How to Identify and Manage Critical Business Functions (SMB Guide)
Critical Business Functions (CBFs) jsou klíčové procesy, bez kterých firma nemůže fungovat – například fakturace, zákaznický servis, výroba nebo IT podpora. Zaměření na ně je středem Business Continuity (BCM) a pomáhá minimalizovat dopady výpadků.
Why SMBs Should Care About Critical Business Functions
- Identifying CBFs helps focus your resources on what truly matters during disruptions (downtime, cashflow, compliance, reputation) :contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}.
- SMBs often lack formal plans – a simple CBF inventory gives clarity fast and cheaply.
- Recognition from partners, insurers, and regulators: “Identify Critical Business Functions” is a common requirement.
Step-by-Step: How to Identify Your Critical Business Functions
- List all business functions: invoice processing, sales, supply chain, customer support, etc. :contentReference[oaicite:24]{index=24}.
- Assess criticality: use criteria like sensitivity to downtime, financial/legal impacts, reputational risks, and regulatory obligations :contentReference[oaicite:25]{index=25}.
- Prioritize: categorize as High / Medium / Low based on impact.
- Specify attributes: for each function, determine RTO (recovery time objective), owner, dependencies, and key systems.
- Document in one place: keep functions in a CBF inventory – make it accessible to the team.
Building Your Critical Business Functions Organizer
Use this structure to maintain clarity and readiness:
- Name
- Owner
- RTO (Recovery Time Objective)
- Impact (financial, reputational, compliance)
- Dependencies (systems, suppliers, people)
- Priority (High/Medium/Low)
- Category (e.g., Sales, Operations, IT)
- Notes
How This Fits Into Your BCM Strategy
The CBF organizer feeds your Business Impact Analysis (BIA), which helps set your recovery strategies and playbooks. It ties directly into your Risk Inventory (threats to CBFs), Incident Management (what happened & recovery), and Compliance (proof of readiness).
Why Aptien Makes This Easy
- One-place organizer for CBFs with RTO, ownership, priorities and dependencies.
- Link CBF entries to your existing Risk Inventory – map threats to CBFs.
- Automatically generate playbooks or checklists for recovery scenarios based on your CBF entries.
- Save time with templates and guided workflows – no need for Excel or manual sync.
Quick Start Checklist
- Identify 5–10 critical functions with RTO and owner assigned
- Rank each function High/Medium/Low based on impact
- List dependencies for each
- Link to risks and add to incident response plan
- Test at least one function recovery plan within 30 days