The ongoing terrorism threat to flights leaving UK airports highlights the need for solid business continuity procedures, according to Marsh.
Companies need to be prepared to deal with both the direct and indirect consequences of terrorist activities, according to the broker.
Among the important questions that companies need to ask are:
• Have we identified alternative travel arrangements for staff performing critical business functions?
• Do we know what those critical functions are, and what the potential impact of their disruption might be?
• Do we have the plans that let us respond quickly enough to avoid or minimise the crisis?
• Do we have the plans in place to provide effective communications with our stakeholders?
• Can we track down our staff in an emergency?
Martin Caddick, head of business continuity management in Marsh's risk consulting practice, said: “Last week's events demonstrate that terrorism threats can severely disrupt national business. All businesses should be prepared. We recommend that companies undertake a review of their security capability and ensure that they have correctly assessed their critical business processes. They must also have in place emergency response, crisis management and business continuity programmes so that they can respond to any attempted attacks in the future”.
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