What is the difference between a Business Impact Analysis and a Critical Dependencies and Resources Register?

A Business Impact Analysis identifies priority activities and impacts over time. The register records the specific dependencies and resources needed to keep those activities running or restore them.

Should suppliers and third parties be listed in the register?

Yes. Supplier dependencies should be recorded, including key contacts, contracted services, alternative suppliers, resilience arrangements and any single points of failure in the supply chain.

How often should a Critical Dependencies and Resources Register be reviewed?

It should be reviewed at least annually and whenever there are major changes to suppliers, IT systems, premises, staffing, processes, contracts, services or the organisation’s risk profile.

Is a Critical Dependencies and Resources Register legally required in the UK?

There is no universal legal requirement for every UK organisation, but it can help demonstrate good governance, operational resilience and compliance with sector-specific expectations or contractual obligations.

Who is responsible for maintaining the register?

Responsibility usually sits with business continuity, risk, operations or senior management, with input from department heads, IT, facilities, procurement, HR and key process owners.

How can the register help identify single points of failure?

It should identify the most important dependencies, assess the consequences of their loss, highlight single points of failure and document alternatives, workarounds or recovery arrangements.

Can AI help create a Critical Dependencies and Resources Register?

Yes. AI can generate a structured UK-focused register template, suggest common dependency categories and help turn organisational inputs into a clear business continuity resource document.

EN-GB>Governance>Business Continuity Plan>United Kingdom Critical Dependencies Register

Critical Dependencies And Resources Register In The United Kingdom

Created: 12 Jun 2026

This structured dataset helps identify the critical dependencies and resources needed to maintain operations, support resilience planning, and reduce disruption risk. It is especially useful when building an AI Generated Business Continuity Plan for use in the United Kingdom.

