Businesses today run on data and connectivity more than ever, making them more vulnerable to unexpected disruptions.
PwC’s 2023 Global Crisis and Resilience Survey found that 96% of business leaders have experienced disruptions in the past two years. Even more concerning, 76% said their worst disruption seriously impacted operations.
And here’s the thing—it doesn’t take a massive cyberattack to cause chaos. Sometimes, just one compromised file or a small security gap is enough to throw everything off track. That’s why the World Economic Forum ranks cyberattacks and data breaches among the top 10 global business risks.
The key to staying ahead? A solid business continuity plan (BCP) that keeps your team ready, your operations running, business assets protected, and disruptions under control.
Let’s dive into what business continuity really means, why it’s essential, and how to build a plan that actually works.
10 Business Continuity Plan Examples for a Resilient Organization
⏰ 60-Second Summary
- A Business Continuity Plan is a plan that helps companies stay operational during disruptions like cyberattacks, supply chain failures, or financial crises
- Businesses use BCPs for IT failures, pandemics, economic downturns, and cyber threats
- Creating a Business Continuity Plan involves identifying risks, planning for recovery, testing the plan, and keeping it updated
- Real-world business continuity examples show how companies like Netflix and Ford effectively handled crises through proactive planning and risk management
- ’s range of features (and free templates), such as Tasks, Dashboards, Docs, Brain, and Automations, make BCP more streamlined than ever
What is a Business Continuity Plan (BCP)?
A Business Continuity Plan (BCP) is a playbook that helps businesses stay up and running when unexpected disruptions hit, like natural disasters, tech failures, or human errors.
It lays out clear steps so businesses know exactly what to do in a crisis. This ensures that operations, employees, and partners stay on track with minimal disruption.
A continuity plan prepares organizations for risks such as cyberattacks, pandemics, and power or IT outages. Needless to say, a well-defined plan is crucial for protecting a company’s stability, reputation, and long-term success.
🔍 Did You Know? For most mid-sized and large businesses—over 90% of them—every hour of downtime costs more than $300,000! That’s a huge hit in terms of productivity, customer trust, sales, and even compliance penalties.
Key Components of a Business Continuity Plan
A strong BCP needs a few key elements to be effective:
1. Backup and recovery
Losing critical data can shut down operations in an instant. Regular backups—both onsite and offsite—keep information safe and accessible. Set up automated backups, test recovery steps, and keep your team familiar with the process to avoid scrambling when it matters.
2. People and communication
In a crisis, everyone needs to know their role. Assign key responsibilities, keep contact lists updated, and establish a clear way to relay information. Have multiple communication channels—email, phone, messaging apps—so there’s no confusion when quick decisions are needed.
3. Risk management
Threats come in many forms—natural disasters, cyberattacks, system failures, and human errors. Identifying weak spots early helps reduce damage before it spirals. A proactive plan today can save time, money, and frustration down the road.
4. Testing and updates
A plan that isn’t tested is just paperwork. Run regular drills, train your team, and tweak things as your business evolves. Technology shifts, staff changes, and new risks pop up, so keeping the plan fresh means you’re always a step ahead.
The goal? Less downtime, less stress, and a business that stays strong no matter what.
💡 Pro Tip: Build a Business Impact Analysis (BIA) scorecard for each department before locking in your BCP. Keep it simple—rate every business function on a 1-5 scale in three areas: revenue impact, customer experience, and operational dependency. If a function scores 12 or more, it’s a critical operation and should get top priority when things go south.
Business Continuity Plan Examples
When disaster strikes, how prepared would your business be? Every crisis demands a different plan of action, from cyberattacks to natural calamities.
Here are five real-world business continuity plan examples showing how smart businesses handle crises and the key steps to build your own business continuity plan.
1. IT disaster recovery plan
An IT disaster recovery plan is a blueprint of strategies, procedures, and protocols—including aspects of IT capacity planning—designed to help companies restore their IT infrastructure and operations after disruptive events such as cyberattacks, hardware failures, or human errors.
