In-depth: Managing risk in association with BT

Welcome

Managing risk is a programme of events sponsored by BT which will focus on the increasingly critical discipline of risk management. It’s a topic that is rapidly moving up the priority list for senior decision-makers in all both public and private sectors.

Your vital information is at risk from a range of threats. Technology, human error, criminal acts and forces of nature which all combine to create a myriad of concerns for organisations

Ray Stanton Head of Global Security and Business Continuity, BT

Risk has always been part of business. But today, and as we look into the future, the risks seem more significant than ever. Businesses have become increasingly alert to the vital importance of risk management over the past decade, and the events of the last months, for example, the recent turmoil in the credit markets, loss of data by Government departments and the events at Societe General, underline why risk management will rise even higher up the executive agenda.

Technology has played a part in this. Networks and IT are the nervous system of business. Downtime to IT means downtime to the business.

Today, your vital information is at risk from a range of threats. Technology, human error, criminal acts and forces of nature which all combine to create a myriad of concerns for organisations. Research by the Economist Intelligence Unit shows that 52 per cent of organisations think that the risks they face will be more severe in a decade’s time.

Whilst aspects of IT security are increasingly understood it is humans, time and time again, who prove to be the weakest link either through negligence or malicious intent. External threats such as hackers, viruses, floods, natural disasters and terrorism make business continuity a critical part of any operational strategy; as does guarding against the prospect of a worker putting a spade through a vital cable.

Losses as a result of any of these threats occurring to a business make risk management a central part of its operations strategy and good corporate governance.

The World Economic Forum recently highlighted in its 2008 Global Risks report that while many current and emerging risks cannot be avoided, they can be better understood, managed and mitigated.

At BT we work with many organisations on how to avoid the pitfalls that are associated with risk. Our experience is our client's opportunity. BT operates and secures one of the world’s largest and most complex communications infrastructures and understands the challenges surrounding risk management. Plus we’re a key part of the UK’s critical national infrastructure.

Through the managing risk programme we hope to share some of our insights and experiences. We hope you find this site useful and interesting. It will be the central resource for the programme and will include up-to-the-minute information on news, special events, best practice, useful tools and case studies.

Please take time to explore the site and its resources and send us your comments via the forum's message board. We look forward to hearing what you have to say.

Yours sincerely

Ray Stanton, Head of Global Security and Business Continuity, BT
Ray Stanton
Head of BT's global business continuity,
security and governance practice