Top 10 questions to ask when Choosing the right business continuity platform
In today’s environment of heightened risk, operational complexity, and regulatory scrutiny, selecting the right business continuity platform is more than a technical decision—it’s a strategic imperative. Whether you’re a Business Continuity Manager ensuring plan effectiveness, a Risk Officer safeguarding compliance, or an IT Disaster Recovery (DR) leader striving for uninterrupted service delivery, your organization’s resilience depends on having the right tools in place.
Everbridge delivers a business resilience advantage with High Velocity CEM™, protecting organizations from the impact of critical events. By combining market-leading innovation, decision-ready risk intelligence, and full lifecycle automation, Everbridge ensures that managing critical events is as easy as 1-2-3. Only Everbridge helps organizations know earlier, respond faster, and improve continuously.
Selecting the right business continuity platform is a significant decision with long-term implications. It’s therefore essential to ask the right questions to ensure that the chosen solution aligns with your organization’s unique needs. To simplify your due diligence process, we’ve compiled the top 10 questions to ask potential business continuity vendors, along with valuable insights to guide your evaluation.
1. How does the platform centralize data and processes?
A strong platform should consolidate all business continuity, disaster recovery, and risk data into a single system. Centralization ensures consistency by using key data sources, reduces silos, improves visibility, and streamlines decision-making during disruptions.
What to ask:
- What type of templates are provided out of the box to get me started?
- Can the platform integrate data from existing tools like HR, facilities management, IT CMDB, risk management, and incident management solutions?
- Are there standardized import templates to manage my data?
- Does the platform provide an enterprise impact map with a unified view of dependencies and risks in my organization?
- Can I visually see upstream and downstream dependencies to understand single points of failure and critical assets?
- Can the data be segmented between business and IT DR?
- Does the platform provide standard summary reports and dashboards to see the health and status of my program and gaps to be addressed?
2. How configurable and adaptable is the platform?
The platform should be flexible enough to meet your organization’s unique needs while allowing for future growth and changes.
What to ask:
- Can I add new data tables and fields to match my organizational data?
- Are templates, calculations, and reports modifiable?
- How easily can I create new assessment templates, plan templates, and reports?
- Can I enhance a template and retain historical information and responses?
- Do I need technical expertise to apply changes to my templates, calculations, and reports? Does this require engagement with the vendor or a third party?
- Will I still receive upgrades and enhancements if I made configuration changes or modified templates?
3. Does the platform support regulatory compliance?
Compliance is a critical component of business continuity and disaster recovery. The platform should help you meet standards like ISO 22301, FFIEC, FCA, DORA, and SOC 2 while simplifying audit preparation.
What to ask:
- Does the platform provide audit logging of Business Continuity (BC)/DR activities?
- Will I receive updated templates and reports that align with regulatory requirements?
- Is there an automated workflow to alert users when information requires attention or updating?
- Can I easily generate compliance reports to provide to auditors and examiners?
4. What pre-built resources and templates does the platform offer?
Look for platforms that provide ready-to-use templates and workflows aligned with industry standards to save time and ensure consistency.
What to ask:
- Are the templates aligned with industry standards and best practices?
- Do they cover key areas like impact assessments, planning, testing, risk management, and reporting?
- Can templates be easily configured without technical expertise?
- Can I easily modify dropdown options to align with my terminology and resource types?
5. Dependencies
Understanding dependencies is key to effective recovery planning. The platform should visualize upstream and downstream dependencies and identify single points of failure.
What to ask:
- Can I configure the dependency view to see what matters to me?
- Are orphaned records and critical dependencies easily viewable?
- Does the platform provide tools to assess the impact of failures across the organization?
- Can I filter and see key asset dependencies at multiple levels?
- Are dependencies considered when testing my plans?
- Can I see where there are gaps in my response and recovery times for key dependencies such as applications and suppliers?
6. What type of reporting is available in the platform?
All tasks are not the same and should be dynamic based on the response phases and plan type they are associated with.
What to ask:
- Does the platform provide out-of-the-box reports for Business Impact Analysis, Plans, Risks, and Testing?
- Can I create new reports?
- Can reports be automatically sent to stakeholders without manual intervention?
- Are gaps for recovery time objectives (RTOs) easily identified (i.e. application recovery, supply chain, exercises)?
- Are summary reports available to roll data up to location, business entity, or executive leader/stakeholder?
