By Anthony Areh
The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigerian (ICSAN) has made recommendations to help businesses continue to prosper during and after COVID-19 disruptions.
ICSAN gave the recommendations at a webinar themed: “Business Continuity Planning and Risk Management – during and after COVID-19”.
Speaking at the webinar, Francis Olawale, ICSAN National Treasurer, advised business entities to conduct a business impact analysis (BIA) and choose the business continuity team after identifying objectives of the plan and set goals.
This, he explained, would ensure that a business war chest aimed at preventing dangers and uncertainties with the ability to withstand them in case of eventualities without breakdown or collapse was in place.
“Also, key business areas and its critical functions, pain points and dependencies must be identified.
“Businesses must also create steps to maintain operations, develop a testing and training curriculum and be able to determine ongoing programme maintenance and quality assurance,” he said.
With regards to the ongoing pandemic, Olawale pushed for business adaptation by identifying functions and related resources that were time sensitive.
In working remotely, the ICSAN treasurer urged business entities to beware of cyber-attacks, and create new accounts and access should the need arose.
“Cyber criminals are taking advantage of the fears of the Coronavirus and sending ‘phishing’ emails that try and trick users into clicking on a poisonous link.
“Once clicked, the user is sent to a dodgy website which can download malware onto your computer, or steal passwords.
“If the software to be used at home, it’s different from the one used in the office, you should produce written guides for these features, and test that the software works as described,” he said.
