Many organizations are required, due to different reasons, to continue providing operations at any given disruption in defined timeframes. The ISO 22301 standard is designed to help organizations keep operating during the most challenging and unexpected circumstances. By assisting an organization to put the fundamentals of a BCM (Business Continuity Management) system in place, it protects personnel, preserves reputation and provides the ability to continue to operate and trade.

Continuity of operations in case of disruption, whether due to a major disaster or a minor incident, is an essential requirement for any given organization. ISO 22301 is the replacement of BS 25999 which was the first worldwide BCM standard and was designed and developed to minimize the risks of any disruptions that may affect the operations of an entire organization.

It provides a basis for the development and implementation of business continuity within an organization and gives confidence in business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-customer (B2C) dealings. It also contains a comprehensive set of controls based on BCM best practices and covers the whole BCM lifecycle.

ISO 22301 is suitable for all organizations, large or small, from any sector. It is especially relevant to organizations which operate in high-risk environments such as finance, telecommunications, transport and the public sector, where the ability to continue operating is most essential for the organization itself and its customers and interested parties.