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Preparing for Business Disruptions: BCPs, DRPs, and BCDRs

The ability to respond effectively to disruptions is not optional – it’s a necessity. Companies face numerous threats, from cyberattacks and natural disasters to power outages and global pandemics. Experts at the University of Central Florida say, “The Covid-19 pandemic has brought into stark relief the uncertainty that businesses face and the extreme disruptions that can take place.”  In 2020, the U.S. saw 56 percent of organizations (4.7 million) experience a mostly temporary decrease in demand for their products or services, and 19 percent (1.6 million) experienced a relatively short-term government-mandated shutdown. 

You have probably heard of business continuity plans (BCPs) and disaster recovery plans (DRPs), but have you heard of business continuity and disaster recovery plans (BCDRs)? Simply put, a BCDR is a combination of a BCP and a DRP. However, leadership teams must understand the difference between a BCP and a DRP; while they are related, they serve distinct purposes. We’ll talk about general descriptions of each, how they differ, and why combining both into a BCDR is critical for the survival and success of any organization.

Person wearing business suit, standing in front of wall with illustrations and words like “Leadership,” “Idea,” and “Planning.” Text under image reads: "Recently, more and more businesses are moving towards practicing the two disciplines together, asking executives to collaborate on BC and DR practices rather than work in isolation. This has led to combining the two terms into one, BCDR, but the essential meaning of the two practices remains unchanged." – Mesh Flinders, Creative Director, IBM Think


What is a BCP?

A BCP is a proactive strategy designed to ensure that critical business functions can continue during and after a disruption. BCPs focus on maintaining operations, minimizing downtime, and preserving customer trust. These plans often include contingency plans, like how a business will continue operating in a temporary alternate location. They encompass a wide range of scenarios, from minor interruptions (IT glitches) to major crises (hurricane or pandemic).

Key components of a BCP include:

  • Risk Assessment: Identify potential threats and vulnerabilities.
  • Business Impact Analysis (BIA): Determine the effects of disruptions on operations.
  • Continuity Strategies: Outline alternative workflows, backup processes, and resource allocation.
  • Communication Plan: Ensure employees, stakeholders, and customers are informed.
  • Testing and Training: Perform regular drills to validate the plan and ensure staff are prepared.


What is a DRP?

A DRP is a subset of business continuity focused specifically on a company’s response to a catastrophic event, such as a natural disaster, active shooter, or cyberattack. These plans involve the steps a business will take to return to safe and normal operations as soon as possible. DRPs tend to focus on technology, restoring data access and IT infrastructure.

Key components of a DRP include:

  • Data Backup Strategies: Regular backups stored securely, both on-site and off-site.
  • Recovery Time Objectives (RTO): The target time to restore systems.
  • Recovery Point Objectives (RPO): The maximum allowable data loss measured in time.
  • Incident Response: Detailed steps for addressing and mitigating IT-related crises.

Person sitting in dark room looking at five different devices that all have evidence of a cyberattack. Text under image reads: "A cyber resilience strategy is critical for a business’s ability to recover from and continue operating through unexpected interruptions, whether caused by a cyber incident, natural disaster or human-caused event." - Theresa Lanowitz, Chief Cybersecurity Evangelist and Head of Thought Leadership, AT&T Cybersecurity/LevelBlue


Key Differences Between BCPs and DRPs

While BCPs and DRPs are interconnected, they serve different purposes:

1. Scope
  • A BCP addresses the continuity of all business operations.
  • A DRP tends to focus specifically on IT infrastructure and data recovery.
2. Objective
  • BCP aims to minimize overall downtime and ensure operational resilience.
  • DRP seeks to restore systems to full functionality.
3. Implementation
  • BCP involves departments across the organization, such as HR, operations, and customer service.
  • DRP is typically managed by the IT team.

 

Think of it this way: A BCP is about keeping the business open no matter the circumstances, while a DRP is concerned with returning the business to normal as quickly as possible. Combining the two into a ready-to-execute BCDR can make the difference between a business that survives a disaster and one that does not.


Why Companies Need Both a BCP and a DRP

Combining a BCP and DRP into a BCDR is essential because they address different aspects of resilience. A robust BCP without a DRP might leave a company struggling to restore IT systems, leading to prolonged disruptions. Conversely, a DRP without a BCP could restore systems but fail to address broader operational challenges, such as communicating with customers or managing supply chains.

