Business Continuity and the COVID-19

Pandemic Threat

Presented by:
• Robert Clark, MSc FBCS FIBCM MSyI
• Author and Business Continuity Consultant
• Date: 21 April 2020
Introduction

Robert Clark MSc FBCS FIBCM MSyI is a Business Continuity

Consultant, published author, trainer and visiting university
lecturer. He is a Fellow of British Computer Society and Institute of
Business Continuity Management and Member of the Security
Institute
Much of his practical experience has been gained during the 28
years he spent working with IBM, Fujitsu and more recently with
PwC Malta.
He has a Master of Science Degree in Business Continuity,
Security and Emergency Management awarded by Bucks New
University.
In 2016 he published his best selling book “Business Continuity
and the Pandemic Threat” which was his third publication.
Copyright IT Governance Ltd, April 2020
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 An overview of pandemic behaviour
01 patterns;

02
Comparisons between COVID-19 and
seasonal influenza;

Information about actions that can be taken

03 at a global, national, corporate and individual
level;

Considerations for your pandemic plan, such

04 as working from home, supply chain
management, crisis management roles and
communications;

Guidance on protecting employees’ health

05 and safety, including corporate cleanliness
and healthy habits; and

Information about validating your pandemic

06 plan.

Copyright IT Governance Ltd, April 2020

HOW DID YOU
FIRST GET
INVOLVED WITH
PANDEMICS?
SO WHAT
EXACTLY IS A
PANDEMIC ?
 1918 - 19 Spanish Influenza
Death in Millions
30

25

20

15

10

0
29-Jun-18 29-Jul-18 29-Aug-18 29-Sep-18 29-Oct-18 29-Nov-18 29-Dec-18 29-Jan-19 28-Feb-19 31-Mar-19 30-Apr-19

PANDEMICS OFTEN COME IN WAVES

 “In 1918 fear moved
ahead of the virus like a
bow wave before a ship”

John M. Barry, 2004

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

NB. COVID-19 Global Total Case and Fatality Numbers as of April 17, 2020

SARS, SEASONAL FLU AND COVID-19

2002-3 2015 2016 2017

WHY DIDN’T WE GET ANY WARNING ABOUT THE

CORONAVIRUS ?
Some people laughed
at me when I first
published my book
‘Business Continuity &
the Pandemic Threat’.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-ND

 “Very few
countries are
going to get an
“A” grade for
their pandemic
preparedness”

Bill Gates
maybe Hong Kong will be
one of the few to be
awarded an “a” grade for
pandemic preparedness
The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection map every Covid-19 case
Is working from
home an
option?
POTENTIAL DANGERS IN THE
WORKPLACE
PANDEMIC
PLAN
PUTTING YOUR
PANDEMIC PLAN
TOGETHER
How to validate your pandemic plan

Copyright IT Governance Ltd – v.1.0

Stay safe
 BCM Consultancy: https://www.bcm-consultancy.com/pandemicthreat
and https://www.bcm-consultancy.com/blog

IT Governance Publishing:
https://www.itgovernancepublishing.co.uk/product/business-

Some useful continuity-and-the-pandemic-threat

UK National Risk Register:

resources https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/u
ploads/attachment_data/file/644968/UK_National_Risk_Register_2017.
pdf
UK Government: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
BBC Coronavirus webpage: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/coronavirus
UK NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
 Coronavirus Business
Continuity Management
Bundle
• Developed specifically for the
COVID-19 pandemic, this pack
will help you tailor your
business continuity plan to your
organisation’s unique
vulnerabilities.
• Identify your unique business
risks, learn how to mitigate
them and limit their damage.

Find out more

Copyright IT Governance Ltd and The Stairway Consultancy, April 2020

How can IT Governance can help?
Remote Working Policy Template Kit BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Policy
Toolkit
Quickly create and implement BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) offers
your own secure remote improved productivity, reduced capital
working policies and procedures expenditure and a better work-life balance for
to help you embed processes employees. However, it also promises
effectively. security and compliance problems for
organisations that have inadequate BYOD
policies..

ISO 22301 BCMS Toolkit

Remote Access Penetration Test
Designed to help you accelerate your
This expert-led penetration testing business continuity management
service will help test how secure your system (BCMS) implementation project
external infrastructure is with remote and ensure your business continuity
access penetration testing. plans align with your organisation’s
strategic objectives.

Copyright IT Governance Ltd and The Stairway Consultancy, April 2020

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Questions