Dependency Name	Supported Functions	Recovery Priority	Fallback Option	Dependency Owner
Technology System
Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace	Email, documents, calendars, collaboration	Critical	Secondary email, offline files, phone contact list	IT Manager
Identity and Access Management	User login, MFA, access control	Critical	Break-glass admin account, vendor support	IT Security Lead
Utility
Primary Internet Connection	Cloud systems, VoIP, payments, remote access	Critical	4G or 5G router, secondary ISP	IT Manager
Technology System
Business Telephony and VoIP	Customer calls, supplier contact, incident escalation	High	Mobile phones, diverted numbers, webchat	Operations Manager
Utility
Mobile Network Service	Staff contact, MFA, field operations	High	Alternate network SIMs, landlines, messaging apps	IT Manager
Mains Electricity Supply	Premises, IT, lighting, equipment	Critical	UPS, generator, remote working	Facilities Manager
Water Supply	Welfare, hygiene, catering, production	High	Bottled water, alternative site, temporary welfare	Facilities Manager
Gas Supply	Heating, hot water, catering, production heat	Medium	Electric heaters, alternative site, outsourced catering	Facilities Manager
Premises
Main Office Premises	Administration, management, customer service	High	Remote working, serviced office, other branch	Facilities Manager
Warehouse Premises	Stockholding, dispatch, returns	Critical	Third-party logistics, temporary storage, split stock	Logistics Manager
Manufacturing Site	Production, quality control, maintenance	Critical	Contract manufacturer, alternate line, priority products	Production Manager
Retail Store Premises	Sales, customer service, stock display	High	Online sales, nearby branch, pop-up site	Retail Manager
Technology System
Contact Centre Platform	Inbound calls, support tickets, call recording	Critical	Overflow provider, mobiles, reduced phone hours	Customer Service Manager
Customer Relationship Management System	Sales, customer service, account management	Critical	Exported customer list, spreadsheet log	Sales Operations Lead
Enterprise Resource Planning System	Orders, stock, purchasing, production, finance	Critical	Manual order forms, stock snapshots, vendor support	Operations Director
Accounting System	Bookkeeping, invoicing, management accounts, VAT	High	Offline invoice templates, accountant access, backups	Finance Manager
Payroll System	Salary processing, PAYE, pensions submissions	Critical	Payroll bureau, prior month run, manual adjustments	Payroll Manager
HR Information System	Employee records, absence, onboarding, HR reporting	High	Secure HR export, paper starter forms	HR Manager
Website and Ecommerce Platform	Online sales, customer information, lead generation	Critical	Status page, phone orders, marketplace channels	Digital Manager
Supplier
Payment Gateway	Card payments, ecommerce checkout, refunds	Critical	Secondary gateway, bank transfer, pay by link	Finance Manager
Equipment
Card Terminals	Retail sales, in-person payments, refunds	Critical	Cash, payment links, spare terminals	Retail Manager
Technology System
Online Banking Access	Payments, cash management, supplier settlement	Critical	Mandate signatories, branch support, alternate bank	Finance Director
Supplier
Business Banking Provider	Receipts, payments, working capital, cards	Critical	Secondary account, cash reserve, manual approvals	Finance Director
Cloud Hosting Provider	Web apps, databases, storage, APIs	Critical	Multi-region failover, backups, alternate host	Head of IT
Technology System
Backup and Restore Service	Data recovery, ransomware response, audit evidence	Critical	Offline backups, immutable storage, clean rebuild	IT Manager
Disaster Recovery Environment	Critical system restoration and testing	Critical	Manual workarounds, supplier recovery service	Head of IT
VPN and Remote Access	Remote work, support access, secure administration	High	Zero-trust access, cloud apps, office access	IT Security Lead
Supplier
Cybersecurity Monitoring Service	Threat detection, incident response, log review	High	Internal triage, insurer panel, incident retainer	IT Security Lead
Equipment
Staff Laptops and Desktops	Office work, customer service, finance, operations	High	Spare devices, BYOD controls, hot-desk PCs	IT Manager
Routers, Switches and Wi-Fi	Office network, internet, printers, VoIP	Critical	Spare router, mobile hotspot, support contract	IT Manager
On-Premises Servers	File shares, line-of-business apps, authentication	Critical	Cloud restore, spare hardware, virtual replicas	IT Manager
Printers and Scanners	Dispatch notes, invoices, HR forms, scanning	Medium	PDF workflow, local print shop, spare device	Office Manager
Forklifts and Pallet Trucks	Goods-in, picking, dispatch, stock movement	High	Hire equipment, manual handling limits, 3PL support	Warehouse Manager
Key Production Machinery	Manufacturing, packaging, quality output	Critical	Maintenance contract, spare parts, outsource production	Production Manager
Refrigeration and Cold Storage	Chilled stock, medicines, samples, food safety	Critical	Backup generator, emergency cold store, dry ice	Operations Manager
Technology System
Point Of Sale System	Retail transactions, stock updates, receipts	Critical	Offline mode, manual receipts, cash process	Retail Manager
Inventory Management System	Stock control, replenishment, fulfilment, returns	Critical	Stock snapshot, manual counts, spreadsheet log	Inventory Manager
Supplier
Courier and Parcel Carrier	Customer deliveries, returns, service parts	High	Secondary carrier, customer collection, local courier	Logistics Manager
Freight Forwarder	Imports, exports, customs movement, haulage	High	Alternate forwarder, direct carrier booking	Supply Chain Manager
