What consists of the processes and specific actions necessary to prudently protect critical business processes?

Business Continuity Planning is the process that focuses on ensuring that essential business functions can continue during and after a significant disruption. It involves developing strategies and practical actions to prevent, respond to, and recover from incidents that could significantly affect operations, such as natural disasters, cybersecurity breaches, or other emergencies. This planning is crucial for maintaining critical business processes, as it accounts for risks, identifies vulnerabilities, and establishes protocols for resuming operations swiftly.

In contrast, Change Control primarily deals with managing alterations to systems and processes to minimize disruption, ensuring that changes do not adversely affect overall operations. Disaster Recovery Planning is focused specifically on restoring IT systems and data after a disaster, which is a subset of the broader business continuity process. Risk Management Planning encompasses identifying, assessing, and prioritizing risks in order to mitigate potential adverse effects, but it does not specifically address the continuous operation of critical business functions. Thus, Business Continuity Planning best encapsulates the overarching goal of protecting vital business processes during unforeseen interruptions.