Abu Dhabi, UAE - 12 May, 2014: Increasing dependency on technology and the current state of political instability in the Middle East have made institutions in the region highly vulnerable to new and emerging threats, warns Ventures Middle East, a leading management consultancy.

"Organizations have traditionally relied on an emergency response plan or a small disaster management committee to deal with crises, but this is no longer sufficient," said Ahmed Riad, Manager of Risk Management and Compliance at Ventures Middle East. "Companies today are exposed to an unprecedented number of threats. In order to survive and remain operational they need to have a systematic plan in place to safeguard business recovery and continuity."

Riad advises companies and institutions to establish a rigorous Business Continuity Management (BCM) program to identify exposure to internal and external risks. Such a plan not only helps to identify and manage current and future threats, he said, but also to mitigate the impact of impending crises.

According to the Business Continuity Institute, 80% of companies without a continuity plan go bankrupt within 13 months of dealing with a disaster. US research firm Gartner also reveals that two out of five companies exposed to crisis situations go out of business within five years.

Riad alluded to a recent Middle East study in which 65% percent of respondents said they had suffered at least one significant business disruption over a year's time. Hardware and software, along with application infrastructures and power failures, were the most common challenges faced.

"Enterprises can mitigate disruptions through an effective BCM program. Indeed, an organization's ability to recover from a disaster depends on the specific BCM approach taken to ensure the company is protected and prepared."

Riad also advises companies wanting to implement a BCM to make sure that the systems they are considering are certified, especially in ISO 22301, and meet international standards. Another vital success parameter, he emphasized, is to ensure BCM is integrated seamlessly into the corporate culture: "Business continuity management is more than just a project that companies work on, it involves embedding the culture of BCM within an organization."

"Some countries have already taken extra measures to spread awareness nationally about the need to ensure organizations' ability to continue operations in the face of crisis, by introducing comprehensive business continuity management programs. A good example of this is the BCM Standard AE/HSC/NCEMA 7000:2012 that has been issued by the UAE National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) - United Arab Emirates," he explained.

ABOUT VENTURES MIDDLE EAST
Ventures Middle East's (VME) Risk Management and Compliance Division (RMC) offers BCM and disaster recovery services for a wide range of organizations and across a broad spectrum of industries. A combination of partnerships with leading technology vendors, such as Clearview (a leading BCM software), and a highly qualified and experienced team with international recognized certifications with deep industry knowledge enable VME to provide high standard solutions that can help assure the continuity of operations in case of natural or man-made interruptions, and facilitate quick and smooth recovery. For more information visit:www.venturesrmc.com

ABOUT BCM - ISO CERTIFICATION
ISO 22301 is the world's first international standard for BCM that has been developed to help organizations minimize the risk of disruptions, whether natural disasters or IT outages. It is part of the overall BCM management system that establishes, implements, monitors, maintains and improves business continuity. The UAE National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA). NCEMA has set its own standards in the area of BCM publishing its first draft (AE/HSC 7000:2012) in English and Arabic.

The advantages for companies that adopt a BCM system with ISO22301 certification include: an operational business continuity plan that is aligned with strategic organizational objectives; a reduction in the cost of business interruption insurance liabilities; an increase of the company's competitive advantage; and protection of business assets and revenue.

For press inquiries contact Wimma Cruz, Tel +971-2-6222455 or email: wimma@ventures-me.com

© Press Release 2014