📌 Real-world example: One of the top business continuity examples, Netflix’s BCP was put to the test during the 2011 AWS outage. Instead of relying on a single point of failure, they built a system using stateless services, cross-zone data replication, and redundancy to keep operations running. It’s one of the best business continuity plan examples!
Checklist for a strong IT disaster recovery plan
✅ Backup and restore: Keep regular backups so you can restore crucial data quickly when needed
✅ Cloud-based recovery: Rely on cloud services for flexible and scalable recovery options
✅ Incident response: Have a step-by-step plan for detecting, analyzing, and recovering your critical services from issues (invest in incident management software!)
✅ Redundancy: Duplicate systems to prevent failures (don’t put all your eggs in one basket)
2. Pandemic response plan
A pandemic response plan helps businesses stay on track during infectious disease outbreaks. It focuses on keeping employees safe, supporting remote work, strengthening the supply chain, and keeping communication smooth.
This business continuity plan example unfolds in three phases:
1️⃣ Pre-pandemic: This is the prep stage. You plan, test, and tweak your BCP so that everything is ready
2️⃣ During-pandemic: Time to put the plan into action, keeping operations running with minimal disruption
3️⃣ Post-pandemic: Once things settle, you review what worked, fix what didn’t, and get the business back to full speed
📌 Real-world example: When COVID-19 hit, Walmart’s pandemic response plan kicked in fast. They protected employees with paid sick leave, PPE, and more while keeping stores running with contactless delivery. To keep customers safe, they cut store hours, ramped up sanitization, and enforced COVID-19 testing sites in parking lots!
Checklist for a pandemic response plan
✅ Pandemic coordinator: Appoint a dedicated team and appoint a team leader to oversee the response
✅ Remote work policies: Set up secure remote work systems so employees can work from home without missing a beat
✅ Handling quarantines: Develop protocols for travel bans and border closures
3. Supply chain continuity plan
A supply chain continuity plan is a strategy that ensures a company’s supply chain remains operational during disruptions, such as geopolitical conflicts, cyberattacks, or supplier failures. It helps businesses mitigate risks, minimize downtime, and maintain the flow of goods and services.
📌 Real-world example: When the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami hit, Toyota’s supply chain took a significant hit—but their continuity plan kept them in the game. They bounced back faster than many competitors by working with backup suppliers, stockpiling critical parts, and mapping their entire supply chain. Talk about organizational planning!
Checklist for a strong supply chain continuity plan
✅ Identify critical suppliers: List all key suppliers and assess their risk levels (location, financial stability, alternative options)
✅ Diversify suppliers: Avoid dependence on a single supplier or region by having backup vendors in different locations
✅ Map your supply chain: Understand where each part or material comes from, including Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers
✅ Stockpile critical inventory: Keep buffer stock for essential materials to avoid shortages during disruptions
✅ Develop emergency logistics plans: Plan alternative shipping routes and modes of transport in case of disruptions
4. Financial crisis management plan
A financial crisis management plan helps businesses navigate economic downturns, liquidity shortages, and unexpected financial setbacks. It focuses on maintaining cash flow and securing alternative funding to keep operations running.
Some of its key actions include identifying financial risks, optimizing accounts receivable and payable, renegotiating vendor contracts, and prioritizing essential expenses.
📌 Real-world example: A great example of an FCMP in action is Ford during the 2008 financial crisis. While other automakers like GM and Chrysler needed government bailouts, Ford had secured $23.5 billion in private loans two years earlier. This gave them the cash cushion to survive without external help.
Checklist for a strong financial crisis management plan
✅ Prioritize critical operations: Ensure payroll, accounts payable/receivable, tax compliance, and revenue management remain uninterrupted
✅ Anticipate risks before they strike: Identify threats like economic instability, cyberattacks, and regulatory fines. Use contingency plan templates to map out risks and strengthen resilience
✅ Secure technical safeguards: Protect cloud-based financial systems, back up critical data, and secure key assets like insurance policies and vendor contracts from cyber threats
5. Cybersecurity incident response plan
A cybersecurity incident response plan is a must, yet only 45% of companies have one in place. Now, the question isn’t whether an attack will happen but how prepared you will be when it does.
