Business Continuity Plan Examples from the Front Lines

What are the biggest risks companies are facing right now worldwide? They are cyber incidents, operational disruptions, and climate-driven disasters. None are surprises.

As organizations push forward with digital transformation and global expansion, they’re continually finding themselves more exposed. The systems they rely on are, in the meantime, becoming more complex. And they need to be. The stakes are higher. Business continuity is now about whether you stay open or are forced to close, whether for a short while, or for good.

This is where the strongest business continuity plan examples come in—not just as critical checklists to cover in your next meeting, but as real, embedded strategies. Ones that shape how an organization prepares and responds.

Three Business Continuity Plan Examples That Go Beyond the Binder

1. Anticipating Wildfire Risk

One global insurance marketplace saw risk coming. Back in 2014, it identified climate change as a material business risk and made it a priority, not just in messaging, but in action. It reworked how it underwrote policies. It then built out modeling capabilities, created new offerings for wildfire-prone areas, and even launched innovation programs to get ahead of what was coming.

It wasn’t just about having a plan—it was about embedding risk awareness into how the business actually ran.

By the time wildfire losses started accelerating, the foundation was already in place. This wasn’t about reacting faster—it was about being positioned for what others were still trying to make sense of.

When record-setting wildfires hit in 2025, most companies were bracing for impact. This one was already executing. It saw billions in claims, but remained stable. It grew premiums. It kept operations moving. That kind of resilience doesn’t happen in the moment—it’s built over time through strategic, intentional choices.

2. Cyberattack Recovery

In 2017, a global logistics provider experienced a large-scale ransomware attack. One that shut down critical systems across offices and ports worldwide. Operations were halted. Communications went dark. But because the company had a tested continuity plan in place—with offsite backups and clearly defined recovery protocols—it was able to restore operations within days. The recovery wasn’t seamless, but it was fast. And it underscored what preparation looks like when systems fail.

3. Supply Chain Resilience

In 2021, an automaker faced severe pressure during the global semiconductor shortage—an issue that brought much of the industry to a standstill. But due to continuity planning developed years earlier after a major natural disaster, this company had diversified suppliers, built inventory buffers, and developed alternate sourcing strategies. While production still took a hit, it recovered faster than most. The ability to adapt wasn’t improvised on the spot. It had been well-considered in advance.

Final Thoughts: Why Strategy Matters

Early risk detection doesn’t just protect you along the way. It positions you for impact. It gives you time to move before headlines hit. To make smarter decisions when it matters most. And to lead when others are scrambling.

If your organization is waiting for certainty, it’s already behind. Early signals don’t have to be perfect. They just have to be taken seriously—because the companies that do that are the ones that stay ready.

Governance, Risk, and Compliance? It’s Part of a Larger Story

Business continuity, resilience, and even regulatory strategy no longer stand apart from culture. The strongest organizations are grounding their risk programs in values. It’s about treating governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) as deeper extensions of day-to-day business.

Let’s Start a Conversation

SAI360 helps companies shift beyond compliance toward something stronger. Demo our GRC solutions here.