What is the most important goal of a business continuity effort?

The most important goal of a business continuity effort is to preserve health and human safety. In the event of a disaster or interruption, the primary concern should always be the well-being of employees, customers, and stakeholders. Maintaining human safety establishes a foundation upon which all other business continuity efforts can succeed.

If the safety of individuals is compromised, it can lead to severe consequences beyond the immediate incident, including legal repercussions and damage to the organization's reputation. By prioritizing health and human safety, organizations create an environment where recovery and continuity plans can be effectively implemented.

While ensuring that IT systems function, preserving business activities, and organizational survival are essential elements of business continuity, they can only be successfully executed when the safety of people is secured. Thus, without a focus on human safety, other continuity measures may falter or be rendered ineffective.