The UKs business continuity plan BCP for pandemic drafted over more than a decade under several governments was effectively written on the back of a fag packet!
The UK needs to prepare better for major risks to business economy and society. The UK and the world is now dealing with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. However it is clear from Dominic Cummings evidence before today’s joint parliamentary committee that the UK was not prepared for any pandemic despite pandemic risks being an acknowledged major threat to UK people businesses and society as a whole. What is your business doing to prepare for key significant threats to the survival of your business? How will you respond for known and unknown business risks? Who will manage your business sustainability through all business rough seas. Where will your existential threats come from? When will your business survival be challenged?
Some revelations from Dominic Cummings related to preparation of threats to continuity of life and business in UK include:
People are ill prepared and potentially incompetent when responding to major risk events – senior people within the UK Civil Service and within political leadership are often promoted beyond their capability to react appropriately to mitigate impact of risk events.
Written business or service continuity plans are poorly drafted and useless upon the occurrence of major risk events – the UK Civil Service and UK politicians across the political spectrum whilst in government failed to write suitable usable and effective plans to mitigate the impact of major risk events on UK businesses economy and society as a whole.
Some people on your team will react poorly to the demands placed upon them from major risk events – just as in normal operating circumstances, during a disaster event and the recovery therefrom, people will perform poorly without the guidance support and direction from well written business continuity plan.
Competing demands unrelated the major risk event will impede business recovery – the rest of the world will not stop spinning just because your business has been majorly interrupted due to a risk event. Your business continuity plan needs to accommodate continuation of normal business risks as well as recovery from major risk events.
Delaying business decision making during a recovery of major risk event can increase the damage experienced by the business – procrastination due to fear you make wrong decisions can in itself cause further business damage.
Group Think can cause increased damage following major risk event – just because everyone is pulling together to recover from major risk event does not mean you are doing the best thing for your business. Decisions made using bad thinking can exasperate the damage to a business trying to recover from major incident.
Leaders can only make good decisions based on good risk analysis and data – just because you are receiving data on the impact of risk event does not mean the best solutions will be chosen during the mania of major risk event.
It is clear that any government would have struggled to manage the risks from the Covid-19 pandemic. The Tory government struggled in England and made mistakes as did the SNP led government in Scotland and the Labour led government in Wales as well as the DUP led government in Northern Ireland. However, relying on the wit and off-the-cuff reactions of leaders in the event of major incidents leads to worse outcomes and longer interruption.
Dominic Cummings may have his own motives for his written and verbal words on the Covid19 pandemic. However, what is 100 percent certain is the inability of leaders to make good decisions without a proper practiced and revised business continuity plan.
Making the most of unexpected disasters. Make the most of disasters. No one asks for a disaster to hit their business but when one comes along look for the opportunities that come with it. If you do this as part of business continuity planning you can come out of the disaster quicker stronger and more resilient.
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A disaster can be an opportunity to grow if you change your mindset.
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Many businesses are not going to survive the coronavirus pandemic
One disaster in focus is the coronavirus pandemic. Many people do not realise how bad this is going to get. Countries like the UK and USA have yet to experience the full force of the COVID19 pandemic in terms of deaths. Our leaders are being very coy about the expected deaths and economic consequences. Both are going to be catastrophic. Families and economies are going to be decimated.
Guidelines For Covid-19 and Risk Management Controls Updates
However the current pandemic is just one example of how businesses must be prepared to work from major risk events. To come out the other side of a significant risk event takes prior planning luck and hard work. You can control two out of the three and hope that this makes your own luck!
To come out the other side of major risk event stronger includes being ready to seize new business opportunities as well as mitigate downside risk impact.
You may be able to bring forward future planning as result of risk event. If you have a major fire then do not just build what you had before. Bring forward better ways of working that you may have planned for 5 years time prior to risk event.
Take the coronavirus. Your business may discover that out of the bad there are better ways of working you did not have time to evaluate. Having been forced to introduce the new ways of working due to virus you may find you need to make permanent changes.