Third-Party Logistics Provider	Warehousing, pick-pack, dispatch, returns	Critical	Fallback 3PL, in-house dispatch, priority SKUs	Logistics Manager
Critical Raw Material Supplier	Production, repairs, product fulfilment	Critical	Dual source, safety stock, substitute material	Procurement Manager
Packaging Supplier	Dispatch, product protection, labelling	High	Approved secondary supplier, generic packaging	Procurement Manager
Accountant and Tax Adviser	Accounts, tax filings, payroll support, advice	Medium	Alternate accountant, internal finance records	Finance Director
Legal Adviser	Contracts, disputes, employment, incident advice	Medium	Panel firm, insurer helpline, template contracts	Managing Director
Insurance Broker and Claims Contact	Claims, business interruption cover, incident support	High	Insurer emergency line, policy schedule copy	Finance Director
Cleaning and Waste Contractor	Site hygiene, waste removal, reopening readiness	Medium	Emergency contractor, local authority guidance	Facilities Manager
Security Guarding and Alarm Monitoring	Site security, incident alerts, access control	High	Police escalation, temporary guards, keyholder rota	Facilities Manager
Technology System
Building Access Control System	Staff entry, visitor control, site security	High	Manual sign-in, keys, security guard override	Facilities Manager
CCTV System	Security, incident investigation, safety monitoring	Medium	Manual patrols, temporary cameras, alarm logs	Facilities Manager
Equipment
Fire Detection and Alarm System	Fire safety, evacuation, premises occupation	Critical	Fire watch, temporary alarm, close affected area	Responsible Person
Document or Record
Fire Evacuation Procedure	Safe evacuation, muster checks, emergency roles	Critical	Printed copies, warden briefing, landlord plan	Responsible Person
People
First Aid Equipment and Trained First Aiders	Emergency care, workplace safety, incident response	Critical	Neighbouring first aiders, emergency services, rota cover	Health and Safety Manager
Document or Record
Health and Safety Risk Assessments	Safe work, compliance, incident prevention	High	Cloud copy, paper file, competent review	Health and Safety Manager
Business Continuity Plan	Incident response, recovery coordination, communications	Critical	Printed copy, secure cloud copy, board pack	Business Continuity Lead
IT Disaster Recovery Plan	System restore, technical roles, recovery steps	Critical	Offline copy, supplier runbook, restore checklist	Head of IT
Emergency Contact List	Staff alerts, supplier escalation, crisis team contact	Critical	Printed wallet card, secure offline copy	Business Continuity Lead
Key Supplier Contact Register	Supplier escalation, alternate sourcing, contract support	High	Contract file, procurement system, email archive	Procurement Manager
Data
Customer Database	Sales, support, fulfilment, service notices	Critical	Encrypted export, CRM backup, limited paper file	Data Owner
Employee Records	Payroll, HR, emergency contact, compliance	High	Secure HR export, payroll reports, paper personnel files	HR Manager
Payroll Records	Payroll, PAYE, pensions, audits	Critical	Payroll bureau copy, prior payroll reports	Payroll Manager
Accounting Records	Accounts, audit, tax, management reporting	Critical	Cloud backup, accountant copy, bank exports	Finance Director
VAT Records	VAT returns, tax evidence, HMRC enquiries	High	Accounting backup, invoice archive, HMRC account	Finance Manager
Document or Record
Customer and Supplier Contracts	Obligations, pricing, service levels, disputes	High	Contract repository backup, legal adviser copies	Commercial Manager
Insurance Policies and Schedules	Claims, cover checks, broker escalation	High	Broker copy, insurer portal, board pack copy	Finance Director
Statutory Company Records	Company administration, filings, due diligence	Medium	Companies House filings, adviser copy, cloud archive	Company Secretary
Technology System
Companies House Filing Access	Confirmation statement, accounts filing, officer updates	Medium	Accountant filing, Companies House support, paper forms	Company Secretary
HMRC Online Services Access	PAYE, VAT, corporation tax, customs	High	Agent access, HMRC helpline, stored credentials	Finance Manager
Supplier
Workplace Pension Provider	Pension contributions, auto-enrolment, payroll	High	Provider support, payroll bureau, contribution report	Payroll Manager
People
Crisis Management Team	Decision-making, escalation, priorities, communications	Critical	Deputies, delegated authority matrix, board escalation	Managing Director
System Administrators	System recovery, access control, vendor liaison	Critical	Deputy admins, MSP access, break-glass process	Head of IT
Payroll Specialists	Payroll run, PAYE submissions, pension files	Critical	Cross-trained finance staff, payroll bureau	Payroll Manager
Payment Authorisers	Supplier payments, payroll approval, emergency spend	Critical	Deputy signatories, bank mandate update, board approval	Finance Director
Customer Support Team	Customer communications, complaints, service updates	High	Scripted updates, outsourced overflow, sales support	Customer Service Manager
Warehouse Operatives	Picking, packing, dispatch, returns	High	Agency labour, 3PL support, priority orders	Warehouse Manager
Certified Machine Operators	Production, safe equipment use, quality output	Critical	Cross-trained staff, agency specialists, reduced shifts	Production Manager
Data Protection Lead	Breach triage, DSARs, privacy advice	High	Deputy lead, external privacy adviser, ICO guidance	General Counsel
Document or Record
Personal Data Breach Procedure	Breach assessment, ICO reporting, communications	Critical	Printed checklist, adviser template, ICO guidance	Data Protection Lead
