Business Impact Assessment: Beyond Disaster Recovery

This IDC Perspective explores the diverse applications of a business impact assessment (BIA) document, including its role in tech debt planning, strategic project prioritization, and budgeting. The business impact assessment document is traditionally used as the cornerstone for business continuity and disaster recovery (BC/DR) planning. However, its value extends far beyond these primary functions. By leveraging the insights contained in a BIA, organizations can achieve greater operational efficiency, improve resource allocation, and enhance overall business strategy. "A well-written and complete BIA document can be a powerful interdepartmental communication tool," says Dr. Ken Knapton, adjunct research advisor, IT Executive Programs (IEP) at IDC. "The insights contained within the BIA can drive important enterprisewide discussions regarding cost containment, workflow improvements, risk mitigation, and strategic planning."