That’s when a cybersecurity risk management, or incident response, comes as a structured approach to detecting, responding to, and recovering from cyber threats. It ensures that critical business functions continue with minimal disruption, even during an attack.
📌 Real-world example: One of the biggest wake-up calls in cybersecurity was the WannaCry ransomware attack. It hit 34% of the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) trusts, bringing systems to a standstill.
Checklist for a strong cybersecurity incident response plan
✅ Identify key assets: What critical systems and data keep your business running? Protect them first
✅ Conduct risk assessments: Regularly evaluate vulnerabilities and security gaps via processes like pen tests
✅ Back-up data: Store encrypted backups in secure locations like cloud storage or drives
✅ Test the plan: Run cybersecurity drills to ensure preparedness
6. Manufacturing business continuity plan
A manufacturing business continuity plan is a framework designed to ensure that a manufacturing company can continue operating during and after disruptions, such as natural disasters, cyberattacks, supply chain failures, equipment breakdowns, or labor shortages.
It outlines preventive measures, emergency response strategies, and recovery procedures to minimize downtime and financial losses while maintaining production efficiency.
📌 Real-world example: The 2017 ransomware attack on the U.S. hit pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. hard, shutting down manufacturing, research, and sales operations. Employees lost email access, and 70,000 workers were locked out of their computers.
Checklist for a strong manufacturing business continuity plan
✅ Know internal processes: Identify critical processes and assets (e.g., machinery, supply chains, logistics)
✅ Have a direct communication line: Develop a clear line of communication plan for employees, suppliers, and stakeholders
✅ Have security plans: Implement safety protocols and evacuation procedures for on-site emergencies
✅ Maintain compliance: Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, and industry regulations
📮 Insight: About 41% of professionals prefer instant messaging for team communication. Although it offers quick and efficient exchanges, messages are often spread across multiple channels, threads, or direct messages, making it harder to retrieve information later.
With an integrated solution like Chat, your chat threads are mapped to specific projects and tasks, keeping your conversations in context and readily available.
7. Construction business continuity plan
A construction business continuity plan helps companies stay prepared, respond quickly, and recover smoothly from disruptions without taking a major hit on operations or revenue.
In construction, unexpected setbacks can throw projects off track, delay timelines, and lead to big financial losses. While weather disasters are an obvious risk, supply chain issues and labor shortages can be just as tough to handle.
📌 Real-world example: Al-Thuwairat Construction Company faced major risks like weather disruptions and workforce issues, but their biggest challenge was the lack of a clear system to manage these risks. To fix this, they improved communication across departments and introduced a structured risk assessment approach. This made their operations more resilient, helping them handle disruptions without derailing projects.
Checklist for a strong construction business continuity plan
✅ Plan for the unexpected: Identify risks like bad weather, supply chain delays, or cyber threats, and put backup plans in place to keep projects on track
✅ Have a quick recovery strategy: Set up clear steps to relocate operations, restore data, and get crews back to work as soon as possible
✅ Keep teams aligned: Make sure everyone knows their role during disruptions with well-rehearsed response plans
8. Physical security incidents business continuity plan
A Physical Security Incidents Business Continuity Plan ensures you’re prepared to handle emergencies, protect assets, and get back on track quickly. A good plan covers everything from emergency response to compliance and ongoing risk assessments so your business stays resilient.
📌 Real-world example: During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, hospitals and businesses in New Orleans faced massive physical security failures, with looting, power outages, and infrastructure breakdowns making things worse. Those with backup power, emergency evacuation plans, and stocked supplies managed to keep limited operations running.
Checklist for a strong physical security incidents business continuity plan
✅ Align with IT recovery: Ensure seamless integration with IT disaster recovery plans to handle system disruptions
✅ Stay legally compliant: Keep up with security regulations and reporting requirements to avoid legal complications
✅ Review and improve regularly: Continuously assess risks, update protocols, and apply lessons from past incidents to stay prepared
9. Power outage emergency response plan
A power outage can bring business operations to a standstill. Worse, the outage may stretch to days. With the right Power Outage Emergency Response Plan, you can keep critical functions running, minimize disruptions, and maintain customer trust. A well-prepared strategy ensures your team knows what to do, which resources to mobilize, and how to recover quickly.