Records Of Processing Activities	Privacy compliance, breach triage, audits	Medium	Privacy platform export, DPO copy, cloud archive	Data Protection Lead
Security Of Processing Controls	System resilience, confidentiality, integrity, availability	Critical	Security runbook, tested backups, supplier assurance	IT Security Lead
Data Protection Act 2018 Compliance File	UK data protection compliance and evidence	Medium	DPO copy, legal adviser copy, cloud archive	Data Protection Lead
Health And Safety Compliance File	Workplace safety duties, inspections, incident defence	High	HSE guidance, adviser copy, cloud archive	Health and Safety Manager
Fire Safety Risk Assessment	Fire precautions, evacuation, premises safety	High	Competent assessor copy, landlord copy, reinspection	Responsible Person
Employers Liability Insurance Certificate	Insurance compliance, claims, workplace evidence	Medium	Broker copy, insurer portal, printed certificate	HR Manager
Technology System
Public Status Page	Customer incident updates, outage notices, trust	High	Social media, website banner, email bulletin	Communications Manager
Corporate Social Media Accounts	Customer updates, reputation, marketing, alerts	Medium	Website notice, email campaign, PR agency	Marketing Manager
Supplier
Staff SMS Alert Service	Mass staff alerts, site closure notices	High	Phone tree, messaging app, email broadcast	Business Continuity Lead
Technology System
Intranet and Knowledge Base	Procedures, policies, staff guidance, FAQs	Medium	Exported PDFs, shared drive copy, email briefings	Operations Manager
Document Management System	Policies, contracts, evidence, controlled documents	High	Read-only archive, local controlled copies	Quality Manager
Quality Management System	Quality controls, audits, non-conformance, approvals	High	Paper forms, offline procedures, batch quarantine	Quality Manager
Data
Product Specification Data	Production, purchasing, labelling, quality control	Critical	Approved PDF set, supplier specifications, backups	Product Manager
Open Orders Data	Fulfilment, customer updates, revenue recovery	Critical	Daily export, ecommerce report, manual order log	Operations Manager
Supplier Master Data	Purchasing, payments, supplier escalation	High	ERP export, procurement records, bank validation	Procurement Manager
Current Price Lists	Sales, quoting, ecommerce, renewals	High	Approved spreadsheet, CRM export, finance copy	Sales Director
Document or Record
Board Minutes and Decision Log	Governance, approvals, delegated authority	Medium	Company secretary copy, signed PDFs, adviser file	Company Secretary
Delegated Authority Matrix	Emergency approvals, spend control, decisions	Critical	Board resolution, finance policy, director approval	Company Secretary
Data
Supplier Contracts Database	SLA checks, termination rights, alternate sourcing	High	Procurement exports, legal archive, supplier copies	Procurement Manager
Supplier
Managed IT Service Provider	IT support, monitoring, recovery, user helpdesk	Critical	Escalation contact, internal admin, alternate MSP	Head of IT
Technology System
Software Licence Portals	Licence renewal, activation, user provisioning	Medium	Reseller support, licence inventory, grace period	IT Manager
Critical API Integrations	Payments, stock sync, shipping, reporting	Critical	Manual upload, queued retries, alternate connector	Integration Lead
Supplier
Domain Name and DNS	Website, email routing, customer portals	Critical	Registrar support, secondary DNS, admin recovery	IT Manager
Technology System
SSL Certificates	Secure website, APIs, customer portals	High	Auto-renewal, certificate authority support, spare cert	IT Manager
Email Security Gateway	Malware filtering, phishing defence, email continuity	High	Provider bypass, quarantine release, alternate email	IT Security Lead
Password Manager	Shared credentials, emergency access, MFA recovery	High	Emergency kit, sealed credentials, vendor recovery	IT Security Lead
Equipment
Premises Keys and Access Cards	Site access, emergency entry, opening routines	High	Keyholder rota, landlord access, locksmith	Facilities Manager
Critical Spare Parts	Maintenance, production uptime, equipment repair	High	Emergency supplier, cannibalised parts, hire equipment	Maintenance Manager
Technology System
Building Management System	Heating, ventilation, alarms, energy control	Medium	Manual controls, facilities contractor, landlord support	Facilities Manager
Equipment
HVAC Equipment	Safe working environment, stock condition, comfort	Medium	Portable units, remote work, maintenance callout	Facilities Manager
Cash Float and Safe	Cash sales, petty cash, emergency purchases	Medium	Bank withdrawal, company card, director float	Finance Manager
Company Credit Cards	Emergency spend, travel, supplier purchases	High	Alternate cardholder, bank transfer, petty cash	Finance Director
Supplier
Fuel Cards	Fleet operations, deliveries, field service	High	Alternate card, company card, approved cash claims	Fleet Manager
Equipment
Fleet Vehicles	Deliveries, field visits, engineer response	High	Hire vehicles, courier service, staff mileage	Fleet Manager
Supplier
Vehicle Maintenance Provider	Fleet safety, MOTs, repairs, availability	Medium	Alternative garage, hire vehicle, recovery service	Fleet Manager
Technology System
Staff Scheduling System	Rota planning, shift cover, absence response	Medium	Printed rota, spreadsheet, supervisor phone tree	HR Manager
Data
Training and Competence Records	Safe work, regulated tasks, audit evidence	Medium	LMS export, certificates, manager records	HR Manager
Document or Record
Operating Licences and Permits	Regulated trading, site operations, inspections	High	Regulator portal, legal adviser copy, council copy	Compliance Manager
Environmental Permit Records	Waste, emissions, regulated site operations	Medium	Environment Agency portal, adviser copy, site file	Compliance Manager
