Which of the following steps is NOT included in the business continuity plan?

The correct answer highlights that financial forecasting is not typically a step included in a business continuity plan. Business continuity planning primarily focuses on maintaining or quickly resuming normal operations after a disruptive event.

Effective business continuity plans generally encompass risk management, risk assessment, and business impact analysis, which all work together to identify vulnerabilities, evaluate potential risks, and analyze the effects of disruptions on business operations.

Risk management deals with identifying, assessing, and prioritizing risks, while risk assessment involves analyzing these risks to understand their potential impact. A business impact analysis helps to identify critical business functions and the resources required to maintain them during a crisis, ensuring that an organization can respond effectively to emergencies.

On the other hand, financial forecasting pertains more to predicting future financial outcomes based on historical and current data, which is generally a separate activity focused on budgeting, investment, and resource allocation, rather than immediate operational continuity during a crisis. Therefore, it does not form a core component of a business continuity plan.