Build a BCDR employee training program for peak resilience

Business continuity and disaster recovery training initiatives need senior management support and funding. Visible and frequent endorsements and encouragement from senior management raise awareness of and increase participation in these specialized training programs.

The next key strategy is to engage human resources (HR) in the training process. This department has the expertise to organize, coordinate and conduct formal employee training. They can also support activities that promote awareness, such as department briefings and messages on employee bulletin boards. Encourage HR to include BCDR and resilience training in new employee orientation programs. Requiring all employees — not just BCDR and resilience teams — to participate in at least one training session reinforces the importance of these activities and can move the organization toward a culture of resilience.

Organizations with their own intranet and employee webpages can introduce a BCDR site that describes the internal training program and what it does. This page can include sections on the training process, frequently asked questions, training schedules, and links to forms, services and other useful materials.

Regularly communicate the BCDR training program and its activities to employees and senior management. Messages should be informative and educational and reinforce the company’s commitment to the program and its value.