Ways of working introduced to try to survive coronavirus may be ways of working that are more cost effective in non crisis operations. Working from home is not a panacea but it does create many environmental social and economic benefits to workers and businesses.
Competitors how are not resilient as your business may not survive crisis. This may allow you to change pricing or provide opportunity to introduce new marketing campaign to mop up their customers.
You products or services may simply be more in demand after the crisis than before it. Attitudes of business buyers and consumers will change during and after the crisis. Your business maybe well positioned to take advantage of change of attitude to sell more and grow your business faster. Retailers with online presence are struggling to keep up with orders which may mean those without online ordering and deliver service are going to miss out now and will when coronavirus is more under control.
There is nothing morally bad about making the most of a bad situation. If you survive a crisis you have the right to explore a new way of working that will benefit both your business consumers and society.
Many great inventions or innovations have been introduced and transformed life and business due to mistakes. Some new drugs and products were discovered when the inventor or developer was trying to achieve something totally different from what transpired as brilliance.
Necessity is the mother of invention
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When forced into an existential situation it is human nature to fight to survive. There will always be risk events that threaten survival in business. Sometimes they risk event may be located on one business. On rare occasions a risk event threats whole business systems of working.
Around every 10 years business leaders should expect a financial crisis that threatens business survival. It is almost impossible to know how the financial crisis will arise. The cause of the risk event that creates the crisis is less important than the resilience to overcome the impact on your business.
Th last financial crisis was 2008. May countries in Europe have still not recovered from the 200 financial crisis never mind businesses. In some ways the financial crisis from the coronavirus is overdue. It is a couple of years late!
The point is that if you are in business for the long haul then you need to be prepared for at least one financial crisis every 10 years. In between you need to be ready for your own individual crisis’s that pop up just for your business.
Learning opportunities from a crisis
Major risk events are perhaps alarmingly more frequent than one expects. Rather than being overly alarmed maybe the best thing to do is learn from risk events. Take the good from the bad to improve future business performance.
Do not press the panic button
We can also learn from other businesses who make mistakes on our behalf! If they suffer find out what they did wrong learn from their mistakes and make sure your business does not suffer the same consequences.
More than that find out what lessons other business leaders have learned from their past mistakes or negative risk events
Sharing bad experiences allows the herd to be better protected! Sharing successes helps the herd to join in on the success for faster growth and speedier progress.
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BusinessRiskTV Hackers News: Protecting Your Business in the Age of Cyber Threats
In today’s interconnected world, the threat of cyber attacks and hacking has become an ever-present concern for businesses of all sizes. The advent of advanced technologies and the widespread use of the internet have created new opportunities for hackers to exploit vulnerabilities and gain unauthorised access to sensitive information. In this article, we will delve into the BusinessRiskTV Hackers News and explore the importance of cybersecurity measures for protecting your business from potential threats.
The Rise of Cyber Threats
The past decade has witnessed a significant rise in cyber threats, with high-profile hacking incidents making headlines around the world. Cybercriminals employ various tactics, such as phishing attacks, malware, ransomware, and social engineering, to compromise computer systems and steal valuable data. These attacks can have severe consequences for businesses, including financial losses, damage to reputation, and legal implications.
BusinessRiskTV Hackers News: Stay Informed and Vigilant
To navigate the complex landscape of cybersecurity, businesses need to stay informed about the latest hacking trends and best practices for protection. BusinessRiskTV Hackers News serves as a valuable resource for professionals, providing updates on emerging threats, case studies, expert insights, and practical advice on safeguarding digital assets.
By following BusinessRiskTV Hackers News, organisations can stay ahead of potential threats and proactively implement robust security measures. This proactive approach is vital because, in the face of ever-evolving hacking techniques, businesses must continuously update their defenses to counter new threats effectively.
Understanding the Impact of Cyber Attacks
A cyber attack can have severe consequences for businesses. Apart from financial losses resulting from stolen funds or disrupted operations, organisations may face significant reputational damage. Customers and partners lose trust in businesses that fail to protect their sensitive information, resulting in potential long-term consequences for brand image and customer loyalty.
