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Resiliency Statement of Intent

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RESILIENCY STATEMENT OF INTENT

Client Name:   Organization:

Provider Name:   Organization:

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Client is undertaking initiatives to evaluate and enhance physical, operational, and community resiliency in connection with the project identified below; and

WHEREAS, Provider has represented experience and capacity to provide resiliency planning, risk assessment, and implementation advisory services tailored to the Client's objectives; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to set forth the scope, terms, and mutual commitments for initial resiliency planning and related services through this Statement of Intent, which will, upon execution and satisfaction of conditions set forth herein, govern initial engagements between the parties.

PROJECT IDENTIFICATION

Project Name:   Location:

SCOPE OF WORK

Provider shall perform the services described below in a professional manner consistent with industry standards. Services will include assessment, planning, stakeholder coordination, deliverable preparation, and reasonable revisions as set forth in the scope field.

PAYMENT TERMS

Total Estimated Budget:

Payment due within days of invoice. Late payment shall incur a fee of on any outstanding balance.

TERM AND TERMINATION

This Statement of Intent shall commence on Start Date: and continue until End Date: , unless earlier terminated in accordance with this section.

Either party may terminate for convenience upon days' prior written notice. Termination for cause is permitted immediately upon material breach by the other party that is not cured within a commercially reasonable cure period.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Each party shall maintain in confidence all non-public information disclosed by the other party that is identified as confidential or that a reasonable person would understand to be confidential given the nature of the information and the circumstances of disclosure ("Confidential Information"). Confidential Information shall not include information that (i) is or becomes publicly available through no fault of the receiving party; (ii) was lawfully known to the receiving party prior to disclosure; (iii) is rightfully received from a third party without a duty of confidentiality; or (iv) is independently developed by the receiving party.

The receiving party shall use Confidential Information only for the purposes of performing obligations under this Statement of Intent and shall protect such information with at least the same degree of care it uses to protect its own confidential information, but no less than reasonable care. Upon termination, the receiving party shall return or destroy Confidential Information as directed by the disclosing party.

GOVERNING LAW

This Statement of Intent shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of without regard to conflict of law principles.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT; MISCELLANEOUS

This Statement of Intent constitutes the entire understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior proposals, negotiations, and agreements, whether written or oral. Any modification must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties. If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

Certification: By signing below, each signatory represents and warrants that they are duly authorized to execute this Statement of Intent on behalf of the party named and that the information provided herein is true and correct to the best of their knowledge.

Client Name (Print):

By:

Date:

Provider Name (Print):

By:

Date:

Enter text✕

What a Resiliency Statement of Intent Is and When to Use It

A Resiliency Statement of Intent is a concise organizational document that declares planned actions, priorities, and responsibilities for maintaining critical operations during disruptions. It sets recovery objectives, identifies critical functions and stakeholders, and records the intended level of service and communications approach. Organizations use it to align internal teams and external partners, clarify decision authority, and document short-term contingencies while a full continuity plan is developed or updated.

Why a Clear Resiliency Statement of Intent Matters

A well-crafted statement reduces ambiguity during an incident, establishes roles and authority, and preserves evidence of intent for regulators, insurers, and partners. It supports faster decisions, helps coordinate cross-functional response, and documents an auditable commitment to continuity and recovery objectives.

Why a Clear Resiliency Statement of Intent Matters

Typical Users and Teams That Prepare This Statement

Organizations across sectors prepare a Resiliency Statement of Intent when formalizing continuity priorities, especially before or after risk events.

  • Enterprise continuity teams and risk managers who coordinate recovery planning and vendor expectations.
  • Small business owners and operations leaders who need a concise delegation of authority during a disruption.
  • Government agencies and nonprofit leaders who must document continuity intent for oversight and funding.

The document is suitable for internal distribution and as a supporting record for insurers, regulators, and key third parties.

Core Components to Include in Your Resiliency Statement of Intent

A professional statement balances clarity and brevity: define the scope, state objectives, list critical functions, assign authority, describe communications, and note short‑term recovery targets.

Purpose

Clear statement of intent and the incident types covered, including the primary objectives for continuity and thresholds for escalation.

Scope

Which business units, locations, systems, and third parties the statement covers, and any exclusions or temporary limitations.

Critical Functions

Enumerate the services and processes prioritized for recovery, with brief justification and minimum acceptable service levels.

Recovery Objectives

Target recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO) expressed in practical, measurable terms.

Roles

Names or titles of decision-makers, alternates, and delegated authorities for immediate actions and vendor coordination.

Communications

Designated internal and external communication channels, stakeholder notification priorities, and public messaging ownership.

Step-by-Step: Completing a Resiliency Statement of Intent

Follow a clear ordering to ensure the statement is complete, consistent, and quickly actionable during an incident.

