
Training schedule
[Record details of your training schedule in the table below.]
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Review schedule
[Record details of your review schedule in the table below.]
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