📌 Real-world example: A power outage crippled Delta Air Lines in 2016, forcing thousands of flight cancellations. In response, the company invested in IT infrastructure, built redundant systems, and improved communication protocols to prevent similar disruptions.
Checklist for a strong power outage emergency response plan
✅ Identify critical functions: Determine which operations (IT systems, manufacturing, customer service, etc.) are most vulnerable to power failures
✅ Backup power solutions: Invest in generators, UPS systems, and alternative power sources
✅ Operational contingency plan: Prioritize tasks, reallocate resources, and establish workflows to maintain productivity
10. Crisis management and product recall plan
A strong crisis management and product recall plan is essential to control emergencies like product contamination, safety issues, or supply chain failures. For example, if the FDA announces an ingredient in your product is unsafe, quick action is critical to protect customers, maintain trust, and avoid legal trouble.
📌 Real-world example: Johnson & Johnson faced a major crisis in 1982 when their cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules led to multiple deaths. The company swiftly recalled 31 million bottles and introduced tamper-proof packaging. Their quick response and transparency restored trust and led to a successful product relaunch.
Checklist for a strong crisis management and product recall plan
✅ Strengthen quality control: Conduct a root cause analysis to pinpoint what went wrong, tighten safety checks, and prevent future mishaps
✅ Communicate with confidence: Train a spokesperson to handle media, regulators, and customer concerns smoothly
✅ Support your customers: Arrange quick product replacements or alternative solutions to maintain trust and minimize disruption
How To Create A Business Continuity Plan
Unexpected disruptions can hit you anytime, but a solid business continuity plan keeps your operations running smoothly.
Here’s how to create one that safeguards your business against the unexpected 👇
Phase 1: Spot the risks and strengthen weak spots
First things first—figure out what could go wrong and how badly it could affect your business. This step helps you pinpoint risks, minimize damage, and create a plan to keep things running.
Risk assessment and mitigation
Think about potential threats like system failures, supply chain disruptions, or cyberattacks that could throw a wrench in your operations. Set up transparent business processes to measure and manage these risks so you know what your business can handle and when to take action.
💡 Pro Tip: Identify potential risks and map out their impact on pre-built risk assessment templates. This makes it easy to map out possible threats, collaborate with your team, and keep everything organized in one place!
Business Impact Analysis (BIA)
Figure out which parts of your business can’t afford to slow down when a disruption starts impacting customers, legal requirements, operations, or even your reputation. Once you know the tipping points, you can build a plan to minimize risks and bounce back fast.
Phase 2: Build a solid recovery plan and get your communication right
Once you know the risks, create a clear plan to handle disruptions while keeping everyone informed.
In a nutshell, it includes:
✅ Emergency response and management: Act fast to stabilize the situation, protect people, and take control of internal systems. Assign roles, coordinate with emergency responders, and ensure everyone knows their responsibilities
✅ Crisis communication strategy: Your business continuity team should decide who speaks publicly, which channels to use, and how to prioritize updates. Set up escalation procedures so teams know exactly how to handle different crisis scenarios
✅ Business recovery and continuity: How do you restore critical business functions after a disruption? Outline recovery procedures like restoring data, reaching key clients and vendors, implementing contingency plans, and setting up temporary work solutions
Identify critical functions, act fast, and get back on track with confidence!
Phase 3: Test, update, and improve
This final phase is what ensures that your BCP will stay relevant, effective, and up-to-date.
