What Are the Different Types of Business Continuity Planning Software?

Business continuity planning software represent tools a company can use to assure its operations continue in perpetuity. These software packages may include risk assessment, data input models, and recovery software, among other possible applications. Companies often use these software types to help them consolidate information and maintain current operations in case of a future disaster. For example, the failure of a server or other technology hardware may be enough to seriously disrupt a company’s operations. Therefore, business continuity planning software would be necessary to ward off this problem and others the business may face.

Risk assessment is perhaps one of the most important activities in which a company may engage. Here, a company needs to determine which items or factors are potentially dangerous. These items may significantly reduce a company’s ability to operate in the short and long term. Business continuity planning software may include a specific section that allows a company to input certain data or other information and make decisions based on the output. For example, this software may result in small adjustments or changes that a company can make in order to strengthen its operations for risk management purposes.

Data input models are similar to the risk management models found in business continuity planning software. The biggest difference is that an input model may help a company assess activities that will bring future financial rewards. In terms of continuity, this forward-looking data input model allows a company to avoid projects or activities that may not bring about the best financial results for the company. In some cases, a company may not lose significant resources from certain activities. The company must find activities that remain in perpetuity so the company continues operations going forward.

Disaster recovery software is a very important part of business continuity planning software. As more companies rely on technology — especially hardware and software applications that take on large and important activities — internal risks increase due to potential technology failure. Companies must find a way to back up their software and use hardware that is stable and will not fail in a disastrous manner. An off-site backup may work best as these third-party companies store items away from a company’s physical buildings, avoiding potential disaster if the buildings falter. Other options may be possible for disaster recovery software as well for business continuity planning software.