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More than one in five UK firms lack a detailed business continuity plan, it has been claimed.

The results of a survey conducted by analysts IDC found that 21 per cent of UK businesses do not have a business continuity plan in place.

According to BT, who commissioned the study, the findings suggest a major oversight on the part of some organisations despite the fact that events such as flooding and IT-related misfortunes dominate the news.

Commenting on the study Ed Cordin, a consulting direct for IDC, said: "The research shows that many business leadership teams are now taking notice of the business continuity issue. That is an important development because keeping the business running, come what may, has to be a key board-level concern not just one of IT."

The report also found that more than one in three UK firms plan to increase their business continuity spending in 2008.

In related news, a Kroll Ontrack report published last week found that three quarters of UK firms lack a comprehensive disaster recovery plan.

A recent survey for Connect found that one in ten companies has lost important data as a result of a backup failure. The company has now developed a unique online backup service - http://www.totalrecall.co.uk – for SMEs to ensure they can survive any disaster.