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The Business Continuity Institute USA Chapter and BSI America join forces

15 July 2008

The Business Continuity Institute (BCI) USA Chapter and BSI America have joined forces to help U.S. businesses better prepare for disaster by encouraging the adoption of the international business continuity management standard, BS 25999. The partnership will encourage businesses large and small, as well as municipal, state and federal government agencies, to adopt best practices concerning business continuity and disaster recovery planning.

The BS 25999 standard was introduced in 2006 by BSI, the world's first national standards body, to provide the best practices for organisational business continuity. BS 25999 has become the most widely accepted and robust standard of its kind around the world. BCI and BSI will use their respective strengths of certifying the individual practitioner and auditing the organisation to provide a service to businesses of all sizes, i.e., helping them better prepare for, and able to recover more quickly from, disasters.

"BCI and BSI are both thought leaders in the business continuity industry and strong proponents of the business continuity management standard BS 25999, so this partnership is a natural fit," said Kathleen Lucey, president, BCI USA Chapter. "Although there is currently no law that mandates such practices, the guidelines set forth by Title IX, Private Sector Preparedness, strongly encourage small- and medium-sized businesses to develop a current and well-rehearsed plan to be prepared for unforeseen events, and both organisations want to help them accomplish that important task."

The partnership will be formally launched in the fall of 2008 in New York City at the first annual BCI USA Chapter workshop, followed by regional events, support for regional continuity and disaster recovery planner events, and other educational forums. In addition to sharing their expertise for the good of the community, BCI and BSI will offer cross-partnership discounts on products and training.

"With the Title IX initiative getting closer to implementation, many businesses are taking a closer look at their business continuity and disaster recovery plans," said Greg Pearsons, president, BSI America. "The BCI USA Chapter is a highly reputed and professional organisation and we are proud to be working with them to help ensure that necessary steps are being taken to assist businesses in avoiding irreparable damage during and after a time of crisis."