Ensuring Business Continuity Planning for Payroll Systems in the Event of a Hurricane

The First Crucial Step for Business Continuity Planning: Ensuring Payroll System Resilience

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Question

To ensure that payroll systems continue on in an event of a hurricane hitting a data center, what would be the FIRS T crucial step an information security manager would take in ensuring business continuity planning?

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A. B. C. D.

D.

BIA is an essential component of an organization's business continuity plan; it includes an exploratory component to reveal any vulnerabilities and a planning component to develop strategies for minimizing risk.

It is the first crucial step in business continuity planning.

Qualitative and quantitative risk analysis will have been completed to define the dangers to individuals, businesses and government agencies posed by potential natural and human-caused adverse events.

Assigning value to assets is part of the BIA process.

Weighing the cost of implementing the plan vs.

financial loss is another part of the BIA.

The correct answer for this question is D. Conducting a business impact analysis (BIA).

A business impact analysis (BIA) is a critical step in the development of a comprehensive business continuity plan. BIA is a systematic process used to determine the potential impacts resulting from the interruption of critical business functions and processes.

In the context of a hurricane hitting a data center, conducting a BIA would help identify critical payroll systems and their dependencies, which are essential for business operations. The BIA process can help identify the potential impact of a hurricane hitting the data center on payroll systems and the organization's overall business operations. The outcome of a BIA can help an information security manager to identify the required resources, capabilities, and strategies that would be needed to ensure the continuation of payroll systems, despite a hurricane hitting the data center.

Conducting a qualitative and quantitative risk analysis (option A) is also an important step in business continuity planning. However, the risk analysis process can come after conducting a BIA. A BIA can help identify critical systems and processes that require risk analysis, as well as determine the likelihood and severity of potential risks.

Assigning value to assets (option B) is a valuable exercise, but it is not as crucial as conducting a BIA. Asset valuation is usually performed during the risk analysis process and can help organizations understand the value of the assets that need to be protected.

Weighing the cost of implementing the plan vs. financial loss (option C) is also an important step in business continuity planning, but it is more of a strategic decision than a tactical one. This step should come after identifying the critical systems and processes and determining the required resources to ensure business continuity.

In summary, conducting a BIA is the first crucial step an information security manager should take in ensuring business continuity planning in the event of a hurricane hitting a data center. BIA helps identify critical systems and processes, their dependencies, and potential impacts resulting from their interruption, which is essential for developing a comprehensive business continuity plan.