INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLANS
Despite the efforts of each business, state and local government and federal agency to renovate, validate, and implement their mission-critical information systems, the financial industry remains vulnerable to the disruption of its business processes. Because most companies in the financial industry are highly dependent on information technology to carry out their business, a business disruption induced failure of one or more mission critical system(s) may have a severe impact on a financial services firm’s ability to deliver core business services.
Because of these risks, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has implemented programs to attempt to mitigate the risks associated with business failures in the financial industry which would be caused by an event causing a failure to deliver financial services as a result of a significant business disruption. Specifically, the SEC has required that each FINRA member to create and maintain business continuity plans.
Ultimately, the business continuity planning process focuses on reducing the risk of business failures resulting from business disruptions. It safeguards a company’s ability to produce a minimum acceptable level of outputs and services in the event of failures of internal or external mission-critical information systems and services. While it does not offer a long-term solution to all situations, which create a significant business disruption, it will help Sutter Securities, Inc., (“SSI” or the “Firm”) to prepare for a potential crisis.