Few Mid-Sized Businesses Have Tested Their Continuity Plans, New Study Finds

Business Continuity Plans: Common but Untested

Does your company have a business continuity plan (BCP)? If so, have you tested it recently?

If you answered “yes” to the first question but “no” to the second, you’re not alone. Recent studies show that many mid-sized businesses either lack a formal continuity plan—or have one that has never been put to the test.

Only 49% of businesses globally have a documented business continuity plan. Even more alarming, a significant percentage of those have never tested their plan to see if it actually works.

 

The Reality: Most Continuity Plans Fail When Tested

Even when businesses do test their plans, many fail due to gaps in execution, planning, or alignment with current operations. Some of the most common reasons include:

• Outdated systems that don’t match current business needs
• Inflexible or unrealistic scenarios (e.g., only planning for “no access to the office”)
• Poor communication during a crisis, with unclear roles or instructions
• Assumptions about people, processes, or tools that are no longer valid
• Plans that haven’t been updated in over a year
• Generic templates with little customization for the business
• No testing or simulation exercises to identify problems before a real incident

 

What’s at Stake: The Cost of Inaction

The risk of not having a functional, tested continuity plan is significant. Statistics show:

• 40% of businesses never reopen after a disaster
• 25% of businesses fail within one year of a major disruption or data loss

Many mid-sized organizations operate in “fire drill mode,” where continuity planning is constantly pushed down the priority list. But operating without a tested plan is a risk few businesses can afford—especially in today’s threat landscape of ransomware, outages, and unexpected downtime.

 

The Good News: You Don’t Have to Figure It Out Alone

Business continuity isn’t about preventing every disruption—it’s about ensuring your business survives and recovers quickly and effectively. That starts with:

• Creating a realistic and up-to-date continuity plan
• Regular testing and simulations
• Assigning clear roles and communication protocols
• Reviewing and revising annually (or more frequently) as the business evolves

At Novatech, we help mid-sized businesses design and test continuity plans that actually work. From risk assessments to table-top exercises, our experts ensure your organization is prepared—without disrupting your daily operations.

 

Is Your Business Ready?

If it’s been over a year since your last continuity review—or if you’ve never tested your plan—now is the time to take action.

Let’s make sure your business is protected from the unexpected. Reach out to the Novatech team to schedule a business continuity consultation today.