Glossary

We have prepared a glossary of common terms for your convenience. These terms have been extracted from various sources. Just click on the alphabet of the term you are looking for to find the definition.

We shall be updating these terms from time to time so please visit us to get the latest updates.

You will find at the end of the definition there will be an abbreviation within bracket. This indicates the source of that definition. At times a single term may have different definition from different sources. We have included it for your benefits.

Below is the meaning for each abbreviation:

  • BCI  -  Business Continuity Institute, UK
  • DRII - Disaster Recovery Institute International, US
  • BCMI - Business Continuity Management Institute, Singapore
  • MS1970 - Business Continuity Management Framework, Department of Standards Malaysia
  • ASIS International – Organization for security professionals.
Access Denial

See : Denial of Access (BCI)
Activation

The implementation of business continuity procedures, activities and plans in response to a Business Continuity Emergency, Event Incident and / or Crisis (E/I/C)
See: Invocation (BCI)

The implementation of business continuity capabilities, procedures, activities and plans in response to an emergency or disaster declaration; the execution of the recovery plan. (DRII)
Alternate Work Area

Office recovery environment complete with necessary office infrastructure (desk, telephone, workstation and associated hardware, communications, etc); also referred to as Work Space or Alternative work site. (DRII)
Alternative Site / Worksite


A site held in readiness for use during a Business Continuity E/I/C to maintain the business continuity of an organisation’s Mission Critical Activities. The term applies equally to office or technology requirements. Alternate sites may be ‘cold’, ‘warm’ or ‘hot’. This type of site is also known as recovery Site.
See: Cold Site, Warm Site, Hot Site, Recovery Site (BCI)

An alternate operating location to be used by business functions when the primary facilities are inaccessible. 1) Another location, computer center or work area designated for recovery. 2) Location, other than main facility, that can be used to conduct business functions. 3) A location, other than the normal facility used to process data and/or conduct critical business functions in the event of a disaster. SIMILAR TERMS: Alternate Processing Facility, Alternate Office Facility, Alternate Communication Facility, Backup Location, and Recovery Site. (DRII)
Assembly Area

The designated area at which employees, visitors and contractors assemble if evacuated from their building / site. (BCI)
Asset

An item of property and /or component of a business activity / process owned by an organisation. There are 3 types of asset: physical assets (e.g. buildings and equipment); financial assets (e.g. currency, bank deposits and shares) and non-tangible assets (e.g. goodwill, reputation). (BCI)
Audit

The process by which procedures and / or documentation are measured against pre-agreed standards. (BCI)
Back-up Generator (Genset)


An independent source of power, usually fueled by diesel or natural gas. (DRII)

A power generating equipment normally used in the event of power failures to support essential electrical equipment. It is often used together with an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) to provide continuous power to ICT equipment.
Backlog

The effect on the business of a build-up of a work that occurs as the result of a system or process being unavailable for an unacceptable period. A situation whereby a backlog of work requires more time to action than is available through normal working patterns. In extreme circumstances, the backlog may become so marked that the backlog cannot be cleared. (BCI)
Backup

A process, by which data, electronic or paper based, is copied in some form so as to be available and used if the original data from which it originated is lost, destroyed or corrupted. (BCI)