Food Safety Management Records	Food production, hygiene, inspections, traceability	Critical	Paper logs, duplicate records, adviser copy	Food Safety Manager
Product Recall Procedure	Recall decisions, traceability, customer notices	Critical	Printed checklist, insurer support, regulator guidance	Quality Manager
Data
Customer Complaint Records	Complaint handling, FCA or sector reporting, quality	Medium	CRM export, email archive, spreadsheet log	Customer Service Manager
Technology System
FCA Regulatory Return Access	Regulatory returns, notifications, permissions	High	Compliance consultant, FCA contact, deputy user	Compliance Manager
Document or Record
Important Business Services Mapping	FCA operational resilience, impact tolerance evidence	Critical	Board pack copy, compliance file, scenario tests	Compliance Manager
Incident Communication Templates	Customer notices, staff updates, media holding lines	High	Printed pack, PR adviser templates, prior notices	Communications Manager
Supplier
PR and Media Adviser	Reputation management, media response, stakeholder updates	Medium	Internal spokesperson, legal adviser, holding statement	Communications Manager
Document or Record
Board and Investor Contact List	Governance escalation, approvals, investor updates	High	Company secretary file, email archive, adviser copy	Company Secretary
Records Retention Schedule	Data retention, deletion, legal hold, audits	Medium	DPO copy, policy archive, legal adviser copy	Data Protection Lead
Supplier
Secure Records Archive	Archived contracts, HR files, accounts, evidence	Medium	Digital copies, retrieval SLA, alternate archive	Office Manager
Postal and Mailroom Services	Legal notices, invoices, customer correspondence	Low	Email, courier, director home collection	Office Manager
Registered Office Service	Statutory mail, Companies House address, notices	Medium	Director address, accountant office, address update	Company Secretary
Landlord or Managing Agent	Building access, repairs, lease obligations, utilities	High	Lease file, emergency contractor, insurer contact	Facilities Manager
Document or Record
Waste Transfer Notes	Waste compliance, site inspections, contractor assurance	Low	Contractor portal, paper copies, waste register	Facilities Manager
COSHH Assessments	Chemical safety, cleaning, production, maintenance	High	Supplier safety data sheets, HSE guidance, paper file	Health and Safety Manager
Safety Data Sheets	Chemical handling, emergency response, COSHH	High	Supplier website, printed folder, EHS database	Health and Safety Manager
Supplier
Clinical Supplies	Patient care, first aid, clinical operations	Critical	Approved alternate supplier, emergency stock, NHS route	Clinical Lead
Data
Care Plans and Medication Records	Safe care delivery, medication, safeguarding	Critical	Paper care files, secure export, GP contact	Registered Manager
Safeguarding Records	Child protection, referrals, school continuity	Critical	Secure DSL copy, local authority contact, paper file	Designated Safeguarding Lead
Technology System
Charity Commission Online Access	Annual return, trustee updates, charity records	Medium	Deputy trustee login, accountant support, commission help	Charity Secretary
Document or Record
Grant Funding Agreements	Funding claims, reporting, restricted funds, audits	High	Funder portal, finance copy, trustee archive	Finance Manager
Data
Volunteer Contact List	Volunteer mobilisation, rota cover, emergency outreach	Medium	Coordinator phones, email export, paper rota	Volunteer Coordinator
Supplier
Outsourced Call Handling Provider	Overflow calls, emergency messages, out-of-hours cover	High	Internal phone tree, voicemail update, webform	Customer Service Manager
Technology System
Customer Portal	Orders, tickets, invoices, account updates	Critical	Email requests, phone support, status page	Digital Manager
Project Management System	Project delivery, task tracking, client updates	Medium	Exported plan, spreadsheet tracker, daily stand-up	Project Office Lead
Time Recording System	Billing, payroll inputs, utilisation reporting	Medium	Timesheet spreadsheet, calendar records, supervisor approval	Finance Manager
Data
Sales Pipeline Data	Forecasting, sales recovery, key account contact	Medium	CRM export, account manager notes, email archive	Sales Director
Technology System
Marketing Automation Platform	Campaigns, customer updates, consent management	Medium	CRM mailing, website notice, manual segmentation	Marketing Manager
Data
Marketing Consent Records	Email marketing, lawful contact, preference checks	High	CRM backup, suppression list export, platform support	Marketing Manager
Technology System
Procurement System	Purchase orders, approvals, supplier spend	High	Manual PO log, delegated authority, supplier email	Procurement Manager
Laboratory Information System	Sample tracking, results, quality, reporting	Critical	Manual sample log, paper worksheets, delayed reporting	Laboratory Manager
Supplier
Laboratory Reagents and Consumables	Testing, analysis, quality assurance, diagnostics	Critical	Approved alternate supplier, minimum stock, outsourcing	Laboratory Manager
Calibration Provider	Measurement accuracy, quality assurance, compliance	Medium	Alternate accredited provider, quarantine equipment	Quality Manager
Technology System
Temperature Monitoring System	Cold chain, food safety, medicines, samples	Critical	Manual checks, data loggers, emergency alarms	Quality Manager
Data
Visitor Records	Evacuation roll call, security, contact tracing	Medium	Paper visitor book, access logs, receptionist list	Office Manager
Document or Record
Premises Lease Documents	Access rights, repairs, insurance, relocation	Medium	Solicitor copy, landlord copy, cloud archive	Facilities Manager
