The Singapore Computer Society (SCS) has launched a certification programme for IT business continuity managers – the first of its kind in the world. The Certification in IT Business Continuity Management (CITBCM) ensures that professionals are equipped to handle the various aspects of IT business continuity management, including disaster recovery planning.

The CITBCM is managed by SCS and supported by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA). It is mapped to the National Infocomm Competency Framework. Candidates can receive funding support under the IDA’s Critical Infocomm Technology Resource Programme.

CITBCM ensures that professionals are equipped to handle the various aspects of IT business continuity management, including disaster recovery planning.

Mr Alphonsus Pang, President, Singapore Computer Society, said, “With the pervasiveness of ICT, we see more and more of an organisation’s business (knowledge, rules and processes) being embedded into IT systems. Hence, it is of paramount importance to have competent professionals ensure business continuity through the resilience of our IT systems. That is why SCS as the national body for IT professionals in Singapore, saw a critical need to certify IT business continuity professionals and raise their level of competency and significance of their job role.”

Research from the Business Continuity Index conducted in 2009 indicated that 95 per cent of the IT departments within the companies are key decision makers for business continuity and recovery issues. It is crucial, therefore, for IT professionals to understand the issues related to business continuity and data centre operations. These skills are vital in ensuring that supply chains and business flow are not disrupted in an emergency.

The focus on BCM is in line with a national initiative to strengthen the national security architecture and to drive the adoption of BCM processes. In November 2008, Professor S. Jayakumar, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, announced that the Singapore Government would be setting aside S$30 million funding for business continuity and disaster recovery initiatives. To drive this, the Government has strongly encouraged organisations to embrace BCM as an integral component of their business plans, so as to enhance corporate resilience. CITBCM is thus aligned with this national objective.

“Companies view Singapore as a critical hub in their global operations and IT is a clear enabler of the core functions of business,” said Mr Andrew Khaw, Senior Director, Industry Development Group, IDA. “These companies have expressed a need to manage business continuity for corporate resilience at a higher level and we are glad that SCS has responded to this need.”

“As a certification that covers the three areas of IT environment, infrastructure and business continuity, CITBCM will position Singapore’s infocomm industry and manpower to capture more opportunities for Singapore to host critical global operations hubs,” he added.

The CITBCM was launched at the 2nd Annual Infocomm Professional Development Forum on 8 July 2010, which was jointly organised by IDA and SCS.

At the same event, SCS also announced two international Quality Assurance certifications in collaboration with the Quality Assurance Institute. The Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA) and Certified Manager of Software Quality (CMSQ) qualify holders to be competent in the field of software quality.

The CSQA certifies that the individual holds a professional level of competence in the principles and practices of quality assurance in the IT profession. In addition,to being experienced in the IT profession, the CMSQ certifies the individual to be qualified for managerial positions.