[BCM] [BT] [E3] [BIA] [T3] [CBF] [2] Infrastructure Operations

Implementing Business Continuity Management for Bandtree: A Practical Guide

[Business Impact Analysis] [Part 5]

BIA Questionnaires 

Part 5: Inter-dependencies

Notes for BCM Institute's Course Participants: This is the template for completing the "Part 5: Inter-dependencies."

CBF 2: Infrastructure Operations

In today’s complex organisational environments, no critical business function operates in isolation. Each function relies on various inputs from other units, external vendors, regulatory bodies, and infrastructure providers.

These linkages form a network of interdependencies that must be clearly understood and managed to ensure operational resilience during disruptions.

Purpose of Chapter

This chapter explores the concept of inter-dependencies within and outside the organisation, focusing on the internal and external relationships that support the continuity of critical business functions.

It emphasises the identification of upstream, downstream, and mutual dependencies, as well as their implications for business continuity and crisis management planning.

Through structured documentation and mapping of these dependencies, organisations like Bandtree can enhance coordination, reduce vulnerabilities, and improve their overall readiness to respond to crises or operational disruptions.

Here’s a structured table for CBF‑2 Infrastructure Operations, outlining each Sub‑CBF’s internal/external inter-dependencies according to the BCMpedia guidance

Table 5: [BIA] [P5] Inter-dependencies for CBF-2 Infrastructure Operations

Notes

• Internal refers to in-house departments or units; External refers to third-party vendors or government bodies.
• Upstream = provides inputs/data to CBF‑2; Downstream = receives outputs/actions; Mutual = bidirectional exchange.
• Nature of Dependency described based on BCMpedia guidance: data/report flows via email, CMMS, portal, phone, etc.

Summing Up ... Part 5

Understanding and documenting inter-dependencies is not merely an administrative task—it is a strategic imperative for resilient operations.

By clearly identifying the internal and external entities that a critical business function depends on—or which depend on it—organisations can proactively manage risks, establish contingency measures, and streamline recovery efforts.

This chapter outlines how interdependencies should be categorised, analysed, and maintained as part of the broader business continuity and crisis management framework.

By integrating these insights into continuity planning, organisations can reduce the cascading impacts of disruptions and foster stronger collaboration across all supporting functions and partners.

Implementing Business Continuity Management for Bandtree: A Practical Guide

[Business Impact Analysis] [Part 6]

BIA Questionnaires 

Part 6: Vital Records

Notes for BCM Institute's Course Participants: This is the template for completing the "Part 6: Vital Records."

CBF 2: Infrastructure Operations

In the event of a disruption, access to accurate, complete, and current records is essential for the timely recovery of critical business functions.

Vital Records are those documents, files, or data that are essential for an organisation’s continued operations during and after a crisis, as well as for legal, regulatory, and financial compliance.

These may include contracts, engineering drawings, regulatory permits, emergency response procedures, and digital backups.

For Bandtree, which manages a portfolio of national infrastructure and real estate assets, the integrity and accessibility of vital records are essential not only to service continuity but also to national resilience.

Purpose of Chapter

This chapter identifies and classifies the vital records associated with each Critical Business Function (CBF), with a particular focus on CBF-2: Infrastructure Operations, and defines their respective media formats, storage locations, and custodianship responsibilities.

By systematically documenting and safeguarding vital records, the organisation ensures that it can rapidly resume operations, maintain stakeholder confidence, and comply with legal and regulatory obligations.

Here’s the table for Critical Business Function: CBF‑2 Infrastructure Operations, incorporating the sub‑processes you provided and aligned with the Vital Records structure described in BCMpedia :

Table 6: [BIA] [P6] Vital Records for CBF-2 Infrastructure Operations

Notes on Structure & Content

• Description of Vital Records: Focuses on documents/devices critical to sustaining or restoring each sub‑process—e.g., logs, contracts, blueprints, certificates—mirroring the guidance from BCMpedia
• Media Type: Includes formats like PDF, video, CAD files, spreadsheets, databases, and physical copies, following “document, disk, tape, report” guidelines
• Location: Specifies both primary (onsite — offices, control rooms) and backup/off-site/cloud storage locations.
• In Whose Care: Identifies who within Bandtree is responsible for maintaining and safeguarding these vital records.

Summing Up ... for Part 6

Vital Records management is not a static exercise but an ongoing process that supports the broader objectives of business continuity and crisis preparedness.

For each sub-process within Infrastructure Operations, the precise identification and proper custody of critical documents and data enhance the organisation’s ability to recover efficiently and reduce operational downtime.

By embedding Vital Records identification into daily operational practices and regularly reviewing them as part of BCM and crisis management reviews, Bandtree

demonstrates its commitment to operational resilience and responsible governance.

Ensuring that these records are both protected and accessible under adverse conditions is a fundamental pillar of sustaining infrastructure operations in any crisis scenario.