ISO 22301 Business Continuity Management System

WHAT IS ISO 22301?

ISO 22301 is an international framework that has been developed to help businesses identify potential threats to critical business functions and design a business continuity management plan. The standard helps companies build effective backup systems and processes to safeguard against theft, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, terrorist attacks and other extraordinary incidents. ISO 22301 specifies the requirements to plan, implement, monitor, review and improve a company’s business continuity management system, thereby minimising the impact of disruptions.

WHO CAN IMPLEMENT THE ISO 22301 STANDARD?

The ISO 22301 standard can be implemented by any organisation, regardless of its size, type, or sector. This includes public and private companies, non-profit organisations, government agencies, and other entities. The standard is designed to help organisations of all kinds establish, implement, maintain, and improve their business continuity management system (BCMS) to enhance their ability to withstand and recover from disruptive incidents.

To achieve ISO 22301 certification, an organisation must undergo a formal audit by an accredited third-party certification body. The audit will assess the organisation's BCMS against the requirements of ISO 22301 standard and determine whether it meets the criteria for certification.

HOW DOES ISO 22301 WORK?

ISO 22301 is a Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) standard that provides a framework for developing and implementing a business continuity management plan. BCMS is a comprehensive management system standard designed to ensure an organisation's ability to continue operating during and after a disruptive incident.

To achieve BCMS certification according to ISO 22301 standard, an organisation must undergo a formal audit by an accredited third-party certification body. The audit will assess the organisation's BCMS against the requirements of the ISO 22301 standard and determine whether it meets the criteria for certification.

The BCMS certification process includes several steps: a readiness review, a stage 1 audit, a stage 2 audit, and ongoing surveillance audits.

Overall, the ISO 22301 standard provides a structured and systematic approach for organisations to establish and maintain a BCMS, helping them to mitigate the impact of disruptive incidents and improve their overall resilience. 

WHY IS ISO 22301 BUSINESS CONTINUITY CERTIFICATION IMPORTANT?

ISO 22301 certification provides formal business continuity guidelines that will keep your organisation operational during and following a disruption. It seeks to minimise the impact to critical business functions, ensuring they are still capable of being delivered or recovered promptly. The ISO 22301 standard is applicable for companies of all sizes across any industry, particularly those operating in high risk or complex environments where the ability to function without delay is of paramount importance. ISO 22301 business continuity certification also helps you avoid loss of revenue and customers should a major problem occur.

BENEFITS OF ISO 22301 BUSINESS CONTINUITY MANAGEMENT

ISO 22301 Implementing a Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) based on the ISO 22301 standard and obtaining ISO 22301 certification can provide several benefits to organisations, including:

Enhanced resilience: ISO 22301 helps organisations to identify and prioritise potential risks and develop strategies to mitigate them.

Increased customer confidence: ISO 22301 certification demonstrates to customers and stakeholders that an organisation is committed to ensuring the continuity of its operations in the event of a disruptive incident.

Improved reputation: An ISO 22301 certification provides an independent and internationally recognised validation of an organisation's BCMS, demonstrating its commitment to maintaining resilience against disruptive incidents.

Compliance with regulatory requirements: Implementing an ISO 22301-compliant BCMS can help organisations comply with regulatory requirements related to business continuity and risk management.

Cost savings: An ISO 22301 audit can help organisations identify areas of inefficiency or waste in their BCMS, allowing them to streamline processes and reduce costs.

TÜV SÜD IS YOUR BUSINESS CONTINUITY CERTIFICATION PARTNER

As an internationally recognised certification body, TÜV SÜD offers auditing and certification. TÜV SÜD’s dedicated and experienced auditors possess the accreditation and experience to perform combined auditing exercises and can support you with proficiency in your local language and knowledge of the local market.

Our auditors follow a strict code of conduct that assures you and your customers of our complete independence and professionalism. In addition, our TÜV SÜD certification mark provides you with international recognition and demonstrates your commitment to quality and stable operations.

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