Planning

This plan should, dependent on size of the firm, but could include the following:

1. Resource requirements such as people, systems and other assets and the arrangements for obtaining these resources.
2. Documented process for implementing the business continuity plan.
3. Recovery priorities.
4. Communication arrangements for internal and external concerned parties including: FCA, clients, staff and suppliers.
5. Processes for validating the integrity of any information affected by the interruption.
6. Recovery team activities checklist.
7. Recovery team contact details.
8. Staff contact details.
9. Alternative accommodation requirements.
10. Critical business functions.
11. Critical business documents/data.
12. Critical PC/other systems applications.
13. Client list.
14. Renewal list.
15. Critical suppliers/services/markets.
16. Counselling.

The plan needs to be documented, communicated to everyone in the firm, regularly updated and tested to ensure that it actually works.

A copy of a business continuity plan is included in the template section at the end of this chapter (SYSC Template 11).