Business Rates Account	Premises costs, relief claims, council notices	Low	Council portal, finance records, landlord copy	Finance Manager
Data
Purchase Order Records	Supplier spend, receiving, invoice matching	High	Supplier statements, manual PO log, email archive	Procurement Manager
Accounts Receivable Ledger	Credit control, cash collection, customer statements	High	Accounting backup, invoice exports, bank records	Finance Manager
Accounts Payable Ledger	Supplier payments, cashflow, dispute handling	High	Supplier statements, bank records, invoice inbox	Finance Manager
Payment Files and Templates	Payroll payments, supplier batches, bank uploads	Critical	Bank templates, payroll reports, manual payment list	Finance Director
Equipment
Cheque Books and Paying-In Books	Fallback payments, banking, deposits	Low	Online banking, bank transfer, branch support	Finance Manager
Critical Stationery and Forms	Manual orders, visitor logs, dispatch notes	Low	Printable templates, local supplier, digital forms	Office Manager
UPS Units and Generator	Power resilience, safe shutdown, continuity	Critical	Generator hire, site closure, remote working	Facilities Manager
Supplier
Emergency Fuel Supply	Generator runtime, fleet, deliveries, field response	High	Secondary fuel supplier, local fuel cards, rationing	Facilities Manager
Emergency Restoration Contractor	Flood, fire, drying, salvage, reopening	High	Insurer panel, landlord contractor, local specialist	Facilities Manager
Temporary Workspace Provider	Alternative office, meetings, incident room	Medium	Home working, hotel meeting room, client site	Business Continuity Lead
Document or Record
Remote Working Policy	Home working, security, staff expectations	Medium	Manager briefing, HR template, intranet copy	HR Manager
Equipment
Remote Working Equipment	Home working, customer service, finance, admin	High	Spare laptops, monitor pool, office collection	IT Manager
Supplier
Employee Assistance Provider	Staff welfare, trauma support, absence reduction	Low	Occupational health, NHS 111, HR support	HR Manager
Occupational Health Provider	Fitness for work, absence, adjustments, wellbeing	Medium	Alternate OH provider, GP notes, HR case review	HR Manager
Temporary Staffing Agency	Absence cover, warehouse labour, admin cover	Medium	Second agency, overtime, contractor pool	HR Manager
Data
Key Customer Contact List	Priority customer updates, account recovery, renewals	Critical	CRM export, account manager phones, contract file	Sales Director
Document or Record
Major Customer SLAs	Service recovery priorities, penalties, notices	High	Legal copy, CRM attachments, account manager pack	Commercial Manager
Technology System
Service Desk System	IT tickets, customer support, incident tracking	High	Shared mailbox, spreadsheet ticket log, phone queue	Service Desk Manager
Data
IT and Fixed Asset Register	Insurance claims, rebuilds, replacement ordering	High	Accounting records, MDM export, insurer schedule	Finance Manager
Technology System
Mobile Device Management	Device security, remote wipe, app deployment	High	Manual enrolment, vendor support, spare devices	IT Security Lead
Endpoint Protection Platform	Malware defence, ransomware detection, isolation	Critical	EDR support, isolate network, clean rebuild images	IT Security Lead
Data
Device Build Images	Rapid device rebuild, secure configuration	High	Cloud deployment profile, vendor media, standard build	IT Manager
System Configuration Backups	Firewall, router, server, application recovery	Critical	Vendor defaults, documented settings, MSP copy	IT Manager
Equipment
Firewall and Security Appliances	Network security, VPN, internet access, segmentation	Critical	Hot spare, vendor RMA, cloud firewall	IT Security Lead
Technology System
Source Code Repository	Software development, releases, incident fixes	Critical	Mirrored repository, offline clone, vendor export	Engineering Manager
Deployment Pipeline	Software releases, fixes, rollback, testing	High	Manual deployment, rollback package, alternate runner	Engineering Manager
System Monitoring and Alerting	Outage detection, performance, incident escalation	High	Manual checks, vendor status pages, customer reports	Head of IT
Log Management Platform	Security investigation, audit trail, root cause analysis	Medium	Local logs, SIEM export, cloud snapshots	IT Security Lead
Data
Audit Trail Data	Investigations, compliance evidence, fraud review	High	Immutable logs, backups, supplier exports	Compliance Manager
Technology System
Cloud File Storage	Shared files, project documents, remote working	Critical	Local sync, backup vault, read-only archive	IT Manager
Data
File Permission Records	Access recovery, least privilege, audit	Medium	IAM export, owner review, restore inheritance	IT Security Lead
Supplier
External Training Provider	Mandatory training, licences, competence refreshers	Low	Online provider, internal trainer, delayed refresher	HR Manager
Accessible Communications Provider	Accessible notices, translation, vulnerable customers	Low	Plain English templates, interpreter service, adviser review	Communications Manager
Data
Reasonable Adjustments Register	Staff support, customer access, service continuity	Medium	HR notes, manager briefing, accessibility review	HR Manager
Technology System
Whistleblowing Reporting Channel	Protected disclosures, compliance alerts, investigations	Low	Named officer, legal adviser, paper report route	Compliance Manager
Data
Incident Evidence Repository	Claims, investigations, lessons learned, audits	High	Secure case folder, insurer portal, legal hold	Business Continuity Lead
Document or Record
Lessons Learned Register	Plan improvement, audit evidence, board reporting	Low	Meeting notes, action tracker, post-incident report	Business Continuity Lead

