Using a professional Business Continuity Plan template makes sense for the majority of businesses. It saves you a tremendous amount of time and resources, and a good template can ensure that you are including everything you need in your plan.
If you are considering using a Template to create or update your Business Continuity Plan you should ask yourself these questions;
1) Is it simple to use?
The template should include clear and concise instructions and be fully compatible with all versions of Microsoft Word or compatible word processors.
2) Is it fully customizable?
A document that has locked elements (E.g. a copyright logo of the provider) may not provide the flexibility you require to create your plan. The best templates provide you with complete freedom to edit and modify all elements of your Business Continuity Plan.
3) What are the license restrictions
Make sure the license for the template is not restrictive. The license should provide for the template to be used by an unlimited number of employees at any office location. Some licenses are provided to a small number of users at perhaps one or very few locations; or the cost rises dramatically for a license that gives you the necessary coverage and flexibility to create a good quality plan.
4) Does it include samples?
A template should include plenty of samples and information to help you complete your plan. Some templates contain very little text and are just section headings – a table of contents is not going to help you complete your plan quickly.
5) Was it written by certified BC Industry professionals?
There are plenty of templates available these days. Unfortunately, the vast majority are of poor quality and don’t meet industry standards. You should only trust templates that have been created by seasoned experts who have the experience to be able to create a template that will guide you through the plan creation process and ensure you end up with a plan that is fit for purpose.
6) What support is available if I need help creating my plan?
Your business is unique, and you may have a very specific question regarding your situation. Having fast and flexible support, either by Phone or Email, is important. Make sure your template provider includes support that suits your needs.
7) Will the Plan be easy to maintain?
Keeping a BCP up to date is very important to ensure that a plan will be viable if a disaster should arise. A well-designed plan will make it as simple as possible to update the key information in quick time. E.g. The most common change to any BCP is the contact details of Management and Key Staff – therefore these details should be only located in one section of the document and not spread throughout the plan.
8) What guarantee and assurance do I get?
Don’t risk getting stuck with something that won’t do the job. Make sure you choose a template provider that provides you a Guarantee that the template will work for you. Don’t buy any product that isn’t backed up with a rock solid money back guarantee.
9) Can I get my BCP plan reviewed by a professional when I’m finished?
Once you’ve finished creating your plan, and before you send it out for review, having the option of an independent expert review your BCP can be very helpful. The reviewer should be a trusted entity that will keep your BCP private and safe.
10) Is it value for money?
Unlike a database-driven or cloud-based disaster recovery or business continuity planning solution, a BCP Template should be inexpensive and not incur ongoing licensing fees. It should be provided with a comprehensive level of support as standard and have an option of tailored support services if requested.