ISO 22301 Certification - Business continuity management system

What is ISO 22301?

ISO 22301 is the international standard for business continuity management (BCM). It specifies the requirements for a documented system that enables an organization to protect itself against disruptive incidents, respond effectively when they occur, and recover quickly while minimizing the impact on its operations. ISO 22301 requirements are generic and applicable to all organizations, regardless of their type, size, or nature. The extent of their application depends on the organization’s operating environment and complexity.

What is a Business Continuity Management System?

A Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) is a framework through which an organization identifies critical activities, assesses threats to those activities, and prepares measures to ensure the continued delivery of products and services at a predefined acceptable capacity. Rather than responding to an incident in an improvised manner, the organization has strategies, plans, and procedures that have been tested in advance. Business continuity management therefore contributes directly to organizational resilience.

What are disruptive incidents?

Incidents that can disrupt operations take many forms, ranging from large-scale natural disasters and acts of terrorism to technology-related accidents and environmental incidents. Although most incidents are minor, they can have a significant impact on operations, reputation, and costs. Therefore, a business continuity management strategy is advisable for any organization, regardless of its size.

How does business continuity management work?

A Business Continuity Management System, in accordance with ISO 22301, involves several essential steps. The first is Business Impact Analysis (BIA), through which the organization identifies priority activities and assesses the consequences of their disruption over time. Based on the results of the BIA and risk assessment, the organization establishes business continuity strategies and solutions, as well as plans and procedures for managing disruptive incidents.

Recovery objectives are established for priority activities, including RTO (Recovery Time Objective) – the target period for resuming an activity at a predefined acceptable level. For information systems and data, an RPO (Recovery Point Objective) may also be established – the point in time to which data must be recovered, expressed as a period of time preceding the incident.

Business continuity plans and procedures are periodically exercised and tested to evaluate their effectiveness and identify opportunities for continual improvement.

Current Version: ISO 22301:2019

The current edition of the standard is ISO 22301:2019, supplemented by Amendment 1:2024. This is the second edition of the standard and revised and simplified the requirements of the 2012 edition, which had replaced the British standard BS 25999-2. ISO 22301:2019 uses the harmonized structure common to management system standards, facilitating integration with ISO 9001 (quality management), ISO 14001 (environmental management), and ISO/IEC 27001 (information security management). Amendment 1:2024, published in February 2024, introduces a requirement to determine whether climate change is a relevant issue within the organization’s context and highlights that interested parties may have requirements related to climate change. Certificates issued against ISO 22301:2019 remain valid under the applicable certification conditions, as the amendment does not require the issuance of new certificates.

Benefits of ISO 22301 Certification

ISO 22301 certification offers tangible benefits:

• Reducing the impact of disruptions on priority activities.
• Improving the ability to respond to and recover from incidents.
• Protecting relationships with customers, suppliers, and other interested parties.
• Increasing partners’ confidence in the organization’s business continuity capabilities.
• Supporting compliance with applicable contractual and regulatory requirements.
• Strengthening organizational resilience.

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How to Obtain ISO 22301 Certification with SRAC

The ISO 22301 certification process involves auditing the Business Continuity Management System against the requirements of the standard.

Certification Stages

1. Submitting a request for quotation and agreeing on contractual details.

2. A two-stage certification audit: reviewing documentation and conducting an on-site assessment of the implementation of the Business Continuity Management System.

3. Addressing any identified nonconformities and implementing corrective actions.

4. Issuing the ISO 22301 certificate, valid for 3 years, subject to annual surveillance audits.

5. Conducting a recertification audit (certification renewal) to extend certification for a new 3-year cycle.

ISO 22301 Certification Cost

The cost of ISO 22301 certification depends on the size of the organization, the complexity of its activities and critical processes, the number of locations, and the scope of certification. To determine the exact cost of ISO 22301 certification, the best approach is to request a personalized quotation.

Why Choose SRAC?

SRAC is accredited for the certification of Business Continuity Management Systems by IAS (International Accreditation Service, Inc.) – Accreditation Certificate No. MSCB-353. SRAC certificates are internationally recognized through its partnership with IQNET (The International Certification Network), and certified organizations are entitled to use the SRAC and IQNET conformity marks for promotional purposes.

Join some of Romania’s leading companies and institutions that have chosen the SRAC brand: over 10,000 certified organizations and more than 25,000 certificates issued over 30 years. From leading brands to major public institutions, prominent organizations have chosen our services.

Who is ISO 22301 for?

ISO 22301 is intended for any organization seeking to ensure business continuity in the face of disruptive incidents, regardless of its size or industry. It is particularly relevant to organizations operating in financial services, technology, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, and the public sector, as well as organizations involved in supply chains that impose operational resilience requirements or participating in tenders that require this type of certification.