SOC 2 CC9.1: Risk Mitigation - Risk Mitigation Activities

Run a business impact analysis (BIA) to identify critical business processes, their technology dependencies, and the impact of disruption. For each critical process, determine maximum tolerable downtime, minimum resources for continued operation, and recovery priority relative to other processes. Write a business continuity plan (BCP) covering how you'll maintain critical operations during various scenarios: technology failures, natural disasters, pandemics, supply chain disruptions, and cyber attacks. Include alternative processing arrangements, communication plans, and resource allocation. Build disaster recovery capabilities for critical systems. Set up redundant infrastructure in geographically separate locations, automated failover for critical services, tested recovery procedures with documented RTOs and RPOs, and regular DR exercises that prove you can actually recover. Get appropriate cyber insurance. Your policy should cover data breach costs, business interruption, regulatory fines, legal defence, and notification expenses. Review coverage limits annually against your risk profile and potential exposure. Understand the exclusions and requirements - policies often have conditions around security controls that you need to meet for claims to be valid. Set vendor continuity requirements. Critical vendors need to provide their own BCP and DR documentation. Include continuity requirements in contracts, assess preparedness during due diligence, and have contingency plans for critical vendor failures including identified alternatives. Test the BCP at least annually through tabletop exercises, functional exercises, or full-scale tests. Document results, identify gaps, and update the plan. Make sure everyone knows their role during a disruption.