Public Sector Continuity

Lesson 1: Program Initiation

• Learn the justification for COOP, as well as applicable regulations and directives
• Learn the four pillars of continuity management, how to establish a continuity program, COOP planning objectives, COOP program roles, the continuity planning team, and the continuity implementation process

Lesson 2: Risk Management

• Familiarize yourself with the basic concepts of risk management as well as the methodologies and models used in the COOP
• Learn the process to identify, control, and minimize the impact of uncertain events, as well as how this process supports the continuity program by identifying critical risks to organizational readiness and strategies that best mitigate risks

Lesson 3: Mission Function Identification and Analysis

• Learn how to identify mission-essential functions, conduct a business process analysis (BPA), conduct a business impact analysis (BIA), and develop BPA and BIA reports and leadership presentations
• Explore methodologies, terms, and definitions, such as primary mission-essential function, mission-essential function, recovery time objective (RTO), recovery point objective (RPO), and acceptable exposure to loss

Lesson 4: Emergency Preparedness and Management

• Learn how to identify the potential types of emergencies and the responses required
• Learn to identify, review, and improve existing emergency response procedures as well as how to recommend new emergency procedures

Lesson 5: Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Development

• Gain an understanding of COOP plan requirements, viable COOP plan elements, types of COOP plans, and a sample plan table of contents
• Learn how to design and develop continuity plans to ensure an agency and its organizations can continue to perform mission-essential functions and primary mission-essential functions during emergencies

Lesson 6: Tests, Training and Exercises (TT and E)

• Learn the basics of continuity testing, training, and exercise (TT and E) program needs to identify positions requiring training or cross-training
• Learn about individual and team training, internal agency testing and exercising of continuity plans and procedures, refresher training for continuity personnel, and interagency exercises

Lesson 7: Continuity Plan Maintenance and Audit

• Learn how to establish a maintenance program to keep COOP plans current and relevant, and to establish an audit process which will validate compliance with regulations and conformity with standards
• Learn how to verify appropriate levels of maintenance and exercise activities in order to validate that COOP plans are correct, accurate, and complete

Lesson 8: Crisis Communications

• Learn how to establish a crisis communication program
• Learn how to develop the processes and procedures to establish the programs for proactive crisis communication
• Gain an understanding of proper crisis communications for the program
• Learn how to implement a crisis communication plan at the time of the disaster event

Lesson 9: Coordination Between External Agencies and the Private Sector

• Learn how to establish applicable procedures and policies for coordinating the continuity and restoration activities between external agencies (federal, state, territorial, local and tribal governments) and the private sector while ensuring compliance with applicable statutes and regulations

Lesson 10: Continuity Planning Metrics

• Become familiar with COOP program metrics basics, COOP metrics requirements, and COOP metrics implementation
• Learn how to develop and use metrics to measure and present COOP program performance and effectiveness

Lesson 11: Qualifying Exam Review

• Prepare for the Public Sector Qualifying Examination by reviewing each of the 10 COOP approach subject areas