New Years Resolution - take time to re-assess your business risk says CBI chief
04/01/2006
CBI Director General Sir Digby Jones urges firms to put a re-assessment of business risk at the top of their list of New Year resolutions.
Sir Digby said:
"In a year that has seen mainland terrorism, a major incident at the UK's fifth largest oil and petrol distribution depot and natural disasters too numerous to mention across the globe, everyone in business needs to spend some time this January re-assessing their business risk.
"In the immediate aftermath of any form of incident, continuity planning becomes something of a buzz word but it is increasingly clear that many firms still don't have the necessary plans in place. As New Year resolutions go, few things can be more important than ensuring your business has a future, whatever happens outside your door.
"Consider Buncefield, it was a miracle that no-one was killed, but more than anything it showed that the unexpected can happen at any time. Please - take a long, hard look at how you safeguard your workplace and employees. Make a conscious decision about what is right for the assets in your company. The preparations you make now could help your business survive a catastrophic event be it natural or man-made, continuity is vital and your customers will expect no less.
With the help of security and defence specialists QinetiQ and drawing on MI5 advice, the CBI has produced some new tips on continuity and security planning. They concentrate on six main areas:
- Business Survival: The Critical factors
- Protecting Intellectual Propery
- Validation of Staff
- Controlling Entries & Exits
- Physical Security: Technology
- Physical Security: Basics
Sir Digby concluded:
"Having the right plan and the right people in the right places can ensure that your business survives no matter what. It is a vital self-help insurance policy that everyone in business must have."
