What does Critical link mean?

Question

I've been asked to fill out a form about my business and have the following two questions i don't understand..

Critical link in operation?

What backstops have you in place should the critical link fail?

What is this?

Answer 1

A critical link in operation is just what the name implies. There is some part of your business which, if it were to fail, would make it impossible for your to continue production. It could be your computer, your car, or the delivery service you employ. They want to know that you have "backstops" in place, that is, backup plans for the day your computer crashes, your delivery is delayed, etc. They want to know that you are able to handle a crisis, and your business will be able survive.