The Client and Its Challenge
A global fashion retailer needed to integrate its business continuity and information technology (IT) disaster recovery plans. Without a common set of priorities and goals for both plans, the retailer faced the risk of unnecessary financial losses during the recovery period following a business disruption or disaster.

The Risk Consulting Solution
Marsh’s Risk Consulting Practice began the integration process with a business impact analysis (BIA) to identify the possible effects of a business disruption or disaster upon the retail organization. The BIA focused on three critical elements of the client’s business: keeping the stores open, product distribution/replenishment, and payroll. By limiting the scope to these three areas, Marsh was able to complete the assessment efficiently and within the client’s timeline and budget. The BIA established recovery time objectives (RTOs) of key business processes, uncovered recovery gaps, and determined integration levels with the existing IT disaster recovery plan.

Once Marsh consultants identified gaps in recovery priorities between the organization’s needs and the existing IT disaster recovery plan, the team worked closely with the company to reconcile its recovery priorities and update plans as necessary. In addition, Marsh consultants identified and recommended several manual work-around procedures that extended the RTOs for less critical information systems, adding to the resiliency of the business continuity plan.

Results
With a strengthened and integrated set of business continuity and IT disaster recovery plans, the client reduced its expected recovery period and potential financial impact. In addition, the client’s IT, business, and risk management organizations gained a proven methodology to review and maintain their recovery plans. By applying a consistent business continuity methodology across all business functions, the client ensured that its most critical operating needs would be supported and protected in the event of a business disruption.