What is ISO 22301 and why do you need it for your business?

ISO 22301, ISO Services

September 28, 2022

Nowadays, a Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) is an essential part of any company, helping them to develop a contingency plan in the event of a crisis. These can be anything from a natural disaster to a major issue that significantly impacts your business; however, it can be very difficult to accurately plan and forecast for them.

ISO 22301 is the first international standard that has been developed to be continuity-focused, allowing a business to effectively develop Business Continuity Management System. Introduced in 2012, it aims to help companies to safeguard against both manmade and natural events that could disrupt their day-to-day operations.

How does ISO 22301 help a business?

By having a clear Business Continuity Management System, organisations are able to withstand the impact of unforeseen events. This proactive solution helps businesses to develop a plan against these events and will include a recovery program that is designed to bring the operations, functions, and services back.

As an international business continuity standard, ISO 22301 can be implemented in almost every industry sector. However, in order to be implemented effectively, it is essential that a business works with a qualified consultant to ensure that they are meeting all necessary requirements and standards.

How COVID-19 is increasing the need for ISO 22301

Here at Critical Path, we know the importance of keeping your business ISO 22301 compliant. Being prepared and ready for whatever the future might have in store is essential for every business. 

Over the past twelve months, we have seen a significant rise in the number of organisations looking to implement an ISO 22301 Business Continuity Management System following the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic has had a devastating impact on businesses across the globe, and in 2019, it would have seemed impossible that we would have seen companies forced to close and social distancing come into effect. This has placed significant pressure on organisations, and many are now looking to protect themselves against further unexpected occurrences. 

Achieving ISO 22301 is a chance for businesses to showcase their resilience and take a proactive step in protecting themselves against disruption. In this fast-paced world that we live in, a Business Continuity Management System is essential to the continued success of any company.

How Critical Path can help you

If you are looking to implement an ISO 22301 Business Continuity Management System, then Critical Path is here to help you. We are able to work with a wide array of companies from any industry, helping them to achieve the ISO 22301 standard within six months, while our highly experienced team can also help you to prepare for a UKAS audit.

Implementing ISO 22301 standards can be run alongside other standards within our management system, including ISO 9001 (Quality Management). We also remain in line with all of the latest ISO 22301 revisions, so if you want to find out how we can help you, get in touch today.