Why Business Continuity Plans Fail (and How to Fix Them)
Introduction
Every business claims to have a continuity plan. But when disaster strikes, many discover their plans don’t actually work. In 2023, resilience depends on testing and adapting business continuity strategies.
Common Reasons Continuity Plans Fail
- Outdated contact lists and vendor information.
- Overreliance on a single data backup.
- No clear communication plan for employees.
- Failure to test under real-world scenarios.
How to Build a Plan That Works
- Update regularly – at least every 6–12 months.
- Test with simulations – don’t wait for a real disaster.
- Diversify backups – combine cloud and on-prem storage.
- Prioritize critical functions – know what must be restored first.
The Role of Technology
- Cloud disaster recovery (DRaaS) for rapid failover.
- Secure communication platforms for staff coordination.
- Automation for faster recovery times.
Conclusion
A continuity plan is only as good as its last test. Businesses that continually refine and test their plans will stay resilient, no matter the crisis.