What does business continuity planning (BCP) aim to achieve?

• A. Maximizing profit margins
• B. Preparing an organization to continue essential functions during disruptions
• C. Reducing the number of employees
• D. Eliminating the need for risk assessments

Answer: (B)

Business continuity planning (BCP) aims to ensure that an organization can maintain essential functions during and after a significant disruption, such as natural disasters, cyber-attacks, or other unforeseen events. The core objective of BCP is to create a systematic approach to preventing interruptions to business operations and to outline procedures for maintaining operations in the face of emergencies.

By focusing on critical business functions, BCP helps organizations identify potential threats, assess risks, and develop strategies to mitigate those risks. This proactive approach enables businesses to respond quickly and effectively to disruptions, minimizing downtime and maintaining service delivery, which is essential for sustaining operations and serving customers effectively.

Other options do not encapsulate the primary goal of BCP. For instance, maximizing profit margins is a broader business objective that does not directly relate to the resilience and continuity of operations during crises. Similarly, reducing the number of employees may be a managerial decision unrelated to business continuity, while eliminating risk assessments undermines the very foundation of BCP, as understanding risks is crucial for developing effective continuity strategies.