Information Technology (IT) Contingency Plan as part of the Business Continuity Plan: Case of IT Services Delivery Industry

Abstract

It is not a surprising situation to see that, some of the business owners or senior executives of the institutions, for not taking into account the future of their business or institutions, by failing to look at the catastrophic risk factors that may result in their businesses or institutions to fail in fulfilling their obligations to the community. That is why, in this study as an exploratory research, the study managed to explore the importance and benefits of both business continuity and IT contingency plans of having them in place. As well as, how these plans can be established and implemented smoothly. Although, in this study have been found that all these plans has major drawback of both being a very complex processes and very costly during establishment. In this study, it has been found that business continuity and IT contingency plans, have demonstrated significant impact of their importance in safeguarding IT business infrastructure as well as other corporate resources such as human resource, data and information, finance and time. Also to act as an assurance for the business activities and operations restore, if or when a catastrophe event happens. And in summary, this study concluded that business continuity plan through IT contingency planning has proved its importance and positive impact for many businesses which decided to adopt. But however, there still some small and medium enterprises (SME’s) who cannot implement such initiatives as this may result in losses through maintenance cost or during the period of establishment. But, the analysis of the advantages vs. disadvantages shows that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. And this indicates that, IT Contingency Plan plays a major role in the discipline of the business continuity management within the corporate.