[OR] Differentiate Critical Vs Important Business Services Vs Critical Operation

Differentiate Critical Vs Important Business Services Vs Critical Operation

Business Service is a service that an organisation provides to an external end-user.

Business services deliver a specific outcome or service to an identifiable user and should be distinguished from business lines or functions, which are a collection of services and activities.

Critical Business Services

If disrupted, CBS is a business service likely to significantly impact the organisation's safety and soundness, its customers or other organisations (within the financial services institution sector) that depend on the business service.

Critical business services refer to the core functions, processes, or activities within an organization that are essential for its survival, ongoing operation, and delivery of key products or services to customers.

These services are vital for the organization's value proposition and may directly impact revenue generation, customer satisfaction, regulatory compliance, or brand reputation.

Critical Business Services in Relation to Operational Resilience

Identifying critical business services is a fundamental step in resilience planning. These services require the highest priority regarding protection, continuity planning, and resource allocation.

Any disruption to these services can severely affect the organization's viability and functionality.

Important Business Services

IBS is a service provided by an organisation, or by another person on behalf of the organisation, to one or more clients which, if disrupted, could:

• cause intolerable harm to any one or more of the organisation’s clients or
• pose a risk to the soundness, stability or resilience of the financial system or the orderly operation of the financial markets.

Critical business services encompass functions or processes that, while not immediately critical for the organization's survival, still hold significant value in supporting its overall operations, customer experience, or stakeholder satisfaction.

These services may not directly impact survival but could affect operational efficiency, customer retention, or regulatory adherence.

Important Business Services in Relation to Operational Resilience

Important business services are secondary in priority compared to critical services but are still vital for sustained operations and customer satisfaction. Resilience planning involves acknowledging and safeguarding these services to ensure a comprehensive continuity and risk management approach.

Critical Operations

Critical Operations is defined as a business output that, if interrupted during the operational period, will cause financial loss, damage, or interruption to the delivery of goods or services essential to the organization’s continued operation or success.

Critical operations pertain to specific activities, systems, or functions within an organization that, if disrupted, could significantly impair the organization's ability to deliver critical business services.

These operations are tightly linked to the functioning of critical business services and are integral components that support their execution.

Critical Operations in Relation to Operational Resilience

Understanding critical operations is essential in resilience planning as it helps pinpoint vulnerabilities and dependencies. Protecting and ensuring the continuity of critical operations are key aspects of maintaining the overall resilience of the organization.

Summing Up ...

Overall, operational resilience requires a nuanced understanding and prioritization of critical business services, important business services, and critical operations.

In the financial services sector, the choice of terminology is subject to the central bank.

By identifying these different tiers of importance, organizations can focus their resources and efforts on ensuring the continuity and robustness of the most critical functions while also addressing and safeguarding other supporting services to enhance overall resilience.

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