Keys to IT Continuity Success

Q1. Could you briefly describe your current role as Global BCP & DR Lead and the types of systems and regions you are accountable for?

In my current role, I am responsible for leading Global IT Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery across several regions. My remit covers both corporate IT and manufacturing environments, and I oversee a broad set of business-critical systems. These include ERP and MES platforms, identity and access management, finance systems, collaboration tools, and applications that are tightly integrated with operational technology and have a direct impact on plant operations.

My responsibilities go well beyond maintaining documentation. I focus on building and sustaining a consistent, repeatable lifecycle for business continuity and disaster recovery. This includes running Business Impact Analyses, defining and implementing recovery strategies, carrying out disaster recovery testing, managing risk acceptance, and providing governance. Each region I support has its own maturity level and risk profile, which adds complexity and requires a tailored approach.

Q2. Many organizations have documented BCP/DR plans—what typically breaks first when a real disruption happens, and why?

In my experience, the first thing to break during a real disruption is rarely the technology itself. Instead, it is usually the assumptions made during…