What is Business Modeling

This chapter describes the tools that businesses can use to create a Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plan. Utilizing business modeling, business impact analysis, risk analysis, and mitigation strategies, businesses can analyze their operations to learn the business critical functions that must be recovered as quickly as possible during any type of disaster. These processes are illustrated using the case study of a hypothetical small manufacturing business located in California. Specific information technology solutions are also discussed and the necessity of integrating them into the overall plan. Businesses that are prepared to face any kind of disaster with an implemented and tested Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plan are much more likely to survive than businesses that do not have such a plan. It is hoped that the contents of this chapter will spur business owners that have not yet adopted such a plan to do so.