New research has found that, despite floods, bird flu outbreaks and terrorism threats, firms fail to understand the knock-on effect of IT downtime.

New research from analyst firm IDC has today revealed more than one in five (21 per cent) of UK big business lacks detailed business continuity plans in the event of IT downtime.

The research also revealed that 71 per cent of businesses do have an emergency IT and communications systems recovery plan in place that also at other business-critical information access in the event of an incident or disaster.

For example, the study asked whether organisations had a full and up-to-date list of employee mobile phone numbers or an automated phone line in place in case of emergency.

At the same time, it revealed that business continuity accountability is rising in importance up the corporate ladder, although still resting in large part within IT. The majority (63 per cent) said the IT director or chief information or technology officer was responsible, while 27 per cent said it lay with the chief executive.

The BT Global Services -sponsored survey found overall business leadership teams are becoming increasingly involved in the key economic decisions surrounding business continuity. Nearly half (49 per cent) said responsibility here lay with the chief executive, board or directors, with only 36 per cent again citing it as part of the head of IT's remit.

Ed Cordin, consulting director for Europe at IDC acknowledged the research shows that many business leadership teams are taking more notice of business continuity issues. "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," he said.

"That said, the alignment between aspiration, accountability and decision making still requires significant attention in many organisations. Likewise organisations that do not possess detailed business continuity plans need to act now."

The IDC report did also note though that, despite the gloomy economic outlook, over one in three businesses in the UK (37 per cent) intend to increase their business continuity spending in 2008.

Ray Stanton, global head of business continuity, security and governance practice at BT Global Services said: "Businesses need to think carefully about how to spend that money. The right business continuity investments don't just protect against threats, they help to build customer confidence and enhance the brand."

Business continuity planning should encompass technology, human resources and customer service issues, he added.

IDC conducted its survey late last year among a sample of 315 senior level respondents across the UK, US, Germany and Benelux.