Business Continuity Policy | Keep It Cyber

Business Continuity Policy for Logistics Operations

Ensure uninterrupted logistics operations during disruptions with comprehensive recovery frameworks for TMS, dispatch, and fleet systems. NIST-aligned and CMMC-ready.

NIST SP 800-171 CMMC v2 FMCSA Guidelines CTPAT Standards

What is a Business Continuity Policy?

A Business Continuity Policy establishes the framework, procedures, and responsibilities to ensure your logistics operation can maintain or restore mission-critical functions following a disruption or disaster. It defines how your organization prepares for, responds to, and recovers from incidents that threaten to interrupt normal business operations.

The policy creates a structured approach to operational resilience (maintaining essential services) and disaster recovery (restoring systems and data), addressing the complete lifecycle from risk assessment through testing and continuous improvement.

Why It Matters for Logistics Companies

Logistics operations face unique continuity challenges with distributed fleets, time-sensitive deliveries, and complex technology dependencies. Without proper business continuity planning, your organization faces:

Extended TMS, dispatch, or ELD system outages disrupting operations
Inability to coordinate driver activities during communications failures
Loss of critical shipment and tracking data during cyber incidents
Missed delivery commitments causing customer dissatisfaction
Compliance violations with NIST, CMMC, FMCSA, and CTPAT requirements

A well-implemented Business Continuity Policy provides the roadmap for rapid recovery during disruptions—whether from cyberattacks, system failures, natural disasters, or supply chain interruptions—while meeting regulatory requirements specific to the logistics sector.

What's Typically Included

Our logistics-optimized Business Continuity Policy addresses the unique challenges faced by freight brokers, carriers, and 3PLs:

Business Impact Analysis (BIA) to identify critical logistics functions
Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs) for key systems
Detailed recovery procedures for TMS, dispatch, and fleet management platforms
Alternative communication methods during outages (radio, mobile apps, satellite)
Manual workflow procedures when automated systems are unavailable
Cross-training requirements for essential recovery personnel
Testing schedule and exercise scenarios adapted for logistics operations
Vendor continuity requirements for critical supply chain partners

Why Your Logistics Operation Needs This Policy

Robust business continuity planning is essential for any logistics company with time-sensitive deliveries, multiple systems, or distributed operations. It's particularly critical for:

Carriers with fleets dependent on dispatch and ELD systems
Freight brokers coordinating time-sensitive shipments
3PLs managing interconnected supply chain systems
Cross-border carriers subject to CTPAT requirements
Companies pursuing government or defense contracts
Logistics providers responding to cyber insurance requirements

For comprehensive resilience planning, pair this policy with an Incident Response Policy to create a complete business resilience framework for your logistics operations.

Available in Operational & Regulated Tiers

The Business Continuity Policy is available in our advanced compliance packages for logistics operations with complex recovery requirements

Tier 2: Operational Logistics

$4,500 · One-time purchase

Standard BIA templates & methodology
4-hour RTO for critical systems
Basic recovery playbooks for key systems
Emergency communication protocols
Annual testing requirements
NIST & CMMC alignment

See Full Package

Tier 3: Regulated Logistics+

$8,500 · One-time purchase

Advanced BIA methodologies
Multi-tier recovery objectives
Comprehensive recovery playbooks
Cloud service continuity planning
Quarterly exercise requirements
Full NIST, CMMC, CTPAT mapping

See Full Package

Compare All Policy Tiers

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about implementing a Business Continuity Policy

How do we maintain dispatch operations during system outages?

Our policy includes detailed procedures for maintaining dispatch operations during system disruptions. We provide templates for paper-based dispatch forms, alternative communication methods (including radio and satellite options for areas with poor cellular coverage), and manual tracking procedures. The policy also includes guidelines for prioritizing shipments during limited operations, maintaining driver communication protocols, and reconciling data once systems are restored. We recommend creating pre-staged emergency dispatch kits with necessary forms, contact information, and procedure documentation that can be quickly deployed during outages.

What recovery time objectives (RTOs) are realistic for logistics systems?

For mission-critical logistics systems like TMS and dispatch platforms, we typically recommend RTOs of 4 hours or less to minimize operational disruption. Fleet tracking and customer portals should target recovery within 4-8 hours. Less critical systems like warehouse management, ELD systems, and financial processing typically target 12-hour recovery timeframes. Our policy includes a tiered classification framework that helps you categorize your systems based on operational impact and set appropriate RTOs for each. The policy also provides guidance on measuring recovery time, validating achievement of objectives, and continuous improvement of recovery capabilities.

How do we test our business continuity plan without disrupting operations?

Our policy recommends a progressive testing approach that minimizes operational impact. Start with tabletop exercises that simulate disruption scenarios without actual system changes. Gradually progress to component testing of individual systems in isolated environments, then to functional exercises during off-peak hours. For full-scale tests, we recommend using non-production environments when possible and scheduling during weekend or low-volume periods. The policy includes detailed testing plans, exercise scenarios specifically designed for logistics operations, and evaluation criteria to measure effectiveness without disrupting daily operations. We also provide documentation templates for recording test results and tracking improvement actions.

How does this policy help with cyber insurance requirements?

Our Business Continuity Policy directly addresses key cyber insurance requirements around operational resilience and recovery capabilities. The policy includes documentation of backup procedures, recovery testing, incident response coordination, and business impact analysis—all commonly required elements on insurance questionnaires. For ransomware-specific requirements, the policy includes offline backup strategies, clean restoration procedures, and cyber incident recovery protocols. The Tier 3 version includes additional controls like air-gapped backups and enhanced testing regimes that can help qualify for premium discounts with many carriers. We also provide guidance on documenting compliance with your policy to streamline the insurance application process.

What if we rely on cloud-based logistics platforms?

The policy includes a dedicated section on cloud service continuity specifically designed for logistics companies using cloud-based TMS, dispatch, and tracking platforms. It provides guidance on evaluating vendor SLAs, implementing multi-region deployments where possible, maintaining local copies of critical data, and developing alternate workflows during cloud service disruptions. We recommend documenting detailed failover procedures for each critical cloud service, establishing offline processing capabilities, and implementing data synchronization protocols for when services are restored. The policy also includes templates for vendor agreements that specify continuity requirements and recovery time commitments from cloud service providers supporting critical logistics functions.

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Business Continuity Template