When developing a business continuity plan, which analytical tool focuses mainly on identifying risks?

In developing a business continuity plan, the analytical tool that specifically focuses on identifying risks is the risk assessment. This process involves systematically evaluating potential threats and vulnerabilities that can affect the organization's operations. It aims to identify what could go wrong, assess the likelihood of these risks occurring, and understand their potential impact on the enterprise.

Conducting a risk assessment is fundamental to prioritizing risks, allowing organizations to allocate resources effectively to mitigate those risks. By understanding potential risks, businesses can develop strategies to minimize their impact on critical operations, ensuring a more resilient approach to continuity planning.

While other options may contribute to the overall business continuity planning process, they do not specifically focus on identifying risks. For instance, a business continuity self-audit evaluates the effectiveness of existing continuity practices but doesn't specifically identify new risks. Resource recovery analysis looks at the recovery of essential resources following a disruption, and gap analysis focuses on comparing current capabilities to desired outcomes, rather than directly identifying risks.