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What Is a Director of Business Continuity and How to Become One

Director of Business Continuity

What Does a Director of Business Continuity Do?

As a director of business continuity, you develop contingency management plans in the case that a natural disaster, security breach, or another type of emergency affects the daily business operations of a company or organization. Your duties are to direct a team of continuity planners to perform tests of key technical and physical systems under a variety of conditions. The team then develops procedures and protocols to ensure that business operations are not adversely affected and recovery plans are quickly implemented.

What Are Skills and Requirements to Become a Director of Business Continuity?

The requirements and skills needed to become a director of business continuity vary depending on your position and the employer. If you work in finance or the IT sector, your career may involve handling cyber attacks and other cyber incidents. In this position, you need at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or a closely related field, as well as experience in risk management, enterprise risk management, or business continuity. Qualifications for a position at a hospital, on the other hand, may include knowledge of IT, but also skills in disaster management and experience planning with and coordinating employees and technical personnel to deal with environmental emergencies, such as floods or earthquakes.