What Should A UK Business Continuity Dependency Register Include?

A useful register should separate technology systems, data, premises, equipment, people, suppliers, utilities, and documents because each fails in different ways and needs a different fallback. For example, payroll may depend on HR records, bank payment access, named finance staff, internet connectivity, and a Bacs bureau or banking provider.

Which Dependencies Usually Need The Highest Recovery Priority?

The records show that the most time-critical dependencies are usually identity and access management, internet connectivity, telephony, email, core customer systems, payment systems, accounting, payroll, backup services, incident communications, and key operational staff. These should be mapped to recovery time objectives in the Business Continuity Plan and tested with realistic outage scenarios.

What UK Legal And Regulatory Issues Affect Continuity Planning?

Personal data and records: customer, employee, CCTV, HR, and financial records should have recovery controls aligned to UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, including availability and resilience of processing systems.
Health and safety: evacuation procedures, first aid, fire safety records, and competent incident roles support duties under UK health and safety and fire safety law.
Financial and accounting records: finance teams should protect accounting records, payroll records, tax records, and Companies House filing access because UK companies must keep adequate accounting records and meet filing and tax deadlines.
Regulated sectors: FCA-regulated firms, payment service providers, care providers, schools, charities, and public-sector suppliers may need enhanced continuity evidence, supplier assurance, and incident reporting routes.

How Should This Register Be Used In A Business Continuity Plan?

Use the register to identify single points of failure, assign named internal owners, confirm supplier fallbacks, and prioritise restoration. The strongest plans link each critical dependency to a tested workaround, such as remote working, secondary telecoms, offline order capture, manual payment approval, alternative premises, or replacement suppliers.

Critical Dependencies and Resources Register

Want to Generate Your own Business Continuity Plan?

Docaro AI can help you write your own Business Continuity Plan for use in the United Kingdom in minutes.

Generate Your Document Now

FAQs

What is a Critical Dependencies and Resources Register?

A Critical Dependencies and Resources Register is a structured record of the people, suppliers, systems, facilities, equipment, data and utilities that an organisation relies on to deliver essential activities during disruption.

Why is a Critical Dependencies and Resources Register important for business continuity in the UK?

How does this register support a Business Continuity Plan?

What should be included in a Critical Dependencies and Resources Register?

Who should use a Critical Dependencies and Resources Register in the United Kingdom?

