--- sourceDocument: Australia Governance, Risk, and Compliance sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/governance-risk-compliance Release : - australia ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Australia Governance, Risk, and Compliance ft:clusterId : - grc bundleId : - grc workflow : - Technology --- # Structured workflows for BCPs # Structured workflows for BCPs {#ariaid-title1} * Release version: Australia * * Updated March 12, 2026 * * ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Structured workflows for BCPs This content outlines the structured workflows for creating and managing Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) within the Business Continuity Workspace (BCM Configurable Workspace) in ServiceNow. It guides BCP owners through the process of using templates, adding assets, defining loss scenarios, recovery strategies, and generating documentation and reports. The workflows ensure a comprehensive, organized approach to business continuity planning and recovery execution. Show full answer Show less ## Key Features * **Hierarchical Plan Structure:** Introduced in BCM 9.x.x, this feature enforces a logical parent-child relationship between plans, enabling controlled and sequential execution of recovery tasks. It avoids circular dependencies, supports parallel task execution within plans, and ensures only relevant child plans execute during an event. * **Nested Related Plans:** Starting with the Xanadu release, improved management detects cyclic dependencies and refines recovery timelines, allowing precise tracking of planned versus actual recovery times across assets and tasks. * **Reusable Templates:** Recovery strategy and task templates enable planners to reuse common recovery structures, reducing repetitive work and improving consistency across plans. * **Asset and Scope Management:** Assets and their scope can be added to plans, ensuring accurate recovery focus and scope definition. * **Task Management and Automation:** Recovery tasks can be added, ordered, and visualized via Gantt charts for timeline clarity. Tasks can be automated by attaching automated flows, accelerating recovery efforts. * **Phase Mapping:** BCM administrators can define active phases and map recovery tasks to these phases to enforce logical sequencing of recovery activities. * **Synchronization:** Assets can be synchronized between plans, loss scenarios, and recovery strategies to maintain consistency and accurate recovery timelines. * **Plan Approval and Reporting:** BCPs can be submitted for approval and exported as PDF or Microsoft Word documents for record-keeping and stakeholder communication. * **360° Relationship Visualization:** Users can access a comprehensive view of a BCP and its related entities at any time, facilitating better understanding and management of plan dependencies. * **Auto-Update of Related Assets:** Plans can be scheduled for automatic updates based on CMDB data and dependencies, with notifications sent to keep planners informed. ## Practical Application for ServiceNow Customers ServiceNow customers can leverage these structured workflows to streamline the creation and management of robust business continuity plans. The hierarchical plan structure and automated dependency checks reduce errors and improve recovery execution. Reusable templates and task automation save time and increase consistency across multiple plans. Visualization and reporting features support clear communication and oversight, while automated updates ensure plans remain current with underlying asset data. Overall, these capabilities enable efficient, controlled, and effective continuity planning and response within the ServiceNow BCM environment. Perform the structured workflows that are outlined in this section to create a business continuity plan in Business Continuity Workspace (also known as BCM Configurable Workspace). The business continuity plan owner creates plans using templates, adds assets and scope, creates documentation sections, adds recovery teams, defines loss scenarios with recovery strategies, and generates PDFs. * For information on creating a business continuity plan, see [Create a business continuity plan](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/qRV4al4E3N_eQgBsLREE8Q "Create a business continuity plan in BCM UIB Workspace."). For information on adding an asset and scope to the plan, see [Add asset and scope to the BCP](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/m2jQdUrs04Nkh0dkA9_2iw "Add an asset and the scope to the business continuity plan (BCP). You can then view the primary elements in the BCM Configurable Workspace."). * For information on creating a documentation section, see [Create documentation sections](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/lLhyW2aC_LO5mme3dAy6FQ "Create a documentation section in the business continuity plan. You can then document the recovery capabilities of your business continuity plan in BCM UIB Workspace."). For information on adding the related plan and recovery team, see [Add associated plans and recovery teams](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/GANEngRwPwcARPp3LvmMMg "Add your business continuity associated plans and recovery teams to your business continuity plan. You can then view the details in BCM UIB Workspace."). * For information on adding a loss scenario, recovery strategy, and recovery task, see [Add loss scenarios](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/6Y72KJ9GFbqldwWjQAXlMw "Add a loss scenario and define the related asset dependencies in your business continuity plan. You can then view the details of the assets in BCM UIB Workspace and then plan a recovery strategy for an identified loss scenario."), [Add