06 March 2008 | Paul Snell

More than a third of UK businesses plan to increase spending on business continuity plans in 2008.

According to a survey carried out by research firm IDC and commissioned by BT Global Services, 37 per cent of UK firms will increase spending this year.

And the survey of 315 senior executives in the UK, US, Germany and Benelux found while in most firms continuity remains a responsibility of the IT department, just under half of decisions about continuity are now made at CEO, board or director level.

Ray Stanton, global head of business continuity, security and governance practice at BT Global Services, said in a statement: "Businesses need to think carefully about how they are going to spend that money. The right investments don't just protect against threats, they help build customer confidence and enhance the brand."

But the survey also found that despite the threat of natural and man-made disasters, more than a fifth of businesses in the UK still do not have a detailed continuity plan.

"Organisations that do not possess detailed business continuity plans need to act now," said Ed Cording, consulting director EMEA at IDC.

SMmar2008