Reference Library

The implementation of a continuity plan, either partially or fully, to sustain essential functions when normal operations are disrupted.

A general term that is descriptive of planning, operating, equipping, training, and exercising to address the full range of natural, technological, and man-made threats and hazards.

Locations, other than the primary facility, used to carry out essential functions, particularly during emergencies, until normal operations can be resumed.

An analysis of the effects of a disruption on an organization's operations that includes time-sensitive functions, required resources, and an acceptable recovery timeframe.

A step-by-step breakdown of how critical work actually gets done — including who does it, what inputs are required, what systems are used, and what happens if something breaks.

A backup facility that has the necessary infrastructure (power, connectivity, space) to support operations but does not have pre-installed equipment or systems.

The ability of an organization to execute its essential functions continuously, including during disruptions.

Preserving, maintaining, and reconstituting the constitutional framework under which the nation is governed.

An effort within an individual organization to ensure that essential functions continue to be performed during a wide range of emergencies.

A documented set of procedures for sustaining an organization's essential functions during and after a disruption. Your output from this tool.

The individual responsible for developing, maintaining, and testing an organization's continuity plan and procedures.

A program used to document, track, and resolve issues identified through continuity exercises and real-world activations.

The transfer of authority and responsibility for essential functions from an organization's primary staff to other employees, or to another organization, when primary staff are unavailable.

Records that are essential to the continued functioning or reconstitution of an organization during and after an emergency.

The functions that an organization must execute during a disruption to meet its legal obligations, support life safety, or prevent catastrophic failure of dependent systems. The starting point for all COOP planning.

Records needed to perform essential functions, protect rights and interests, and reconstitute after an emergency.

Directives issued by FEMA to establish requirements for continuity planning for federal executive branch organizations. Non-federal organizations use these as best-practice guidance.

A capabilities-based exercise program that provides a standardized methodology and terminology for exercise design, development, conduct, evaluation, and improvement planning.

A fully equipped alternate facility where an organization can relocate immediately and continue operations with minimal downtime.

A formal agreement between two or more organizations defining their relationship and obligations, often used for mutual aid or resource sharing arrangements.

The limited set of organization-level functions that must be continued throughout or resumed rapidly after a disruption.

A systematic, proactive approach to guide departments and agencies to work seamlessly during incidents. GIS teams supporting EOC operations work within this framework.

A plan that provides the policies and procedures to protect lives and property during a building-level emergency.

A continuous cycle of planning, organizing, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating, and taking corrective action to ensure effective coordination.

The process of resuming normal operations at the primary facility after a continuity event has ended.

The ability of an organization to return to normal operations after a disruption.

Duplication of critical systems, components, or functions so that failure of one does not cause failure of the whole.

The ability to adapt to changing conditions and withstand and rapidly recover from disruption.

The potential for loss or harm from a threat exploiting a vulnerability. In COOP planning: what could go wrong, how likely is it, and what is the impact on essential functions?

The process of identifying threats, analyzing vulnerabilities, and determining the likelihood and potential impact of disruptions to essential functions.

Pre-designated individuals authorized to assume key roles when primary leadership is unavailable. Every critical GIS role should have a named successor.

A program to ensure that personnel are trained and ready to execute essential functions, and to validate that continuity plans actually work.

A partially equipped alternate facility that can be operational within hours. Less expensive than a hot site; more ready than a cold site.

A system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present geographic data. The core technology your continuity plan must protect.

The official, approved version of a dataset that should be used as the single source of truth. Identifying which GIS layers are authoritative and where they live is essential to continuity planning.

The process of converting address descriptions to map coordinates. Interruption of geocoding services can halt 911 dispatch, permits, and field operations.

Point features representing physical locations used for 911 dispatch, delivery, and geocoding. Often a GIS department responsibility with life safety implications.

The maximum acceptable length of time that a system, function, or process can be offline before the disruption becomes unacceptable. Define this for each essential GIS function.

The maximum acceptable amount of data loss measured in time. For GIS: how old can your last good data backup be before it's no longer useful?

The pre-designated list of individuals authorized to assume a key position when the primary person is unavailable. Every critical GIS role needs a named order of succession.

Pre-authorized instructions giving individuals the authority to make key decisions — like activating the continuity plan — when normal leadership is unavailable.

The total amount of time a business process can be disrupted without causing unacceptable consequences. MTD is the outer boundary; RTO must be less than MTD.