Continuity of Operations planning provides comprehensive responses to a variety of potential disruptions to business processes. These disruptions can be caused by anything from minor or major weather-related or other environmental natural disasters, disruptions in electrical power or communications networks, to man-made interruptions that range from network intrusions, fire or water damage to criminal or terrorist attacks of all sorts.

The most significant part of the process is to ensure that the plan will work if it is ever needed, including the human resource element. For instance the plan should identify key personnel, and they should be well-trained how to implement the plan. Furthermore, should any of the key personnel be unavailable, the plan should be thorough and intuitive enough for replacements to carry out the assigned activity.

Other information that can go in such a plan is information about the tangible assets that may have to be moved or replaced in the event of a disruption, its replacement cost, insurance coverage, etc. A detailed understanding of the content and location of tangible assets is critical for such a plan, as well. Recovering quickly and thoroughly from any form of disruption in business can mean the difference between recovery and unplanned business failure.