The Ultimate ISO 22301 BCM Audit Checklist
Designing a business continuity management (BCM) plan can be daunting due to the multiple guidelines that must be adhered to. Creating a comprehensive BCM system necessitates unwavering commitment from top management professionals and employees involved in the process. It is crucial to incorporate all potential disruptions that the organisation may encounter into the plan's defined objectives and the processes and procedures to be followed in the event of a disruption. To ensure the completeness and inclusivity of the BCM, having an ISO 22301 BCM Checklist is critical. This checklist provides the accuracy and comprehensiveness of all elements in the BCMS. It assists businesses that plan to undergo the ISO certification process.
ISO 22301 Audit Checklist
The ISO 22301 Audit checklist can be the foundation of most Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS). The components and the clauses which it adheres to by ISO 22301 standards are mentioned below:
- Planning: Listing internal and external issues and stakeholder requirements is crucial before designing BCM plans. Understanding regulations and ensuring compliance is equally vital. Scoping, which involves defining the scope of activities, areas of operation, and organisational structure that fall under the BCM system, is a critical part of planning. It is essential to mention reasons for excluding certain activities or products to understand the scoping procedure fully. This aspect is significant in the ISO 22301 Audit checklist.
This complies with clause 4 of ISO 22301.
- Leadership and Commitment: Establishing a BCMS requires the commitment of top management. Senior managers must create a business continuity policy and state the system's objectives to comply with guidelines. Communicating the policy to stakeholders is essential. Defining roles and responsibilities and assigning responsibility for BCMS to senior leadership is recommended. Objectives should address problems, actions, performance monitoring, and control processes of the BCMS.
This complies with clauses 5 and 6 of ISO 22301.
- Support: To implement a successful BCM system, it is vital to understand the availability of resources (capital and human resources) and utilise them efficiently. Systems such as documentation, communication, training programs, awareness, and document management must be in place. Before implementing the plan, it is essential to ensure that these systems are appropriately set up.
This complies with clause 7 of ISO 22301.
- Operation and Implementation: After establishing processes and resources, plans must be implemented through risk and threat assessments to identify business risks. A business impact analysis determines which processes significantly impact and prioritize activities with more significant risks. Business continuity strategies are created with realistic resource availability, and plans and procedures are established to achieve them. Recovery plans are drafted to ensure daily operations are not disrupted, and the business can recover.
This complies with clause 8 of ISO 22301.
- Performance Evaluation and Continual Improvement: It is essential to test the viability of the BCMS to understand whether it addresses the potential risk areas and is feasible to use by the employees. Continuously monitoring the BCMS helps evaluate its performance and improve the areas of non-conformities. It also helps in making continuous improvements in the plan to keep it updated about dynamic risks and remedial actions to mitigate its effect and helps keep it in sync with the guidelines.
This complies with clauses 8, 9, and 10 of ISO 22301.
Conclusion
An audit checklist ensures organisations cover all facets of BCMS. However, ISO 22301 certification and professional audit are crucial to comply with legal requirements. TÜV SÜD's certification services offer an effortless process with experienced auditors following a strict code of conduct, providing independent and professional auditing and certification experience.
