The Need

To prepare and protect information assets from exposures to loss and disruption in light of today's changing threats, FHLB-Pittsburgh committed to update and enhance their comprehensive business continuity program with the assistance of Paradigm Solution's Certified Business Continuity Professionals.

The Expectations

FHLB-Pittsburgh's selection process required a firm with extensive experience in Business Continuity Planning, as well as an in-depth knowledge of the following:

	Industry regulatory requirements
	A proven process for the development and maintenance of an ongoing
	Business Continuity Planning program
	Financial institution workflows and operations
	Planning tools available in the marketplace
	Hot-site issues and equipment replacement strategies
	Recovery policy and procedures
	Plan testing strategies and conduct
	Plan maintenance strategies and conduct
	Ability to meet an aggressive timeline for project completion

The Results

With the guidance of Paradigm Solution International's Certified Business Continuity Professionals, FHLB-Pittsburgh has improved their Business Continuity Program and developed a more comprehensive Business Continuity Plan.

Responsibilities and example initiatives included:

Review and Documentation of Operations

	Reviewed corporate facilities, utilities, and communications
	Reviewed bank service segments and offerings, and determined mission
	critical attributes
	Conducted a risk assessment
	Determined the responsibilities of key personnel
	Determined mission critical information systems
	Reviewed record retention, backup strategies and methodologies
	Developed processing and workflow diagrams

Existing Business Continuity Plan and Program Review

	Reviewed existing comprehensive plan
	Reviewed existing information systems plan
	Reviewed linkage between current information systems business
	continuity plan and business unit operations
	Reviewed tool sets utilized
	Reviewed resources in place
	Reviewed plan testing and maintenance procedures
	Prepared a report and prioritized findings and recommendations based
	upon current preparedness

Development of a Business Continuity Plan and Program Strategy

	Provided strategy to address findings
	Determined software tools to utilize for the plan documentation
	Determined parties responsible for carrying out planning, implementing
	strategies, and updating the plan
	Developed an action plan for coordination of a business continuity
	program of development, implementation, testing, and maintenance

Development of a Comprehensive Business Continuity Program

	Completion of an updated comprehensive business continuity plan,
	by business unit, which covers the policies and procedures for
	recovery
	Implementation and conduct of an ongoing plan testing and
	maintenance program