Person in a virtual meeting raising her had to speak. “Cross-training is a crucial leadership strategy for business continuity. It ensures employees can step into multiple roles, keeping operations running during a crisis. This reduces reliance on key individuals, prevents bottlenecks and builds a more adaptable workforce. It’s also a way to develop future leaders, making the organization more resilient and prepared for unexpected challenges.” - Sandeep Jha, Principal Staff Technical Program Manager, LinkedIn


Successes and Failures in Action

Scenario 1: A Company with a BCDR  

Swift Supply Chain Solutions faced a massive cyberattack that encrypted their servers and disrupted operations. Fortunately, the company had a BCDR in place.

Infographic showing picture of cargo ships entering port full of ship containers. Text reads: “Company: Swift Supply Chain Solutions. Industry: Logistics. Swift Supply Chain Solutions faced a massive cyberattack that encrypted their servers and disrupted operations. Fortunately, the company had a BCDR in place. What They Did Right: BCP Execution: Shifted communication to a backup email system, ensuring clients were informed of delays. Activated manual order processing workflows, enabling limited operations. DRP Execution: Restored data from a secure cloud backup within the targeted RTO of 6 hours. Brought IT systems back online in 8 hours, minimizing downtime. Outcome: The company maintained 70 percent operational capacity during the crisis and fully recovered within 24 hours. Customers appreciated their transparency and resilience, resulting in minimal reputational damage.”


Scenario 2: A Company with Only a BCP

City Boutique Retailers experienced a ransomware attack that locked their inventory management system. While their BCP allowed them to continue selling in-store by manually tracking inventory, they lacked a DRP to restore IT systems quickly.

Infographic showing boutique shop selling handbags, shoes, and other accessories. Text reads: “Company: City Boutique Retailers. Industry: Retail. City Boutique Retailers experienced a ransomware attack that locked their inventory management system. While their BCP allowed them to continue selling in-store by manually tracking inventory, they lacked a DRP to restore IT systems quickly. What They Did Right: Implemented manual transaction processes to maintain some level of service. Communicated effectively with customers about limited product availability. What They Did Wrong: Without a DRP, it took two weeks to rebuild their IT infrastructure, leading to significant revenue loss. They underestimated the technical recovery time, which strained relationships with suppliers. Outcome: The prolonged downtime led to a 15 percent drop in revenue and several lost supplier contracts.”


Scenario 3: A Company with Only a DRP

TechNova Solutions experienced a power outage that affected their main office for three days. While their DRP enabled them to restore servers and remote access within hours, they lacked a comprehensive BCP.

Infographic showing picture of several devices. Text reads: “Company: TechNova Solutions. Text reads: "Industry: IT Services. TechNova Solutions experienced a power outage that affected their main office for three days. While their DRP enabled them to restore servers and remote access within hours, they lacked a comprehensive BCP. What They Did Right: IT systems were quickly operational, allowing remote employees to access critical tools. What They Did Wrong: No plan for managing employee availability during the power outage. Delayed communication with clients, leading to confusion and frustration. Outcome: The company faced reputational damage and complaints from key clients, even though their IT systems were functional.”


Final Thoughts: Resilience Requires Both Plans

Business continuity plans and disaster recovery plans are complementary strategies that together ensure an organization’s ability to survive and thrive during disruptions. A BCP keeps business operations afloat, while a DRP restores the technological backbone. Organizations should combine the two plans into a BCDR because neglecting one or the other risks operational paralysis, financial losses, and reputational damage. 

The examples of Swift Supply Chain Solutions, City Boutique Retailers, and TechNova Solutions illustrate the importance of both plans. In a world of unpredictable threats, investing in a BCDR is not just good business practice—it’s essential for long-term success.

 
Related Blogs

Crisis Management: What Went Wrong — and Right — During Major Disasters

How a Disaster Recovery Plan Can Save Your Documents — and Your Company

How CrowdStrike’s Faulty Update Became a Worldwide Wake-Up Call

 
Resources

“Business Continuity Vs. Disaster Recovery: 5 Key Differences.” University of Central Florida. Accessed 1/15/24. https://www.ucf.edu/online/leadership-management/news/business-continuity-vs-disaster-recovery/ 

“Business Response Survey.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2020. Accessed 1/16/25. https://www.bls.gov/brs/2020-results.htm 

Flinders, Mesh. “Business continuity vs. disaster recovery: Which plan is right for you?” IBM. 1/29/24. Accessed 1/15/25. https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/business-continuity-vs-disaster-recovery-plan

Forbes Technology Council. “20 Essential Elements Of A Robust Business Continuity Plan.” Forbes. 1/9/25. Accessed 1/15/25. https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2025/01/09/20-essential-elements-of-a-robust-business-continuity-plan/ 

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