- Plan audits and updates: A business continuity plan isn’t ‘set it and forget it.’ Review, test, and update it regularly to keep it fresh. Run simulations, refine strategies, and stay aligned with your business continuity policy
- Employee training: Your team needs to know exactly what to do in a crisis. Hold training sessions, clarify roles, and strengthen communication so everyone is prepared when it counts
- Trial runs and simulations: Don’t wait for disaster to strike—practice before it’s real. Drills help spot weak points, improve response times, and ensure everything runs uninterrupted
When it comes to staying prepared and responding quickly, the right tools are what make the real difference.
Here are a few that help businesses manage risks and recovery smoothly:
- Fusion Framework System: Helps map out critical business functions and automate risk monitoring
- Riskonnect: Centralizes business continuity planning with real-time risk tracking.
- Zerto: Focuses on IT disaster recovery and data protection
- LogicManager: Provides a structured approach to identifying risks and response planning
But what if you need a more flexible, all-in-one solution to manage everything—without the complexity? Many tools focus on just one aspect of business continuity, leaving you juggling multiple platforms. This is where you need (the everything app, for work)!
It stitches everything together in one place, making it easier to track risks, assign tasks, and keep your team aligned during any disruption. Here’s how.👇
Centralized documentation for risk management
Effective risk management and response planning depend on quick access to critical information. With Docs, you can create, store, and update your business continuity plans, risk assessments, and response protocols in one central location. This ensures all stakeholders have the latest information at their fingertips, enabling a swift and coordinated response.
Task planning and allocation
Once your plan is in place, clarity in execution is key. Tasks help assign and track every action item related to risk management, recovery procedures, and critical business functions. Set priorities, deadlines, and dependencies so your team knows exactly who’s responsible for what—eliminating confusion and enabling quick action when it matters most.
To further enhance efficiency, use ’s task prioritization guide to structure workflows and ensure the most urgent tasks get addressed first.
Real-time monitoring and alignment
During testing phases and real crises, you can stay on top of your continuity plan with Dashboards, providing a real-time snapshot of progress. Whether you’re tracking task completion, response times, or potential delays, Dashboards give you instant visibility into your BCP, helping you stay organized and aligned when every second counts.
Customizable business continuity plan templates
Nobody enjoys creating documents from scratch, especially when it involves extensive manual data entry and repetitive information. On days like these, ready-made templates can be your best friend. With the Business Continuity Plan template, the groundwork is already laid out for you—all you need to do is fill in the specifics.
Here’s why you’ll love this template:
- Easy progress tracking: Custom statuses like ‘Complete, ‘In Progress,’ and ‘To Do’ help you instantly see where tasks stand
- Organized information: Custom fields such as ‘Business Plan Category’ and ‘Details’ allow you to store and visualize critical information effortlessly
- Multiple convenient views: Choose from four different views—Priorities, Board, List, and Getting Started Guide—to keep your data organized and easily accessible
Real-time collaboration and task automation for seamless execution
In a crisis, instant communication is non-negotiable. You need your teams and departments together right away without switching between multiple apps or hunting for info. That’s why Chat is such a game changer.
It allows everyone to discuss recovery plans and mitigation strategies in one place, keeping communication open and quick when needed most. You can even assign tasks directly from chat, turning discussions into actions instantly.
But that’s just the start. With Brain (’s own AI assistant) right within Chat, you can quickly surface the most relevant updates or critical documents without digging around.
And when it comes to turning these plans into reality, Automations is the way to go. Want a crucial recovery document or task to reach the right person the moment it’s assigned? Set up a quick custom command, and does the rest.
If you don’t want to create commands manually, no worries—just ask Brain with a simple prompt. It’ll handle the automation setup for you in seconds. Less busywork, more action.
Make A Solid Business Continuity Plan With
If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that uncertainty isn’t about ‘if’ but ‘when.’ Disruptions will happen, whether it’s a cyberattack, a supply chain breakdown, or an unexpected market shift.
The real question is, will your business be ready?
A BCP gives the organization the best shot at successfully navigating a disaster scenario by providing ready-made directions.
But let’s be real—a BCP isn’t effective if it’s buried in a forgotten folder, never updated, or too complex for teams to follow.
With ’s diverse features and customizable templates, business continuity planning becomes simpler, more organized, and far less daunting.
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