What Is a Business Continuity Plan and Does My Business Need One?
A clear, direct answer to this question — written for UK business owners and IT decision-makers.
Direct Answer
A Business Continuity Plan (BCP) is a documented process for maintaining essential business operations during and after a disruptive event — whether a cyberattack, power failure, or physical incident. Only 22% of UK businesses have a formal incident management plan. Small businesses lose £350–£450 per minute of downtime. AMVIA builds BCP elements into its managed IT service, including tested backups, failover connectivity, and documented recovery procedures.
Key Points
What you need to know.
The Short Answer
As of March 2025, there are 12,867 active MSPs in the UK, employing 343,762 individuals.
For UK Businesses
The UK MSP sector generates an estimated £51 billion in annual revenue.
Cost Considerations
The UK managed services market is expected to grow at CAGR of 9.7% from 2026 to 2033.
Next Steps
SMEs account for 99% of UK businesses and are the backbone of the UK economy.
Quick Comparison
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Frequently Asked Questions
Managed IT support typically includes proactive monitoring, helpdesk access, patch management, backup management, security management, and regular reviews. There are 12,867 active MSPs in the UK generating £51 billion in annual revenue. 49% of UK businesses have a basic cyber security skills gap, making external support essential.
Industry standard SLAs include critical issues responded to within 1 hour, standard issues within 4 hours, and low-priority requests within 8 hours. 99.9% uptime guarantees are standard for monitored infrastructure. Always confirm whether SLAs cover response time or resolution time.
An MSP manages your IT infrastructure and support. An MSSP specialises in cybersecurity — running SOC operations, MDR, and incident response. Only 22% of UK MSPs perform cybersecurity-related activities. AMVIA combines both capabilities for a complete managed service.
49% of UK businesses have a basic cyber security skills gap. The median salary for a UK cyber security role is £55,000, with a 12% premium over equivalent IT roles. For businesses with 10-250 staff, outsourcing typically provides broader expertise at lower total cost than hiring in-house.
Managed IT support for UK SMEs typically costs £50-£150 per user per month depending on scope. This usually covers helpdesk, monitoring, patch management, and basic security. Adding cybersecurity services increases costs but protects against average breach costs of £3,550 per incident.
Need More Detail?
Speak to an AMVIA expert for advice tailored to your business.
Related Questions
Managed IT Support
AMVIA's managed IT service includes tested backups and recovery procedures as standard.
What Is Ransomware?
Ransomware is the most common trigger for business continuity plans — and why tested backups matter.
Cybersecurity Guide for UK SMEs
Business continuity planning fits within a broader cybersecurity and resilience programme.