Business Continuity Planning
What Is Business Continuity?
Business Continuity Planning (BCP) provides a framework for departments to maintain or quickly resume critical functions in the event of a disruption. Disruptions may include technology failures, facility closures, natural disasters, or other emergencies.
BCP is distinct from Emergency Operations. While Emergency Operations addresses immediate safety and response, Business Continuity Planning focuses on sustaining business functions and restoring normal operations as efficiently as possible.
All Ohio University departments are encouraged to maintain a current BCP. A well-prepared plan protects staff, students, and institutional operations while providing guidance for leadership during a crisis.
Get Started with OHIO Ready
Ohio University uses OHIO Ready to create, maintain, and manage departmental Business Continuity Plans. The system provides a structured approach for documenting essential functions, resources, and recovery procedures.
Through OHIO Ready, departments can:
- Identify critical functions and prioritize them for continuity.
- Document key personnel, roles, and leadership backups.
- Record essential systems, applications, and dependencies.
- Maintain an up-to-date plan that can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.
Core Concepts: What’s in a BCP
A Business Continuity Plan should document the essential elements your department needs to sustain or quickly restore operations.
Keep your plan concise, actionable, and accessible. A BCP is a living document that should be reviewed at least annually.
- Critical Functions
Identify the operations your department must continue or quickly resume during a disruption. There’s no required number—some units may have only a few broad functions, while others have several distinct ones. Group related activities when possible to keep your plan manageable.
Each function should have a criticality level to guide recovery priorities:
Critical 1–3 (must continue or resume quickly) or Deferrable (can pause until conditions improve). - Key Personnel
List staff responsible for each function, including backups. Ensure everyone knows their roles. - Dependencies
Note the services or offices your functions rely on (upstream dependencies) and those that rely on you (downstream dependencies). Understanding these relationships helps departments coordinate response and recovery efforts more effectively. - Leadership & Approval
Involve your supervisor from the start. Unit heads should review and sign off on the plan. - Action Items
Use your plan to track gaps identified during testing or incidents. Update the plan with these action items to improve readiness.
- Resources & Documents
Include emergency contacts, vendor info, vital records, and procedures. Keep copies accessible digitally and in print. - Communication & Evacuation
Define how staff communicate during a disruption and document assembly points. - Testing & Improvement
Conduct tabletop exercises or drills, identify gaps, and update the plan regularly. - Stakeholders
Include internal collaborators and key external partners critical to continuity.
Testing & Exercises
A Business Continuity Plan is only effective if it is practiced. Regular exercises help staff understand their roles, test procedures, and identify areas for improvement.
Tabletop Exercises are discussion-based sessions where teams review hypothetical disruptions, such as IT outages or facility closures, and determine how essential operations would continue. These exercises are cost-effective, low-stress, and allow departments to refine procedures without full-scale simulations.
Other exercises may include:
- Call List Drills: Verify that staff can be reached quickly.
- Evacuation Drills: Practice assembly points and account for all personnel.
- Telework Exercises: Confirm that staff can perform critical functions remotely.
OHIO's Compliance Team can provide guidance, resources, and example scenarios. Testing your plan regularly ensures readiness and strengthens departmental resilience.
Training & Educational Opportunities
Ohio University provides training to support Business Continuity Planning and strengthen departmental readiness. These sessions and materials help staff understand their roles, test procedures, and apply best practices.
Specialized Training Topics
- Active threat preparedness
- Remote work readiness
- IT and cybersecurity awareness
Lunchtime Training & Tabletop Sessions
Group exercises for teams developing or updating BCPs. Simulated scenarios encourage discussion and identification of action items. Sessions are offered virtually via Teams and are open to all departments.
On-Demand Video Learning
Focused, step-by-step videos that help departments build and maintain their plans in OHIO Ready:
Departments can register for live sessions, request custom training, or access video materials by contacting the Office of Emergency Management. Regular participation ensures staff are confident and prepared to respond effectively during disruptions.
Business Continuity Resources
The following guides and checklists support departments in creating, maintaining, and reviewing Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) through OHIO Ready.
These tools are designed to make planning, annual updates, and documentation easier and more consistent across the university.
Contact Us
The Office of Emergency Management provides guidance, training, and support for all departments in Business Continuity Planning.
Email:
OHIOready@ohio.edu
Phone:
740.593.2780
Mailing Address:
Office of Emergency Management
251 Grosvenor Hall
Ohio University
Athens, OH 45701