Show All FAQs

You Might Also Be Interested In

Business Continuity Plan Section Catalogue In The United Kingdom

Explore United Kingdom business continuity plan sections to structure resilient planning, response, and recovery documentation.

Business Disruption Scenario Catalogue In The United Kingdom

United Kingdom business disruption scenarios to support continuity planning, risk assessment, and operational resilience.

Business Impact Analysis Function Register In The United Kingdom

United Kingdom Business Impact Analysis Function Register for identifying critical functions and supporting continuity planning.

Recovery Objectives And Planning Metrics In The United Kingdom

Explore recovery objectives and planning metrics for the United Kingdom to improve business continuity, resilience, and recovery planning.

Business Continuity Roles And Responsibilities Register In The United Kingdom

UK business continuity roles and responsibilities register for clear ownership, governance, and response planning.

Business Continuity Communications Matrix In The United Kingdom

United Kingdom business continuity communications matrix for roles, contacts, escalation paths, and crisis response planning.

United Kingdom Business Continuity Plan Scope Decision Tree

United Kingdom guide to choosing the right business continuity plan scope with a practical decision tree.

Business Continuity Testing And Exercise Methods In The United Kingdom

United Kingdom guide to business continuity testing and exercise methods that strengthen resilience and recovery readiness.

Business Continuity Plan Maintenance Schedule In The United Kingdom

United Kingdom guide to business continuity plan maintenance schedules, reviews, updates, and compliance readiness.

United Kingdom RTO And RPO Decision Tree For Business Continuity Planning

United Kingdom RTO and RPO decision tree to guide recovery targets, continuity priorities, and disaster recovery planning.

UK Business Continuity Standards And Guidance Map

UK business continuity standards and guidance mapped to help organisations compare frameworks and improve resilience planning.

United Kingdom Disaster Recovery Plan Activation Decision Tree

United Kingdom disaster recovery activation decision tree for assessing incidents, escalation triggers and response actions.

References and Information Sources

1.https://www.gov.uk/paye-for-employers

2.https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/section/advice-guidance/all-topics

3.https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/cctv-and-video-surveillance/

4.https://www.gov.uk/workplace-fire-safety-your-responsibilities

5.https://www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid/

6.https://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/risk/

7.https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/security/

8.https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/employment/

9.https://www.gov.uk/paye-for-employers/keeping-records

10.https://strivex.co.uk/are-management-accounts-audited/

11.https://www.gov.uk/vat-record-keeping

12.https://www.gov.uk/file-your-confirmation-statement-with-companies-house

13.https://www.gov.uk/log-in-register-hmrc-online-services

14.https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/report-a-breach/

15.https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/report-a-breach/personal-data-breach-assessment/

16.https://www.bridewell.com/data-privacy-audit

17.https://www.splunk.com/en_us/blog/learn/cia-triad-confidentiality-integrity-availability.html

18.https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/

19.https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6985ee50c106cc5501b6e471/20260206__JSP_375_Chapter_4_Workplace_Inspections__V1.5_FINAL-O.pdf

20.https://safety.eng.cam.ac.uk/fire-safety

21.https://javainsurance.co.uk/why-workplace-safety-matters-for-insurance/

22.https://www.york.ac.uk/about/organisation/governance-documents/delegated-approvals/

23.https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/phishing

24.https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/top-tips-for-staying-secure-online/password-managers

25.https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot

26.https://ghgprotocol.org/sites/default/files/2022-12/Ch5_GHGP_Tech.pdf

27.https://www.gov.uk/guidance/product-safety-advice-for-businesses

28.https://www.fca.org.uk/firms/regdata

29.https://www.fca.org.uk/firms/operational-resilience

30.https://www.gov.uk/limited-company-formation/company-address

31.https://www.gov.uk/managing-your-waste-an-overview

32.https://www.hse.gov.uk/textiles/chemicals.htm

33.https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/datasheets.htm

34.https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers

35.https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/regulations-enforcement/regulation-17-good-governance

36.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2

37.https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prepare-a-charity-annual-return

38.https://www.gov.uk/introduction-to-business-rates

39.https://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/

40.https://www.hse.gov.uk/health-surveillance/

41.https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/device-security-guidance

42.https://www.gov.uk/guidance/equality-act-2010-guidance

43.https://www.nypartnerships.org.uk/sites/default/files/Partnership%20files/Health%20and%20wellbeing/Health%20professionals/Tools%2C%20procedures%20and%20guidelines%20for%20social%20care%20providers/Service%20Continuity%20Plans.pptx

44.https://www.gov.uk/whistleblowing