What is the primary focus of a Continuity of Operations (COOP) plan?

The focus of a Continuity of Operations (COOP) plan is to ensure that an organization can continue to perform its mission essential functions during and after a significant disruption. This often involves relocating operations to an alternate site if the primary location becomes unusable or inaccessible. The intent is to maintain critical functions even in the face of various threats, such as natural disasters, pandemics, or other emergencies that can impact the original site.

Utilizing an alternate site allows for the immediate resumption of essential operations without significant delays, thus ensuring that services can continue to be delivered to stakeholders and the public. A COOP plan details the processes for relocating staff, the necessary resources, logistics, and communication strategies to facilitate this transition smoothly.

While restoring operations at the original site, reducing costs, and conducting training are important aspects of organizational preparedness, they do not encapsulate the primary goal of a COOP plan, which is fundamentally about maintaining continuity through alternative arrangements.