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ISO 22301

Business Continuity Management Systems

ISO 22301 is the international standard for Business Continuity Management Systems. It provides a set of requirements that protect companies from the risks associated with downtime, which can occur due to unexpected impact of disruptions or disasters. We can provide UKAS-accredited certificates to a number of industries for ISO 22301:2019.

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What Is ISO 22301?

ISO 22301 specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving a Business Continuity Management System (BCMS). The goal of ISO 22301 is to help organisations prepare for and respond to disruptions that may impact their ability to continue critical business functions. It does this by providing a set of structured requirements for organisations to protect against the risks associated with disruptions or disasters, to support continuity of operations.

Amtivo (Formerly Certification Europe and EQA) - ISO 22301 Business Continuity Management - discussion between colleagues siting at a table with their laptops and notepads.

Understanding Disruption Risks

Disruptions can take many forms, from IT failures, cyber attacks and supply chain issues to natural events like floods or earthquakes. Even if your own operations aren’t directly affected, key services may depend on suppliers or systems in more vulnerable locations. ISO 22301 certification demonstrates that your organisation has a recognised standard in place to assess these risks and support continuity during disruptions.

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What Is A Business Continuity Management System?

A BCMS is a formal, ongoing process that helps you identify which operations, like your website, supply chain or customer service, must keep running during disruptions. It guides you to:

  1. Spot critical activities and the risks that threaten them.
  2. Create plans (back-up sites, alternative suppliers, data recovery) to keep or restore those activities.
  3. Test and refine those plans through drills and real-life reviews.

An example of A BCMS in action:

If you run an online store, a BCMS means you could:

  • List your website, payment gateway and warehouse as “must-haves.”
  • Prepare for scenarios like server outages by arranging a secondary host you can switch to in minutes.
  • Keep a small emergency stock and train staff to handle order issues if systems go down.
  • Quarterly, simulate a crash: activate the backup host, tap the emergency stock and measure how fast you’re back online, then tweak your plan based on what slowed you down.

By continually cycling through planning, acting, checking and improving, a BCMS can support a business in weathering storms to achieve minimal downtime.

What Are the Benefits of ISO 22301?

Maximised Quality and Efficiency

Maximise
quality and efficiency

Operational Risk Management

Risk
management

Resilience and Flexibility

Resilience and
flexibility

Recovery and Continuity

Recovery and
continuity

Cultural Security

Cultural
awareness

regulatory alignment

Reputation and
revenue protection

Legal confidence

Legal
compliance

Cost reduction v2

Cost reductions
and savings

Attracting New Clients

Increased customer
confidence

compliance

SLA
compliance

communication

Management and
risk culture

Market Competitive Advantage

Competitive
advantage

Key Requirements of ISO 22301

The ISO 22301 standard outlines a number of requirements that organisations must meet to demonstrate their commitment to business management continuity. These include:

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Understanding context

Know your internal and external environment and its impact on business continuity, including which departments work externally and which teams would be most affected.

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Leadership commitment

Ensure top-level commitment from all levels of management to business continuity that is aligned with strategic goals, with each member having a continuity plan in place.

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Risk identification & management

Identify and control workplace risks, including potential disruptions, from natural disasters, to software disruptions, to external attacks such as data breaches and ransomware.

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Operational risk controls

Implement easy-access controls for daily operations and emergency preparedness in the case of an emergency or business disruption for minimal negative effects.

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Safety culture

Foster awareness of health and safety risks among all personnel, including regular health and safety training, technology security training and what to do in the event of an emergency.

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Continuous improvement

Regularly assess and enhance your business continuity system in the wake of changes, such as staff intake, expanded products and services and updated government safety regulations.

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Employee engagement

Involve employees in business continuity decisions using a variety of data collection methods, including forums and interviews to improve employee retention and morale.

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Regulatory compliance

Stay prepared for and compliant with changing health and safety regulations most relevant to your business's industry, as well as standard workplace health and safety measures.

Why You Should Choose Amtivo

  • UKAS accreditation guarantees worldwide acceptance of your certificate
  • Ireland-based team that understands your needs
  • Five-star ratings, independently reviewed via Feefo
  • A wide range of training courses to build your expertise
  • Access to a global team with global resources
Why Choose Amtivo

Becoming ISO 22301 Certified

STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
Stage One Initial Stage 1 Audit to determine if mandatory requirements are met and the system can proceed to Stage Two.
Stage Two Stage 2 Audit of system effectiveness and confirmation that the management system is implemented and operational.
Recommendation for Certification Review of corrective actions taken to address findings from Stage One and Two; certification may be recommended.
Certification Review & Decision An independent and impartial panel reviews files and makes the certification decision.
Certification Achieved Successful certification is communicated to the client and certificates are issued.

Becoming ISO 22301 Certified

STEP 1
Stage One Initial Stage 1 Audit to determine if mandatory requirements are met and the system can proceed to Stage Two.
STEP 2
Stage Two Stage 2 Audit of system effectiveness and confirmation that the management system is implemented and operational.
STEP 3
Recommendation for Certification Review of corrective actions taken to address findings from Stage One and Two; certification may be recommended.
STEP 4
Certification Review & Decision An independent and impartial panel reviews files and makes the certification decision.
STEP 5
Certification Achieved Successful certification is communicated to the client and certificates are issued.

Implementing ISO 22301

Elevating your Business Continuity Management System to meet ISO 22301 standards is a collective effort involving a variety of departments. Training courses are essential to prepare your teams and support them in understanding this certification. Amtivo offers a variety of ISO 22301 training courses, both online and face-to-face, delivered by business continuity management experts covering implementation strategies, auditing techniques and continuous improvement practices.

ISO 22301 FAQs

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