- Can non-licensed users access copies of plans?
- Does the platform provide standard summary reports and dashboards to see the health and status of my program and gaps to be addressed?
7. What automation capabilities does the platform offer?
Automation reduces manual effort and ensures consistency. The platform should support automated workflows for creating, updating, and approving plans, as well as testing and tracking results.
What to ask:
- Can the platform automate alerts, testing, and reporting?
- Does it include automated workflows for cross-departmental collaboration?
- Can workflows be modified based on my organizational settings and frequency for updates?
- Can the platform escalate delinquent activities to leadership for higher levels of visibility and accountability?
8. How does the platform support program visibility?
Dashboards and analytics are essential for tracking program health and readiness. The platform should provide real-time insights and executive-level reporting.
What to ask:
- Can it generate reports that communicate ROI and resilience metrics to stakeholders?
- Does it offer dashboards to visualize program health and readiness?
- Can I create or modify my own reports or do I need to engage with the vendor?
- Can I track the progress of recovery when conducting an exercise/test?
9. Does the planning platform provide integration with critical event management?
Integrating planning with critical event management is essential because it bridges the gap between proactive preparedness and real-time response. Together, they create a seamless, end-to-end approach for managing disruptions, ensuring the plan information is accessible, visible, and leveraged for response activities.
What to ask:
- Does the platform provide automated integration between planning and critical event management for free?
- What information is available from my BIA (Business Impact Analysis) and plan to help make informed decisions regarding impact?
- Can I see the dependencies and resources required for recovery?
- Can I activate plan response strategies and track recovery tasks being completed?
- Does my executive team understand why incidents were invoked and see incident trends over time?
- Does the platform show my team which services to restore and in what order during an incident?
10. What training and support are available?
Even the most intuitive platform requires training and support. The vendor should offer resources to ensure smooth onboarding and long-term success.
What to ask:
- What onboarding and training options are included?
- Is ongoing support available to address future needs and challenges?
- Is support a paid service or included in the subscription?
- Do I need to engage with a third-party vendor for support or changes to myprogram and what is the cost?
- Are there self-service training sessions available if I want to expand my use of theplatform?
- Do I need a license for test participants and infrequent users such as plan or BIAapprovers?
- How long is a typical implementation?
Making a well-informed decision
Choosing the right business continuity platform isn’t just about features; it’s about finding a reliable partner. By asking these 10 questions, you’ll be equipped to identify the best solution for your organization’s needs, ensuring resilience and operational continuity for years to come.
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Corporate travel spending is projected to surpass $2 trillion globally by 2029. However, organizations are facing an increasingly complex threat landscape that presents risks to employee safety.
These threats include geopolitical instability, which can lead to sudden travel disruptions; cyber threats targeting sensitive corporate data; and natural disasters exacerbated by climate change.
For organizations with duty of care obligations, building a comprehensive travel risk management (TRM) program isn’t just good practice; it’s essential for protecting employees and business continuity.
A travel risk management program provides systematic processes to identify, assess, and mitigate risks that could impact traveling employees. Today’s organizations must adapt their TRM plans and travel policies to keep up with evolving threats.
This guide provides a clear roadmap for developing your organization’s TRM program, covering risk assessment, policy development, technology integration, and implementation of best practices.
Understanding today’s travel risks
The modern risk landscape is multifaceted and constantly changing. To build an effective program, you must know the primary threats your travelers may face:
- Political instability: Civil unrest, protests, and sudden changes in government can create hazardous conditions.
- Health emergencies: Pandemics, regional outbreaks, and inadequate medical infrastructure pose significant health risks.
- Natural disasters: Events like hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires can disrupt travel and endanger employees.
- Cybersecurity threats: Travelers are often targeted through unsecured Wi-Fi networks, leading to data breaches and intellectual property theft. AI is also used to drive a variety of increasingly complex cyberattacks.
- Transportation disruptions: Airline strikes, infrastructure failures, and severe weather can leave employees stranded.
Inadequate travel risk management carries severe financial and reputational consequences. A single incident can lead to costly evacuations, medical expenses, lost productivity, and lasting damage to a brand’s reputation as a responsible employer.
5 steps to building your travel risk management program
Effective TRM programs require structured frameworks that integrate across multiple organizational functions and align with global best practices, such as the ISO 31030:2021 standard for travel risk management. This standard provides a comprehensive framework for managing travel-related risks and ensuring employee safety.
