What 2017 taught businesses about disasters? - PECBSkip to content
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Important Notice: MyPECB Platform and New Website — With the launch of our new MyPECB Platform and Website, some users may experience temporary issues or disruptions while using the system. At the same time, our support teams are receiving an unusually high number of requests, which may affect response times. We want to assure you that we are actively working to resolve these issues and improve the platform. Your patience and understanding during this important transition are greatly appreciated.
The first lesson learned in my perception is the fact that some of the disasters that have happened are of such a magnitude that is very-very difficult to justify the investment in continuity provisions and also in preventative controls. So, for example, the severe weather-related incidents like hurricane Harvey in the US, but also in the eastern region, for example, China had severe flooding as well. In Africa, we have seen Congo, as well as Zimbabwe and Cierra Leon also had some severe flooding and in Peru as well, in South America.
Should Business Continuity Plan be a priority?
Well, that question gets the full answer ‘YES’ in my world and specifically because some of the incidents that are happening we can not actually prevent them or we can not have enough funds or knowledge to prevent them with the right controls in place. So, the only thing that we really should be, then, in that case relying on is the continuity plan, cause no matter what actually happens it’s something that is going to help us.
Top threats to my business
Well in my view, we should actually stay away completely from the detailed planning for certain incidents or particular threats because as we have seen a lot of threats that have happened are combinations of events or certain unpredictable situations that we can actually cannot properly prepare for. So, how I would approach that for businesses is: “Just focus on the consequences. Do not focus on the nature or the cause of the incidents.” Focus on the consequences.
Speaker
Rinske Geerlings
Rinske Geerlings is Founder and Principal Consultant at Business As Usual in Australia since 2006.
She has successfully competed against the Big Four in all continents of the world, in the areas of Business Continuity, Risk Management and Information Security. Rinske was awarded Risk Consultant of the Year for the Australasian region in 2017 and she is Master of Business Continuity (ISO 22301), Lead Cyber Risk Manager (ISO 27032), Lead Risk Manager (ISO 31000) and Master of Information Security Management ISO 27001) under PECB. You can find more information on her extensive Linkedin profile and her company website www.businessasusual.net.au