Additionally, the legal and regulatory landscape surrounding cybersecurity has become more stringent in recent years. Governments worldwide are enacting laws and regulations to hold businesses accountable for data breaches and privacy violations. Failure to comply with these regulations can lead to hefty fines and legal repercussions, further highlighting the importance of prioritising cybersecurity.
Developing a Comprehensive Cybersecurity Strategy
To mitigate the risks posed by cyber threats, businesses must develop a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that encompasses both prevention and response. Here are some key elements to consider:
Risk Assessment: Conduct a thorough assessment of your organisation’s vulnerabilities and identify potential entry points for cyber attacks. This process involves analysing your IT infrastructure, networks, software applications, and employee practices to identify areas that require attention.
Employee Training and Awareness: Human error remains a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches. Educate your employees about best practices for data protection, recognising phishing attempts, and maintaining strong passwords. Regular training sessions and awareness campaigns can help foster a culture of cybersecurity within your organisation.
Secure Network Infrastructure: Implement robust security measures to protect your network infrastructure. This includes deploying firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and regularly updating and patching software and hardware.
Data Encryption: Encrypt sensitive data to ensure that even if it is accessed unlawfully, it remains unintelligible to unauthorised individuals. Encryption provides an additional layer of protection for your most valuable information.
Incident Response Plan: Develop a comprehensive incident response plan that outlines the steps to be taken in the event of a cyber attack. This plan should include processes for isolating compromised systems, notifying relevant parties, preserving evidence, and restoring operations.
Collaborating with Cybersecurity Experts
Given the complexity and evolving nature of cyber threats, businesses can benefit from partnering with cybersecurity experts. These professionals possess specialised knowledge and experience in identifying vulnerabilities, implementing effective security measures, and responding to cyber attacks. By leveraging their expertise, organisations can enhance their overall cybersecurity posture and respond more effectively to potential threats.
BusinessRiskTV Hackers News provides a platform for businesses to connect with cybersecurity experts and gain valuable insights into the latest trends and best practices. By engaging with this community, businesses can access expert advice, receive guidance on risk assessment and mitigation strategies, and stay updated on emerging technologies and solutions.
Furthermore, collaboration with cybersecurity experts can help businesses in the following ways:
Vulnerability Assessments: Experts can conduct comprehensive assessments of your systems and infrastructure to identify vulnerabilities that may be exploited by hackers. They can perform penetration testing, analyse your network architecture, and recommend specific measures to strengthen your defenses.
Security Solutions Implementation: Cybersecurity experts can assist in the selection and implementation of security solutions tailored to your business needs. This may include deploying advanced threat detection systems, intrusion prevention systems, endpoint protection tools, and secure data backup solutions.
Continuous Monitoring and Threat Intelligence: By leveraging the expertise of cybersecurity professionals, businesses can establish continuous monitoring systems that track network activity, detect anomalies, and proactively identify potential threats. Additionally, experts can provide real-time threat intelligence, ensuring that businesses are aware of the latest hacking techniques and can adapt their defenses accordingly.
Incident Response and Recovery: In the unfortunate event of a cyber attack, having cybersecurity experts by your side can significantly enhance your incident response and recovery capabilities. They can guide you through the process of containing the breach, mitigating damage, and restoring systems to normal operations. Their expertise can help minimise downtime and prevent further compromise.
In an era dominated by digital transformation and interconnectedness, the threat of cyber attacks is a constant concern for businesses. The BusinessRiskTV Hackers News serves as a valuable resource, providing businesses with up-to-date information, expert insights, and practical advice on cybersecurity measures.
By staying informed and implementing a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, businesses can effectively mitigate the risks posed by cyber threats. Collaboration with cybersecurity experts further enhances their ability to protect sensitive data, maintain business continuity, and safeguard their reputation.
Remember, cybersecurity is not a one-time effort but an ongoing process. Businesses must continuously adapt and evolve their defenses to keep pace with the ever-changing threat landscape. By prioritising cybersecurity and leveraging the resources available through platforms like BusinessRiskTV Hackers News, businesses can proactively defend against cyber attacks and secure their digital future
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