The Importance of preparedness, especially with Business Continuity and Emergency Procedures cannot be undervalued.
In the world of business, as in life, the unforeseen can strike at any given moment. That's precisely why having a meticulously planned Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and Emergency Procedures isn't just a choice – it's an absolute imperative. Recent events have spotlighted the significance of being well-prepared, as RMG Senior Leadership was faced with an unprecedented challenge.
On Friday the 20th October, at approximately 15:30, we encountered a situation that drove home the unassailable importance of preparedness. The catalyst was a storm, which resulted in a flood, and while our office building was built by design against this with defence measures, the local area was caught unaware by a rapid surge in rising water levels. We could not predict or measure the sequence of events that followed. Within a very small window, we declared an incident, carried out our Flood response procedure, activated our Business Continuity Plan and evacuated our building.
Our risk assessment had indicated a "Very Low" risk of flooding, based on historical data, river height statistics, and the presence of enhanced flood defences in our catchment area. However, as we swiftly discovered, even the most meticulously-prepared plans can be blindsided by unforeseen circumstances.
Herein lies the lessons we've tracked from our experience:
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Unpredictability: Regardless of how exhaustive your risk assessment is, uncertain events or a reliance on assumed controls. In our case, a minor issue – the tripping of a single fuse – contributed to a significant amount of damage to local residence and environment, inflicting some damage upon our facility.
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Preparedness: The worth of having a BCP in place cannot be overstated. We have our BCP and our procedures for all manner of events, which empowered us to respond without panic or dealy, protect our facility, and secure the safety of our team.
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Do or, Do not, there is no delay: In times of emergency, time is of the essence. Our ability to act decisively made a substantial difference in terms of damage containment and welfare.
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Community Engagement: We recognised our duty to the local community. While we had to prioritise the safety of our team, we extended our helping hand to local residents and contributed to the restoration efforts, underscoring our dedication to community well-being.
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Adaptability Holds Sway: Being adaptable and flexible enabled us to swiftly resume operations on the following Monday. This adaptability is an key advantage in today's shifting business landscape.
- Continuous Risk Assessment: Our experience underscores the necessity of routinely revisiting and reevaluating risks. The risk landscape can evolve, and businesses must keep their BCPs up to date to remain resolute.
RMG understands that not all businesses have the ability or expertise to conduct comprehensive BCP and Risk reviews, so in this time of first events for many new businesses, we are extending our expertise.
RMG Cyber would like to offer Lincolnshire based and well anyone affected by flooding or first time events a complimentary BCP and Risk review, as we know the gravity of preparedness and its pivotal role in ensuring business continuity.
Our experience serves as a reminder to us of the importance of preparedness and the central role that Business Continuity Plans and Emergency Procedures play in business operations, safety, and the wider community. We invite businesses of all sizes and calibers to reflect on these lessons learned and to reach out to us at RMG Cyber for guidance and support.
Your Security is Our Focus, and together, we can prepare for the unexpected and continue to deliver services.