Business continuity systemOrganizations typically provide leadership to the business continuity system through three roles: 1. Sponsorship: providing or ensuring organizational and financial support 2. Ownership: direct responsibility for ensuring support, as well as overall program execution 3. Custodianship: responsibility for the coordination of BCM tasks that are executed throughout the organization The sponsorship and business continuity plan ownership roles continue to trend toward organizational elements with visibility of the entire business, as well as experience with risk management. Based on these trends, below is a list of sponsors and owners in an order of decreasing effectiveness: • Finance: The CFO or a direct report, to include risk management or loss prevention. • Executive Council: A member of the senior management team, to include the general counsel, director of human resources or manager of corporate communications. • Operations: The Chief Operations Officer (COO) or a direct report, to include security and Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS). • Information Technology: The Chief Information Officer (CIO )or a direct report in data center operations (some organizations have a program/project management office, where BCM may reside). • Internal Audit: The director of internal audit enforces the company’s business continuity policies through decentralized execution or dedicated internal audit resources. Related topics on business continuity management support:
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