The challenge for IT managers is prioritization: determining which areas of the business must stay operational and which can afford to be down. We know that the company will lose money if revenue-generating areas can't function, but how much money? We know that without access to tools and resources, marketing and human resources are less productive, but how much less productive?

Knowing which areas of the business need to get up and running first after a system goes down can mean the difference between survival and extinction. That's where a business impact analysis (BIA) comes in. Like a survival guide for your business, it lays out which areas are most critical???either because they directly generate revenue or the company depends on them for successful day-to-day operation.