Getting Started with BCaaS: MHA’s Approach to Business Continuity as a Service

The near-universal adoption of the software as a service (SaaS) model for computer applications has led to the emergence of the parallel term “business continuity as a service,” or BCaaS. In today’s post we’ll look at what BCaaS is, how it can benefit your organization, and how MHA Consulting approaches this fast-growing area

[Related: We’ve Got Your Back: How MHA’s Program Augmentation
Service Can Boost Your BC Program] 

How SaaS Paved the Way for BCaaS

Tools such as Salesforce CRM, Microsoft 365, Zoom, and Workday have made the SaaS model—in which a scalable application is hosted on the web, regularly updated, and priced by subscription—familiar to almost everyone. 

The public’s familiarity with and acceptance of this model has led other industries to rebrand their own offerings using similar terminology, even when the connection with the original can be hard to spot.

There is no harm in this. There might even be some benefit if the new language offers people easy onramps to otherwise unfamiliar subjects.

When it comes to BC as a Service, two things can be said with confidence: 1) The only thing new about it is the name. And 2) BCaaS can indeed be hugely valuable and cost-effective for organizations of all types and sizes that are interested in handing off some or all of the responsibility for ensuring their resilience. 

Another trend feeding into the current moment is that of companies’ outsourcing tasks  outside their areas of core competency, such as security and payroll. In most cases, BC is another such task. 

However you slice it—whatever you want to call it—MHA and other BC consultancies are ready to help organizations protect themselves against threats of all types.

From here on, I’ll talk specifically about MHA’s approach to BCaaS, since that’s the one I know the most about.  

Tailored Resilience: MHA’s Flexible Approach to BCaaS

At MHA, our approach to BCaaS is characterized by two things. We want to learn what your needs and goals are so we can help you meet them (rather than seeking to impose a pet, one-size-fits-all solution). And in the absence of direction to the contrary, we start every engagement with a BC methodology that we have found to be successful over the years—and modify it as we get to know your organization’s culture and capabilities. 

We are also willing and able to provide as much or as little BC service as you like, something that can’t be said of every consultancy.

We can build your program from scratch, manage it from end to end, and/or put out spot fires.

We can be the entire BC office or supplement the BC office.

Do you want someone to design and implement a BC program then hand it off to your in-house staff to run? We’ve done that for many other organizations and could do it for yours. 

Are you interested in having someone take on the chore of maintaining your program over the long term? We provide that service for a number of well-known corporations and could do it for your organization.

In terms of content, our focus is always on items that are needed to be functionally prepared and recoverable. 

And we cover the full spectrum of BC program areas, from governance and crisis management to business recovery, IT disaster recovery (IT/DR), and vendor management.

Getting Started with BCaaS: What to Consider Before You Engage

If you’re considering BCaaS, the first thing you should do is look in the mirror. You need to take stock of your organization’s needs and internal appetite for involvement.

Some organizations want to own the business continuity program themselves. Others would prefer to hand off as much of the responsibility as possible. Many fall somewhere in between.

What level of engagement do you want to have with your BC program? As the answer to that question comes into focus, you can start thinking about the level of external support that would be most useful.

Some organizations have a BC manager and need help with execution. Others are looking for a strategic partner to run the program entirely. Still others want someone to build a program, stand it up, and then step aside. At MHA, we’ve worked in each of these models.

Whatever the structure, one thing is always true: your organization must designate a clear business continuity point of contact. This person doesn’t need to be doing the work themselves, but they do need to be in a position to facilitate introductions, advocate for the program internally, and serve as a liaison when decisions or escalations arise.

At some point, you’ll be ready to move from self-assessment to seeking a BCaaS provider. For the best results, shop around. You’re not looking for the “best” BC consultancy (there’s no such thing). You’re looking for a firm that is a good fit for your organization in terms of resources, industry, culture, and goals. 

Look for someone with experience in your industry and with organizations the same size as yours. You’ll also want to make sure the firm is willing and able to provide the kind of support you’re seeking, whether that’s to set the program up then step aside or maintain it over the long term.

For more information on what MHA brings to the table (in terms of experience, staff, and technology), have a look at last week’s post from MHA CEO Michael Herrera, “We’ve Got Your Back: How MHA’s Program Augmentation Service Can Boost Your BC Program.”

BCaaS: A Smart Solution for Resilient Organizations

Business Continuity as a Service (BCaaS) is the trendy new name for a timeless service: the use of expert outside help to improve an organization’s resilience. Whatever you call it, BCaaS allows organizations to hand off all or part of their continuity needs, allowing them to focus on their core competencies, often achieving better solutions at reduced expense. 

At MHA, we believe the best BCaaS solutions are built on flexibility, partnership, and a deep understanding of the client’s culture and environment. If you’re exploring ways to enhance or offload your continuity responsibilities, we’d be happy to talk about how we can support your goals on your terms.

Further Reading

• We’ve Got Your Back: How MHA’s Program Augmentation Service Can Boost Your BC Program.
• Business Continuity Consulting: Now Available in Select-a-Size
• Want to Get Better at Crisis Management? Start with Culture
• Trust, But Verify: 7 Best Practices for Managing Vendor Risk
• The 6 Toughest Challenges in BC (and How Software Can Help Tame Them)