What is a priority in the development of a business continuity plan?

Establishment of recovery objectives is a fundamental priority in the development of a business continuity plan because it defines the goals of the continuity effort. These objectives outline the acceptable downtime and data loss that the organization can tolerate, which are crucial for determining the overall strategy and resource allocation for recovery efforts. By clearly defining these objectives, the organization can prioritize critical functions, allocate resources effectively, and ensure that the plan aligns with its overall business goals.

This process also informs other aspects of the business continuity plan, such as recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO), guiding the organization in designing appropriate recovery strategies and measures. Having well-established recovery objectives ensures that the organization can effectively minimize downtime and restore operations as quickly as possible following a disruption.

While an inventory of IT assets, detailed training manuals for staff, and network access restrictions are important components of a business continuity plan, they all serve to support the overarching recovery objectives rather than being the primary focus.