Compliance guide

Business Continuity Plan Examples

The quickest way to write a business continuity plan is to see worked examples. This guide walks through disruption scenarios and sample responses so you can draft your own playbook. What we can fill for you now is the signed policy that sits above the plan. A tailored playbook is a later product. Prefer a blank structure? Use our business continuity plan template.

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Last updated 24 August 2026

Key takeaways

Good BCP examples are scenario-based: they name a disruption and spell out the response.
The strongest plans are short and specific, a clear playbook beats a 60-page document.
Each scenario should map to a recovery time (RTO) and who's responsible.
Use the worked examples below as a starting point. We can fill a signed policy for you now; a tailored plan is a later product.

What a good business continuity plan example looks like

Whether it's a sample BCP for a small business or an IT business continuity plan, the best examples share the same traits:

Scenario-driven, organised around realistic disruptions, not abstract theory.
Action-oriented, clear first steps someone can follow under pressure.
Owned, each action has a named role responsible.
Time-bound, tied to recovery objectives (RTOs).
Tested, refined through tabletop exercises, not written once and filed.

Worked examples: common disruption scenarios

Here are sample scenarios and responses you can adapt for your own plan:

Example 1, IT / system outage

Trigger: core systems down. First steps: invoke the plan, switch to manual/backup process, notify customers. Recover from last backup (RPO 1 hour), target RTO 4 hours. Owner: IT lead.

Example 2, cyber incident (ransomware)

Trigger: suspected ransomware. First steps: isolate affected systems, trigger incident response, preserve evidence. Restore clean backups; notify per breach rules. Owner: incident manager.

Example 3, loss of premises

Trigger: site inaccessible (fire/flood). First steps: account for staff, switch to remote work or alternate site, redirect calls/mail. Owner: operations manager.

Example 4, key supplier failure

Trigger: critical supplier can't deliver. First steps: activate alternate supplier, communicate with affected customers, adjust commitments. Owner: procurement lead.

Example 5, loss of key people

Trigger: key staff unavailable. First steps: activate cross-trained cover, prioritise critical tasks using documented procedures. Owner: department head.

Scenario to response, at a glance

A simple way to summarise your plan, one row per disruption:

Disruption	Continuity strategy	Typical RTO
IT / system outage	Backups + manual workaround	Hours
Cyber incident	Isolate, restore clean backups	Hours to days
Loss of premises	Remote work / alternate site	1 day
Key supplier failure	Alternate supplier / buffer stock	Days
Loss of key people	Cross-training / documented procedures	Immediate

Get the editable business continuity plan sample

We'll email the Business Continuity Policy pack (Word template plus how-to). A playbook file is not included yet. Use the scenarios on this page to draft your own plan.

Frequently asked questions

Are these business continuity plan examples free?+

Yes. The worked scenarios and the scenario-to-response summary are free to use and adapt. What we email today is the policy pack; a playbook file is not included yet. The paid option is a branded signed policy, not a tailored plan.

Can I use one of these examples for my business?+

Use them as a starting point. The scenarios are common to most businesses, but you should adjust the triggers, owners and recovery times to match how you actually operate.

What does a simple business continuity plan example include?+

At minimum: your critical activities, the main disruption scenarios, the response and owner for each, recovery time objectives, and a contact/call tree. Our template lays this out in full.

Do you have an IT-specific example?+

Yes, the IT/system outage and cyber incident scenarios above cover the IT (disaster recovery) side. For the underlying controls, see our cyber security and incident response guides.

Prefer the business continuity policy done for you?

We can fill a branded, signed business continuity policy for US$99. A playbook with recovery times is a later product. Start here if a buyer asked for the policy first.

Request my policy

Requests for the business continuity plan are reviewed and prepared manually, we'll follow up by email.

Get a branded Business Continuity Policy

We fill a signed 1 to 2 page policy for US$99. Usually delivered within the hour. A playbook is a later product.

Business Continuity Policy

A branded business continuity policy, signed and ready to upload. (US$99)

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