Business Continuity Plan Testing for the Government Department of Education

• Throughout the training, participants will engage in case studies and practical exercises to reinforce learning and develop practical skills. 

• The specific content and examples can be tailored to the Department's unique circumstances and challenges.

Day 1: Foundation and Planning

Morning Session: 

Introduction to Business Continuity Management (BCM): 

• Define BCM and its importance to the Department of Education
• Discuss the role of BCM in protecting critical functions and service
• Explore the advantages of having a robust BCM program
• Highlight potential cost savings, improved reputation, and enhanced resilience
• Explain the relationship between BCM and risk management

Incident Management: 

• Introduce the incident management lifecycle (detection, response, containment, recovery, and analysis)
• Explore common incident types and their potential impacts
• Discuss key roles and responsibilities within the incident management team

Afternoon Session: 

Incident and Continuity Management Plans: 

• Develop a framework for creating effective incident and continuity management plans
• Discuss essential components such as scope, objectives, roles, and responsibilities

Initial Response Incident and Continuity Management Plans: 

• Focus on immediate actions to be taken in response to a disruptive event
• Develop plans for communication, resource allocation, and critical function recovery

Determining BCM Strategy: 

• Explore various BCM strategies (e.g., avoidance, transfer, mitigation, acceptance)
• Evaluate the suitability of different strategies for the Department's specific needs

Day 2: Implementation and Evaluation

 Morning Session: 

Developing and Implementing BCP Response:

• Create response strategies for various incident scenarios
• Develop recovery plans for critical function
• Discuss strategies for testing and validating BCP plans

Producing a Business Continuity Programme:

• Develop a comprehensive BCM program that integrates incident management, risk assessment and recovery planning
• Define the program's scope, objectives and governance structure

Addressing Risk:

• Introduce risk assessment methodologies and techniques
• Identify potential threats and vulnerabilities within the Department's operations

Afternoon Session:

Interpreting Threats:

• Analyse the likelihood and impact of various threats (e.g., natural disasters, human error, malicious acts)
• Develop criteria for prioritising risks

Risk Mitigation:

• Explore strategies to reduce the likelihood or impact of identified risks
• Implement controls and safeguards to protect critical functions

Risk Evaluation: 

• Conduct regular reviews of risk assessments and mitigation measures
• Make adjustments as needed to ensure ongoing effectiveness

Business Continuity Recovery:

• Discuss strategies for restoring operations after a disruptive event
• Develop plans for data recovery, supply chain management and employee welfare

Handling Disturbances: 

• Address specific types of disturbances
• Develop response plans for each disturbance type

Maintaining Reputation and Making Improvements:

• Discuss the importance of reputation management during and after incidents
• Implement a continuous improvement process for BCM