  • 01
    Draft Core Details: Define purpose, scope, and critical functions first.
  • 02
    Assign Authorities: List decision-makers and backups with contact details.
  • 03
    Set Objectives: Add measurable RTO and RPO targets.
  • 04
    Review and Sign: Obtain authorized signatures and record the effective date.

How to Configure an Online Completion Workflow

Set up an eSubmission workflow that enforces required fields, captures audit data, and routes signatures in the correct order.

Field Configuration
Required Fields Enable validation for name, date, contact, and signature fields.
Signer Order Set signer sequence to reflect authority and escalation.
Authentication Select email or SMS code authentication, add stronger options if needed.
Audit Trail Enable timestamp, IP capture, and certificate of completion.

Where to File or Send the Completed Statement

Decide distribution points before signing so recipients receive the correct version and audit trail immediately after completion.

  • Internal Records: Store signed copy in enterprise record repository.
  • Regulatory Filing: Submit to oversight body if required by contract or regulation.
  • Insurer Notice: Send to insurance contact where coverage depends on documented intent.
  • Third Parties: Share with critical vendors and partners as needed.

Digital Signing and Distribution Considerations

Choose a platform that supports secure signatures, audit trails, and the file formats you use for legal records.

  • File Formats: Support for PDF and DOCX is essential.
  • Integrations: Connectors for Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 simplify storage.
  • Audit Features: Audit trail, timestamps, and exportable certificates required.

eSignature Vendor Comparison for Executing the Statement

Compare core price and feature availability for common eSignature providers; signNow is listed first per platform comparison conventions.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial, no credit card No No Yes, limited Yes, limited
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year No cap No cap No cap

Real-World Examples and How Other Organizations Use This Statement

Below are two concise examples of how organizations documented resiliency intent and the outcomes they reported.

Optica Ventures — COO

Optica formalized a short statement to speed vendor decisions during outages

  • It centralized contacts and authority for rapid vendor engagement
  • The result reduced coordination delays and clarified external expectations for partners and insurers.

Fertility Centers of Illinois — Founder

The clinical organization used a statement to document patient-service priorities during system outage

  • It attached recovery objectives and communications roles
  • This approach preserved patient trust and provided auditable evidence for regulators and payers.

Security, Compliance, and Technical Standards to Observe

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit; AES-256 at rest
Audit Trail: Immutable timestamped action log required
HIPAA: BAA required for protected health information
ESIGN / UETA: Federal and state e-signature legal framework
21 CFR Part 11: Required for FDA-regulated records when applicable
Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 commonly required

Penalties and Risks from Incomplete or Incorrect Statements

Contractual Breach: May expose organization to vendor or client claims
Regulatory Scrutiny: Regulators may question preparedness and impose actions
Insurance Denial: Insurer may deny or reduce coverage payments
Operational Delay: Unclear authority can slow recovery actions
Data Loss: Improper retention risks evidentiary gaps
Invalid Signatures: Missing consent or attribution can void the document

Common Preparation Errors to Avoid

  • Leaving scope vague or overly broad, which creates confusion about which units and processes are protected and which are excluded during a disruption.
  • Failing to name alternate decision-makers or backup contacts, increasing response time when the primary authority is unavailable.
  • Using undefined recovery targets or subjective terms like 'as soon as possible' instead of measurable RTOs and RPOs.
  • Not preserving a tamper-evident signed copy and audit trail, which can hinder insurance claims and regulatory reviews.

Best Practices for Accurate, Usable Statements

Adopt clear drafting and execution habits so the statement is actionable, legally defensible, and effective during incident response.

Keep the Document Concise and Specific
Limit length to essential commitments. Use concrete metrics and named roles to ensure responders do not need to interpret ambiguous language at the moment of crisis.
Use Measurable Recovery Targets
State RTOs and RPOs using hours or days where possible. Measurable goals enable prioritization and reduce disputes with vendors and insurers over performance expectations.
Record Authority and Escalation
Document who can make immediate decisions, approve emergency spend, and sign amendments. Include alternates and circumstances that trigger delegation.
Preserve Signed Copies and Audit Trails
Store tamper-evident signed PDFs with timestamps and audit records. Ensure export formats and retention meet your legal and regulatory obligations.

Who Typically Signs and Certifies the Statement

Chief Resilience Officer

The CRO or equivalent senior leader typically certifies organizational intent and authority. They confirm that the statement aligns with executive priorities and resource allocations, and they delegate immediate operational authority to named incident leads.

Operations Manager

An operations or continuity manager often completes and signs the statement to confirm operational feasibility. They ensure contact details, objectives, and recovery targets are accurate and that the document is distributed to stakeholders.

Frequently Asked Questions and Practical Answers

Answers below address common legal, execution, and technical questions about preparing and signing a Resiliency Statement of Intent.


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