Chapter 12

Calling in the Experts

In This Chapter

Protecting your business with expert help

Contacting experts during an incident

Using experts after a disruption

In business, countless pieces of the puzzle can go wrong – and at some point most parts are going to try to. In certain situations you may need expert help concerning a matter beyond your control or understanding; after all, you can’t be an expert in everything.

As part of business continuity (BC), in this chapter we show you how to recognise when you require expert help. You may be sitting there thinking that only a crisis would make you consider calling in a specialist, but the guidance, advice and approval that you get from professionals can be invaluable to your business at all stages. From advice on preventative measures before a crisis and counsel on actions to take during an incident, to guidance on salvation and recovery techniques afterwards, you’re not admitting defeat by asking for help from someone who knows. Experts are there to help.

In certain situations, getting in the experts is mandatory, because of legislation, design or service standards, or because you’re contractually obliged to do so. We identify in this chapter where this is the case.

While reading this chapter, keep in mind the most significant parts of your business – the critical activities that keep your key products and services going from your Business Impact Analysis (BIA) in Chapter 4. These essential aspects may at times need expert help to protect them. Supporting essential, vulnerable or problem areas with expert help can only strengthen the resilience of your business.