Business Continuity Program (BCP) Development

CastleGarde’s Business Continuity Program Development services provide the Credit Union a comprehensive Business Continuity Program (BCP) that is in compliance with NCUA, FFIEC, and industry best practices. The services also include a gap analysis and business impact analysis. CastleGarde focuses on business continuity planning which is comprised of merging the IT-focused Business Recovery Plan and the business-focused Business Resumption Plan. Most consider these traditional plans to be mutually exclusive, when in fact, the merging of the two into a BCP provides the highest degree of success in handling disaster situations and business interruptions.

CastleGarde utilizes an industry standard project methodology approach comprised of the following five project phases:

Assessment

Current environment and scope. Establish status quo, technology, and business topology. In this step, the Business Impact Analysis is performed and Maximum Tolerable Downtimes are determined. This is the identification stage of the engagement.

Architecture

The overall needs and deliverables of the project and includes evaluating recovery strategy alternatives.

Implementation

Work with Credit Union to develop the required processes, procedures, and policies to meet the requirements as outlined in the architecture phase. This phase includes the development of the Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plans. Also included is updating the Credit Union’s information security standards and procedures manual as necessary based on BCP driven changes.

Manage

Provide ongoing support of the program including the assessment of actual business recovery disaster drills/off-site tests. Training is provided to Credit Union employees on the existence and substance of the Credit Union’s Business Continuity Program.

Maintain

Provide ongoing maintenance and updates of the Business Continuity Program Plan in coordination with the Credit Union.

The approach and methodology are a standard project management approach affording us the opportunity to utilize standard project management tools during execution. The use of the tools allows the Credit Union to monitor the progress of the project and better manage Credit Union staff and resources that will be utilized throughout the engagement.