recovery strategies for dependencies](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Ct43bZLVvZiX9Y0nELnVOw "Add a recovery strategy for the related asset dependencies and estimate the time to implement the strategy. You can then get the assets up and running quickly in an identified loss scenario."), and [Add recovery tasks](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/CvSDnrh2xXv9gsIDBIz41Q "Add a recovery task as part of the planned recovery strategy. You can add one or more recovery tasks for a loss scenario and those recovery tasks are displayed in the loss scenario itself. Automate the recovery tasks in a plan for a faster recovery."). * For information on generating and saving the PDF, see [Generate BCP reports in PDF or Microsoft Word format](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/4R9uKzR6rpqdrdYcVh1sxw "Generate a PDF or Microsoft Word copy of a business continuity plan in the BCM Configurable Workspace and save it for a future reference."). {#bcp-tasks-performed-by-bcp-owner__ul_acv_sy5_pxb} ## Hierarchical plan structure enhancement {#bcp-tasks-performed-by-bcp-owner__section_tty_kdl_ygc} Starting with BCM, version 9.x.x, the hierarchical structure of parent-child plans verifies logical organization and execution of recovery tasks. When an event is triggered, only relevant child plans are included, allowing plan execution and dependencies to cascade downward in a controlled manner. Parent plans are excluded to prevent the inclusion of unrelated scenarios that may require subsequent cancellation. This approach confirms that only relevant plans are considered, maintaining a focused and efficient recovery process. The system also performs cyclic dependency checks automatically, ensuring that the hierarchy flows uni directionally---from parent plans to child plans. Implementing the hierarchical plan structure offers these key benefits: * Logical task execution: Only after the necessary tasks in the parent plans have been completed, tasks in the child plans are executed, ensuring a controlled and sequential recovery process. * Avoidance of circular dependencies: The system is designed to prevent circular dependencies, maintaining a unidirectional flow from parent to child plans and avoiding potential conflicts. * Parallel execution: Tasks within the same plan can be executed in parallel when possible, optimizing recovery time and efficiency. {#bcp-tasks-performed-by-bcp-owner__ul_e45_pdl_ygc} By introducing this hierarchical structure, the system provides an organized and manageable approach to plan management, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in disaster recovery planning and execution. ## Nested related plans {#bcp-tasks-performed-by-bcp-owner__section_mng_n4b_2cc} Beginning with the Xanadu release, the handling of nested related plans has improved. This enhancement helps in managing potential cyclic dependencies by detecting and highlighting any problems that could cause cyclic dependencies during the execution of tasks. Additionally, the refined recovery timelines enable you to monitor the planned and actual timeframes. A task can be applied to all assets within a plan or to none, facilitating accurate aggregation of recovery timeframes across assets, tasks, and plans. ## Additional information on Business Continuity Planning {#bcp-tasks-performed-by-bcp-owner__section_apl_ryy_cyb} * For information on the Planning tab in the Home page, see [Home page view](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/VQfVgABDPPsy2gy3KdTvow "The Home page in Business Continuity Workspace serves as the landing page of the BCM application."). * For information on business continuity planning, see [Business continuity planning](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/WP1SubaBGwqVAfwp7HLZ8w "Business continuity planning helps you enact and mitigate risk at the time of an event. You can address and plan on the primary scope of the activities, documentation, loss scenarios, recovery teams, approvals, and so on. You can then configure a structured workflow of your business continuity planning tasks in BCM UIB Workspace."). * For information on the administrative tasks in business continuity planning, see [Setup for a business continuity plan](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/KRFhews~hGqkBeY2UgG11g "The business continuity plan (BCP) administrator can perform certain administrative tasks that are listed in the General Administration section of the Business Continuity Management application."). {#bcp-tasks-performed-by-bcp-owner__ul_lbv_4xy_cyb} * **[States and UI actions for a BCP](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/yLvAivBnfsdZ1r3x9pLc8A)** When you create a business continuity plan (BCP), certain UI actions are associated with each state. * **[Recovery strategy and task templates](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/WNI3KiQv~MZZ_AOlYStL4g)** Business continuity planners often rebuild the same recovery structures each time they author a plan. Reusable templates remove that repetition by capturing standard strategies, tasks, and task groupings once and applying them wherever they are needed. * **[Create a business continuity plan](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/qRV4al4E3N_eQgBsLREE8Q)** Create a business continuity plan in BCM UIB Workspace. * **[Create a business continuity plan from a plan template](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/BrF5r8iJSd3andQWK3KQBw)** Create a business continuity plan from a plan template in BCM UIB Workspace so that the loss scenarios, recovery strategies, and recovery tasks defined on the template are generated automatically. * **[Scheduling auto-update of related