BCAW+R Day 1: Think you're safe from modern threats? Think again!
The BCI’s annual Business Continuity & Resilience Awareness Week (BCAW+R) kicked off with the theme “Think you're safe from modern threats? Think again!”
The week’s overall theme, “Think You're Resilient? Well, Think Again”, is designed as a wake-up call, to show that resilience isn't a static checklist but rather a living capability that must be challenged, tested, and evolved.
On the first day the webinars addressed assumptions about modern threats, with a focus on their hybrid nature.
Session highlights – hybrid threats
In “Hybrid Threats, Your Control Room is a Target!” Dr Johan De Wit, technical officer enterprise security at Siemens Smart Infrastructure, presented on operational technology (OT) – an overall term for large-scale technology, not just industry tech.
He used an example from Ukraine about targeting control rooms, an attack that took effect in minutes. The attackers used DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks, wiping PCs and servers with kill disk software. Attacks also took place on the emergency power systems, and spear-phishing attacks also targeted the people, not just the tech. As most organizations have a control room, of various sorts, this presentation helped focus on the importance of protecting this key environment.
“Leveraging AI to Counter Hybrid Warfare Risks” explored how Battleground Live, including its AI component, helps organisations identify emerging cyber stress, supply chain disruption, and hybrid threats—and translate those signals into clear operational controls. By connecting threat intelligence directly to governance and risk management processes, organisations can strengthen oversight, prioritise mitigation, and move from reactive response to proactive risk reduction.
More hybrid threats were covered in “Modern Threats, Modern Resilience,” which looked at the combination of cyber disruption, disinformation, economic pressure, and supply chain exploitation, that often slips past traditional business continuity plans. The session explored why old school approaches are no longer sufficient and gave practical guidance on preparing smarter and faster responses.
The catchily-titled “French food, Chinese Menus and How Modern Threats can be Better Understood”, discussed how many modern risks fall into the category of high-impact, low-probability events. These are scenarios that traditional risk registers often struggle to capture effectively. Drawing on academic research, the session explored how organisations can better understand, assess, and prepare for these complex threats.
In “Hybrid Warfare and How to Mitigate it” it was explained that hybrid warfare isn't just military, but includes cyber-attacks, disinformation, economic pressure, and supply chain exploitation, that can slip past traditional security. It showed why old-school plans aren't enough, and what it takes to be proactive today.
“Beyond Backup: How Data Vaults Support Ransomware Resilience” analysed how the minimum viable business (MVB) approach dictates data assets and service components required to mitigate intolerable harm in a ransomware scenario.
Look out for Day 2
Day two will be just as fast-moving, with the theme for 19 May "Think your crisis drills make you ready? Think again!" The webinars look at scenario planning and tabletop exercises, the speed of real crises, and how to stress-test plans and build flexibility so your organisation can adapt when the unexpected happens.
Business Continuity & Resilience Awareness Week (BCAW+R) 2026 | BCI
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