RTO
Target
Recovery Time Objectives guide how fast services must return.
Businesscontinuityexplained
Restore essential operations fast.
Understand business continuity planning, documentation, and lifecycle steps that keep essential operations running during incidents - perfect for teams new to continuity basics.
What is business continuity?
Business continuity keeps critical operations running when incidents disrupt normal conditions. Plans document procedures, roles, and recovery targets so teams know how to respond, making this a simple business continuity definition anyone can follow.
RPO
Data
Recovery Point Objectives define acceptable data loss.
Tool
Runbook
Clear runbooks shorten response times.
WHY IT MATTERS
Why business continuity supports resilience
Protects customers. Faster recovery keeps commitments, reduces penalties, and proves that operational resilience is more than theory.
Reduces chaos. Pre-defined roles and scripts guide teams during stressful moments so even smaller organisations can act with confidence.
Aligns with resilience. Continuity is the execution layer within operational resilience programs and DORA-style regulations.
PLANNING
Core components of a continuity plan
- Impact analysis Use business impact analysis (BIA) to prioritise processes.
- Playbooks Document activation criteria, communications, and step-by-step actions.
- Roles & training Assign coordinators, backups, and training cadences.
LIFECYCLE
How to maintain continuity readiness
- Review semi-annually Update contact lists, vendor info, and system references so the plan reflects reality.
- Test plans Run tabletop or live failover tests to validate readiness and train coordinators.
- Update dependencies Keep supplier and infrastructure details current, especially when contracts change.
- Integrate lessons Feed improvements into resilience strategy and incident response so plans mature over time.
Continuity quick wins
Standardise templates
Use a consistent structure for all plan documents.
Create a contact tree
Map escalation paths and communication channels.
Link to service maps
Ensure each important business service references the correct plan.
BUSINESS CONTINUITY GLOSSARY SNAPSHOT
Business continuity glossary snapshot
BIA. Business Impact Analysis—prioritises processes and downtime tolerances.
RTO. Recovery Time Objective—the maximum acceptable downtime.
RPO. Recovery Point Objective—the maximum acceptable data loss.
FAQS
Business continuity FAQs
How often should continuity plans be updated?
Review at least twice a year and after major organisational or technology changes.
Who approves continuity plans?
Function leaders own the content; risk or resilience teams coordinate review and governance.
How does continuity differ from disaster recovery?
Continuity covers business processes; disaster recovery focuses on technology systems. Both must align.
Do small organisations need detailed plans?
Yes—start lightweight but cover critical contacts, steps, and decision criteria.
Drova RunReady stores plans, roles, and test results so teams stay ready.
Ready to manage continuity plans centrally?
GRC 101 HUB
Explore related topics
Operational resilience hub
See how continuity fits into resilience.
Impact tolerance guide
Define thresholds that continuity plans support.
Scenario testing
Exercise plans to find gaps.
Important business services
Ensure each critical service links to a plan.
Operational resilience examples
Learn from continuity successes and failures.
DORA overview
Understand EU continuity expectations.