assets](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/SlmF_Fvtpz1eubVdc29Krw)** You can schedule an auto-update of the related assets in the plans based on the source data and relationships in the CMDB. You can receive an email notification with details of the plan dependency updates from the BCM application. Dependencies are fetched from different sources such as BIA upstream dependency, BIA downstream dependencies, and CMDB. * **[Add asset and scope to the BCP](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/m2jQdUrs04Nkh0dkA9_2iw)** Add an asset and the scope to the business continuity plan (BCP). You can then view the primary elements in the BCM Configurable Workspace. * **[Create documentation sections](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/lLhyW2aC_LO5mme3dAy6FQ)** Create a documentation section in the business continuity plan. You can then document the recovery capabilities of your business continuity plan in BCM UIB Workspace. * **[Add associated plans and recovery teams](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/GANEngRwPwcARPp3LvmMMg)** Add your business continuity associated plans and recovery teams to your business continuity plan. You can then view the details in BCM UIB Workspace. * **[Add loss scenarios](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/6Y72KJ9GFbqldwWjQAXlMw)** Add a loss scenario and define the related asset dependencies in your business continuity plan. You can then view the details of the assets in BCM UIB Workspace and then plan a recovery strategy for an identified loss scenario. * **[Add recovery strategies for dependencies](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Ct43bZLVvZiX9Y0nELnVOw)** Add a recovery strategy for the related asset dependencies and estimate the time to implement the strategy. You can then get the assets up and running quickly in an identified loss scenario. * **[Configure a recovery strategy template](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/YLEnm5qlNrfZV_Xcj_lWaw)** Configure a reusable recovery strategy template so business continuity planners can apply a pre-defined strategy to loss scenarios without re-entering the implementation details each time. * **[Mapping recovery tasks to phases](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/aLbQb7ovANbm0KXmXej~TQ)** Starting with BCM, version 9.x.x, BCM administrators set up active phases for plans and events, enhancing recovery and event task management. BCM managers then map these phases to recovery and event tasks, executing them in a desired, logical sequence. * **[Add recovery tasks](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/CvSDnrh2xXv9gsIDBIz41Q)** Add a recovery task as part of the planned recovery strategy. You can add one or more recovery tasks for a loss scenario and those recovery tasks are displayed in the loss scenario itself. Automate the recovery tasks in a plan for a faster recovery. * **[Apply Task templates and Task template groups](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/ef~WK6ydcEAkT6sXsl5yiw)** Save individual tasks or groups of tasks for reuse across plans. You can add templates to new plans or insert them into existing plans. You can also generate templates directly from tasks and plans that already exist in the system. * **[Create a quick recovery task](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/6mvxvLNar5GzMfPMAoXi_A)** Create a quick recovery task from Recovery tasks or as part of the planned recovery strategy for a business continuity plan. Using the quick insert feature, you can create tasks without navigating to a separate form. Tasks can be ordered, inserted in sequence (before, after, or in parallel with existing tasks), and dependencies are updated automatically. * **[Visualize recovery tasks on Gantt chart](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/p_OMZqnRQ7bERWcnTo2cjg)** Use the Gantt chart component on recovery task pages to provide a visual timeline view of tasks associated with the current plan. Customize the view by adding, removing, or reordering columns as needed. The chart is implemented as a UI page to enable customizations and to support multiple versions without requiring changes to existing page behavior. * **[Synchronize assets between loss scenarios and strategies](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/JUb_ssVKdUtCJTS3YWYIJw)** Use the asset syncing fields in the plan template to configure whether assets synchronize to loss scenarios, to recovery strategies, or both. Syncing is a two-step process: assets flow from the plan to loss scenarios first, and then from loss scenarios to recovery strategies. * **[Automate recovery tasks](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/6yxaI8zN_hVZssy0AtfJ3A)** Automate the manual recovery task within the business continuity plan. You can classify the manual recovery task as an automated task first and then attach an automated flow to it. * **[Submit the BCP for approval](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/dhnDoWd5iqROxgo7X3V4Ng)** Submit the business continuity plan (BCP) for an approval. You can then view the details in BCM UIB Workspace. * **[Visualize 360° relationships for the BCP](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/~8~BIfW25Gyf9t16Dl37Ng)** Visualize the 360° relationships for a business continuity plan (BCP) and its associated entities in BCM UIB Workspace. You can access the 360° view at any time while working on the business continuity plan. * **[Generate BCP reports in PDF or Microsoft Word format](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/4R9uKzR6rpqdrdYcVh1sxw)** Generate a PDF or Microsoft Word copy of a business continuity plan in the BCM Configurable Workspace and save it for a future reference.