After explaining several continuous computing technologies in previous chapters, the book focuses on business continuity management in Chapter XIII. Ensuring higher levels of data and applications availability and hence improving the business continuity is not one-time job. Contrary, it represents a process that has to be managed in an efficient and effective way. It encompasses numerous activities that have to be planned and managed. This chapter introduces the main concepts, standards and approaches of business continuity management.
TopIntroduction To Business Continuity Management (Bcm)
Business continuity management (BCM) involves several measures (activities) that have to be planned in order to achieve higher levels of the system/application availability ratios. The section introduces the main BC concept and standards.
Over the past decade, information has become an organizational resource that has to be managed in an efficient and effective way just like any other resource. In practice, however, many organizations still keep information management activities within computer centres even though information has become a corporate asset. Organizational management cannot be effective if it does not integrate organization-wide information management as well. This is in particular important for contemporary businesses, which require continuous computing platform as a main prerequisite for business continuance. Therefore, modern business needs an efficient integration of business continuity management into organizational management, the process which is done by integrating of continuous computing technologies into enterprise information system.
In today’s information age, information management comprises numerous activities with data processing/data management being the core component. In addition to data management, information management includes the following components as well: system management, network management, security management, and so forth. Recently, with advances in Internet technologies and e-business, the need for achieving “a near 100%” level of business computing availability was brought up yet again. Consequently, the term of “business continuity management” was coined up and became a significant part of organizational information management.
Business Continuity Management as a separate discipline emerged 10 years ago. Since then (mid of ’90s), this discipline emphasizes the role of BC Management and BC planning in modern business, with the main goal being “Keeping Business in Business”.
Business continuity has been treated as both IT and managerial issue in the last ten years particularly after the e-business boom and the “9/11” event.