Here are the steps to create a program:
1. Policies and procedures
Establish comprehensive policies guided by ISO 31030:2021 to define pre-travel approval processes, destination risk classifications, and mandatory security protocols. These policies should specify when travel requires additional approvals, the security measures needed for different risk levels, and how employees should respond to emerging threats.
2. Pre-travel briefings and training
Implement pre-travel briefings and mandatory training programs to ensure employees are aware of destination-specific risks and understand how to access support resources. Reinforce employee awareness of relevant travel policies, communication protocols, and resources available before, during, and after travel.
TRM program socialization and adoption is vital. ISO 31030 emphasizes the importance of effective communication and training to promote compliance.
3. Roles and responsibilities
Define clear roles and responsibilities across departments, including security, human resources, internal communications, travel management, and legal teams. Following ISO 31030 guidelines, each function should have clearly outlined duties for both routine operations, training, and emergency situations. Corporate travelers have a responsibility to be aware of their organization’s program, the available resources, and what is expected of them.
4. Duty of care obligations
Address duty of care obligations by establishing documentation procedures, incident reporting protocols, and legal compliance frameworks in line with ISO 31030:2021 standards. For example, the standard supports integrating due diligence into risk management systems and maintaining public reporting on traveler welfare, for example, compliance with regulations like the EU’s corporate sustainability reporting directive (CSRD).
5. Evaluate your program
Successful TRM programs require ongoing evaluation and refinement based on incident data, employee feedback, and changing risk environments.
Track key performance indicators including incident response times, traveler compliance rates, policy utilization metrics, and cost per incident. Use these metrics as the baseline for measuring your program’s effectiveness and ROI.
Ask key questions to evaluate your program, such as: Can you locate all traveling employees within 15 minutes? Do you have pre-established evacuation procedures for each destination? Are employees trained on communication protocols during emergencies? Have you tested your incident response procedures and technologies through tabletop exercises?
By leveraging the ISO 31030:2021 framework, organizations can create robust, globally recognized TRM programs that prioritize traveler safety while meeting duty of care requirements.
Enhancing business traveler safety with technology
Manual processes are no longer sufficient for managing the complexities of modern business travel. Comprehensive TRM platforms automate and centralize critical safety functions, providing a significant return on investment.
Everbridge Travel Protector™ is a comprehensive travel risk management solution designed to ensure the safety and well-being of traveling and remote employees. Key features and benefits include:
- 360° Threat awareness: Provides real-time risk intelligence, pre-trip advisories, and alerts for travelers, including those in high-risk areas or with critical travel plans.
- Location awareness & alerts: Tracks travelers via mobile app check-ins, travel reservations, and advanced search capabilities, enabling quick identification of those at risk.
- Traveler safety App: Offers a mobile app with travel risk intelligence, emergency contact options, and educational resources to minimize risks.
- 24/7 Medical & security assistance: Access to multilingual support for medical and security emergencies, ensuring rapid response during crises.
- Integration with Critical Event Management (CEM): Part of Everbridge’s CEM platform, it unifies travel data, automated alerts, and dynamic location tracking for seamless risk management.
- Compliance with ISO 31030: Helps organizations meet international travel risk management standards, enhancing duty-of-care obligations.
Everbridge Travel Protector is ideal for organizations prioritizing employee safety and operational resilience in a hybrid workforce.
See how Burns & McDonnell uses Everbridge to improve global employee safety by managing weather emergencies, safeguarding travelers, and protecting operations.
Not sure how to assess travel risk management solutions? Download our free eBook to simplify your decision with 20+ key questions and must-have features for safer, smarter business travel.
Strengthening organizational resilience through strategic investment
Building an effective travel risk management program requires systematic attention to risk assessment, policy development, technology integration, and continuous improvement. Organizations that invest in comprehensive TRM capabilities protect their employees while maintaining competitive advantages in global markets.
The rapidly evolving threat landscape, particularly the increase in cyber-attacks and new regulatory requirements, makes robust TRM programs essential for organizational resilience.
Companies that implement effective programs reduce incident frequency, minimize disruption costs, and demonstrate their commitment to employee safety and regulatory compliance.
Ready to see how Everbridge can transform your TRM program? Take a personalized tour of our comprehensive solution and discover how leading organizations protect their travelers while maintaining operational excellence.
