ISO 22301 is the worldwide standard for Business Continuity Management (BCM). The International Organization for Standardization ISO 22301 standard is designed to help organization prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from unexpected and disruptive occurrences. To that end, the standard provides a practical framework for establishing and administering an effective business continuity management system. ISO 22301 attempts to protect an organization against a wide range of potential threats and disruptions.
What is the Latest Version OF ISO 22301?
ISO standards are evaluated every five years to remain relevant in a rapidly changing environment and to evolve alongside enterprises. The latest edition of the international standard for business continuity management systems (ISO 22301) was issued in October 2019. Following modest adjustments in 2014, the 2019 revision makes small improvements to the standard, most notably more flexibility and less prescriptiveness, which gives value to enterprises and their consumers.
What are the Changes of ISO 22301: 2019 from ISO 22301:2012?
ISO standards are reviewed every five years in order to remain relevant in a continuously changing world and to evolve alongside enterprises. The latest edition of the international standard for business continuity management systems (ISO 22301) was issued in October 2019. Despite little changes in 2014, the 2019 revision makes small improvements to the standard, most notably more flexibility and less prescriptiveness, which gives value to enterprises and their consumers.
- Documents that Must be Sent: The previous version of the standard required firms to maintain various required papers to get ISO 22301 Certification. In the current edition, firms needed to draw fewer documents linked to standard requirements. Along with the required documentation, the new edition allows firms to meet less prescriptive criteria than the previous version. The standard’s 2012 publication included plenty of prescriptive requirements that organizations must achieve to be aligned with the standard.
- The Structure of ISO 22301 Remains Unaltered: The ISO 22301 version provides a more streamlined way to integration. Several sections of the standard were greatly reduced in depth and pared back, allowing for easier alignment and integrate with other ISO standards, such as ISO 9001 (the context and scope clauses are now more closely associated with other standards). If you want to get ISO 22301 but already have an ISO, one of the benefits of this update is that it allows for a smoother connection with other systems.
- Greater Emphasis on Strategy and Solutions: As previously stated, one of the most noticeable modifications to ISO 22301 is the process of deleting specific specifics, which not only helps align the standard with other ISOs but also focuses on the abilities and ability of those responsible for the management system process. ISO 22301 offers a broader approach based on strategy and solutions. As a result, this upgrade requires not just the development of high-level strategies (as was previously required), but also the ability to specify risk solutions. Defining and identifying resources for solutions rather than strategies has an impact on budget planning for your business continuity management system.
- Reduce your Reliance on People: Often, a company’s vital activities rely on a small group of people who are difficult to replace – a condition that is cruelly highlighted when these individuals depart the organization. Executives who are aware of this can employ business continuity practices to become significantly less reliant on certain individuals (either through implemented substitute solutions or by documenting relevant tasks), saving the organization a lot of grief when someone leaves.
- It is more focused on planning.
- Procedures and documentation requirements that are less prescriptive
- “Business continuity strategy and solutions” is a more precise expression of business continuity strategy.
Business continuity is critical in every organization, particularly during pandemic years. Several firms have failed due to a lack of expertise in dealing with such upheaval. Furthermore, businesses that did not recognize the need for the BCM system suffered significant financial losses. As a result, any organization that wishes to remain in the business for an extended time must adhere to the ISO 22301 standard and meet its standards. Furthermore, such organizations can employ individuals who are well-versed in the standard and its applications. Individuals certified by the ISO 22301 Certification learn how to implement the standard per company demands during the training program. CertificationCounsultancy.com provides ISO 22301 Documentation and Training kit which is based on requirement of ISO 22301 Standard. This consultancy is the best consultancy for business continuity management.
