Business Continuity and Resilience

ISO 22301 is the international standard for Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS). It provides a framework for organizations to identify potential threats and their business impact, develop effective response strategies, and build resilience. Implementing ISO 22301 demonstrates to stakeholders, clients, and regulators your commitment to business resilience and can be a competitive advantage in many industries. 

Implementation timeframes vary based on organizational size, complexity, and current maturity. For mid-sized organizations with some existing continuity capabilities, implementation typically takes 6-9 months. Our consultants can provide a more accurate estimate following an initial assessment. 

A resilience consultant helps organizations prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruptive incidents. They conduct risk assessments, develop business continuity and crisis management plans, design and facilitate simulation exercises, provide training, and help implement Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS). Their expertise enables organizations to build operational resilience that protects critical functions during disruptions. 

Business resilience services encompass a range of consultancy and support functions designed to enhance an organization’s ability to withstand and recover from disruptions. These services typically include business impact analysis, risk assessment, Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) implementation, crisis management planning, resilience training, and simulation exercises. The ultimate goal is to create robust systems that protect critical operations, maintain stakeholder confidence, and ensure rapid recovery from any disruption. 

A Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) is a holistic management framework that establishes, implements, operates, monitors, reviews, maintains, and improves an organization’s business continuity capabilities. Based on ISO 22301, a BCMS helps organizations prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruptive incidents while maintaining critical operations. It includes policy, people, processes, and technology working together to protect business interests. 

The 7 C’s of resilience in business are: Control (having influence over outcomes), Commitment (being engaged with goals and challenges), Challenge (seeing change as opportunity), Confidence (believing in your capabilities), Connection (strong relationships and support networks), Coordination (aligning resources efficiently), and Communication (clear information exchange during normal and crisis situations). These elements create a foundation for organizational resilience and effective Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS). 

The four pillars of business resiliency are: Preparedness (developing plans and capabilities before disruption), Protection (safeguarding critical assets and operations), Response (managing incidents effectively when they occur), and Recovery (returning to normal operations efficiently). A comprehensive Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) addresses all four pillars to create holistic organizational resilience. 

Writing an effective Business Continuity Plan (BCP) involves several key steps:  

1) Conduct a Business Impact Analysis to identify critical functions and resources;  
2) Perform risk assessment to understand potential threats;  
3) Define recovery strategies and timeframes;  
4) Document detailed recovery procedures;  
5) Assign clear roles and responsibilities;  
6) Include communication protocols;  
7) Develop supporting resource requirements;  
8) Establish testing and maintenance schedules. The BCP should be part of your wider Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) and aligned with ISO 22301 requirements for maximum effectiveness.