ISO 22301 is the International Standard for Business Continuity Management that assists businesses in identifying risks to critical business functions and creating a plan for business continuity. This Standard helps companies establish backup systems and processes to protect against theft, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, terrorist attacks, and other extraordinary events.It outlines the requirements for planning, implementing, monitoring, reviewing, and improving a company's business continuity management system, thereby reducing the impact of disruptions.
ISO 22301: 2019 is the latest Standard. It Was published for the first time in May 2012. The 2nd edition was published on 31 October 2019
Principals Of ISO 22301:2019
- Leadership and commitment: Top management must show leadership and dedication to the BCMS by setting policies and objectives, allocating resources and support, integrating with other management systems, and fostering a culture of continuity and resilience.
- Risk-based approach: The organization should identify and assess risks and take measures to prevent, reduce, or transfer them.
- Continual improvement: The organization should assess its BCMS performance and effectiveness and address any gaps or opportunities for improvement.
- Stakeholder involvement: The organization should engage with internal and external stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers, regulators, and partners, to communicate and consult.
- Lifecycle perspective: The organization should consider the entire lifecycle of its products and services, ensuring that its BCMS covers all stages and processes from design to disposal.
- Process approach:The organization should manage its BCMS as interconnected processes to achieve desired outcomes.
- PDCA cycle: The organization should use the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle for its BCMS processes, which includes planning, doing, checking, and taking corrective actions if necessary.
Who Can Use ISO 22301:2019 Certification?
- ISO 22301 Certification applies to all types of business activities, from the smallest to the most significant organizations
- Facilities dealing in Products or Services wishing to have globally acceptable Security and Resilience must get certified ISO 22301:2019 (Business Continuity Management System)
- Organizations wanting a complete Business Continuity System, which covers all operations in one system for security, resilience, and business, must have ISO 22301:2019 certification.
- The organizations that ensure the protection of the interests of all stakeholders by a system that requires robust provisions for mitigating risks and preparing for potential disasters in their operations, processes, or services must get ISO 22301:2019.
- To fill the demand for a vital marketing tool to showcase their commitment to contingency preparation that enables consistent capabilities through disaster mitigation during emergencies.
Key Benefits Of ISO 22301:2019 Certification
Implement a BCMS that aligns with ISO 22301 certification to enhance the ability to effectively and efficiently prepare for, respond to, and recover from incidents. A BCMS assist in:
- Recognize and rank the risks that could harm your company.
- Evaluate how potential disruptions could affect your essential operations and procedures.
- Create strategies and plans to avoid, minimize, and recover from disruptions.
- Assign roles and responsibilities for managing business continuity.
- Provide training and education to your staff on the best practices for business continuity.
- Regularly test and practice your plans to ensure they work effectively.
- Monitor and review the performance of your business continuity management system (BCMS) and make necessary improvements.
The best expert consultants at Qdot will offer assistance at every level of the ISO 22301 certification process, from the first stages to the last, till the Certification is completed.
FAQ's - ISO 22301
ISO 22301 focuses on business continuity, while ISO 9001 centers around quality management systems. Both can complement each other but serve different purposes in managing organizational risks.
ISO 22301 certification is typically valid for three years. However, regular surveillance audits are conducted annually to ensure continued compliance.
Top management is responsible for providing leadership, defining policies, ensuring resource allocation, and committing to continuous improvement in business continuity management.
Yes, ISO 22301 can be integrated with other ISO standards, such as ISO 9001 (Quality Management) or ISO 27001 (Information Security), to enhance overall management systems.
If your organization fails the audit, you will receive a report outlining non-conformities. You will need to address these issues, implement corrective actions, and undergo a re-audit before certification is granted.
You will need to provide documentation related to your business continuity policy, risk assessments, continuity strategies, and testing procedures. The certification body will review these during the audit.
ISO 22301 certification is not mandatory by law, but it is highly recommended for organizations aiming to demonstrate commitment to continuity and risk management.