CERN Resilience Function
The term RESILIENCE refers to CERN’s risk, business continuity and crisis management functions, which, together, provide the Organization’s ability to pre-empt, mitigate, respond to and recover from disruptive incidents.
Within the OSI Department, a central, transversal team – “The CERN Resilience Function” – has been established to coordinate these activities. The team provides support across all CERN Departments and ensures the coherent and effective application of the key principles defined in CERN’s Resilience Policy:
- Risk, Business Continuity, and Crisis Management methodologies are consistently applied to all CERN activities.
- Resilience measures shall be proportionate to the nature, scale, and criticality of the activities and risks involved.
- Emphasis shall be placed on anticipation and prevention rather than reactivity.
- CERN’s risk appetite and tolerances are defined and periodically reviewed in a manner consistent with its strategic priorities, scientific mission, legal obligations, and its responsibilities towards the Host and Member States.
- The Director-General is ultimately responsible for organisational resilience at CERN.
The most recent version of the Resilience Policy is available on EDMS. This page will evolve as the implementation plans for the three resilience functions become more concrete.
Risk Management
The capability to systematically identify, assess, manage, and monitor risks that could materially affect the Organization’s interests.
An Enterprise and Strategic Risk Management Lead is formally designated with the authority and mandate to provide strategic and enterprise risk management oversight CERN-wide. They are responsible for establishing, implementing, and continuously improving CERN’s risk management framework in alignment with this Policy and recognised applicable standards.
Business Continuity Management
The capability to ensure the continuity of critical activities and to restore operations within defined tolerances following a disruptive event.
With the formal designation of a Business Continuity Lead, a resource will become available with the authority and mandate to provide strategic oversight of CERN-wide business continuity management. They will be responsible for establishing, implementing, and continuously improving CERN’s business continuity management and disaster recovery framework in alignment with this Policy and recognised applicable standards.
Crisis Management
The preparedness for coordinated management of situations involving the Organization that threaten people, the environment, CERN’s assets, operations, or reputation, and that require timely decision-making under conditions of uncertainty.
A Crisis Preparedness Lead is formally designated with the authority and mandate to provide strategic oversight of CERN-wide crisis management preparation. They are responsible for establishing, implementing, and continuously improving CERN’s crisis management framework in alignment with this Policy and recognised applicable standards.
To be noted that in a crisis, the distinct CERN Crisis Management Team takes responsibility for managing CERN’s crisis response.