Mind Your Suppliers

MIND YOUR OWN SUPPLIERS’ BUSINESS, SAYS ADAM CONTINUITY

Small and medium-sized businesses are needlessly exposing themselves to risk if they fail to check suppliers’ plans for handling disasters, says Adam Continuity,a leading UK provider of business continuity, data resilience and disaster recovery services.

A recent Cabinet Office report highlighted weaknesses among smaller companies, citing public sector compliance and corporate governance guidelines as key drivers behind the adoption of business continuity management.

“But the report also indicates that customer pressure is a strong commercial driver – particularly for owner-managed organisations and sole traders,” says Philip Caulfield, managing director of Adam Continuity.  “It is therefore critical to ask suppliers – on whom your business may well depend heavily – three important questions to safeguard your own continuity.

“Can you demonstrate a viable, workable continuity plan for the service you provide for us? If your supplier cannot fulfil its commitment to you for whatever reason, your own business continuity is under threat.

“Can you provide independent third party reports on rehearsals for your plan? A growing number of organisations are carrying out rehearsals at least once a year – but a third do not rehearse their business continuity plans at all. And of course, it is critical to take steps once weaknesses to the plan have been uncovered.

“Have you achieved or are you in the process of achieving BS25999 accreditation? According to the Cabinet Office report, only four per cent use this standard to seek compliance from suppliers.”

Philip Caulfield continues: “Most organisations outsource an element of their supply chain, facilities or services. A responsible, successful company will not only seek to secure its own business continuity plans, but will look beyond to the strengths and weaknesses that make up its overall success. It takes just one weak link and the supply chain will be broken.”