What is ISO 22301: A Guide to Successful Business Continuity Management

When we talk about Business Continuity Management, we are referring to the process of maintaining operations within the business when faced with unexpected disruption. If you're looking for an ISO certification for Business Continuity Management, look no further than ISO 22301. 

As the international ISO standard for Business Continuity Management, an ISO 22301 certification will hold a number of benefits. In this article, we aim to highlight these key benefits as well as gain a deeper understanding as to why businesses need to invest in Business Continuity Management.

What Is ISO 22301?

The ISO 22301 certification shows that a business has a compliant business continuity management system in place, which showcases the company’s commitment to maintaining operations in spite of both external and internal disruptions. 

In today’s unpredictable environment, there are many factors that can threaten business operations, such as supply chain disruption, natural disasters, cyberattacks, physical security breaches, data loss and even terrorism. 

By obtaining an ISO 22301 Business Continuity Management certification, companies can show that they are prepared for possible disruptions and are able to maintain critical functions if or when these threats arise. 

Why Is Business Continuity Important?

If a business is unable to operate, then it cannot generate revenue or profits. This reduces the value of the business and makes it vulnerable to competition. Furthermore, a business with a poor continuity track record may find it difficult to attract investors, as its reputation and commercial performance may be negatively impacted by unexpected disruptions. 

Conversely, a workable business continuity strategy ensures that the company can continue to operate, regardless of any disruptions that may occur. Even if it is only critical functions that can be maintained, an effective business continuity plan means that a company will be able to continue meeting customer expectations, satisfying stakeholders and generating revenue, despite disruption. 

Clearly, a business with an effective business continuity management strategy is likely to be more successful than a comparative company without a business continuity plan. Indeed, the ability to maintain functionality and profitability in spite of external or internal operational threats is a key measure of success and can prove to be the difference between a long-standing, profitable enterprise and a failed business. 

Do You Need ISO 22301 Certification?

Any business can develop its own business continuity strategy, so do you really need the ISO 22301 certification, and what difference does it make? Unsurprisingly, working with a certification service to meet ISO standards and achieve the ISO 22301 certification can be advantageous for many reasons, including:

Indication of Quality

When a business continuity management strategy is developed in-house, it is not assessed in comparison to any external standards, and its effectiveness or quality is not, therefore, confirmed. No matter how rigorous you think you have been in developing a business continuity strategy, it could fail when an unexpected disruption occurs, and this could have catastrophic consequences for the organisation. 

In contrast, achieving ISO 22301 certification shows that your business continuity management system meets quality standards and is, therefore, more likely to be effective, if and when it is needed. 

Global Recognition 

ISO standards are recognised all over the world, so you can be confident that an ISO 22301 certification will be highly regarded by clients, customers and competitors in any location. Whether you’re obtaining an ISO certification in the UK and are operating nationally or are scaling your business globally, the worldwide recognition that ISO garners will set your business apart from its competitors and give you the edge. 

Tender Eligibility

When you’re bidding for contracts or submitting tenders, there will often be pre-eligibility criteria that you need to meet. In many cases, governments or companies will insist that potential partners or contractors must have an ISO 22301 certification to be eligible to bid for a project or contract. 

This is because they want to ensure that you will be able to deliver the agreed output on time and within budget, regardless of any disruptions that may occur. Without an ISO 22301 certification, you may find that you’re unable to bid for lucrative projects, which can obviously harm your reputation and your bottom line. By obtaining ISO 22301 certification, however, you can ensure that you meet this eligibility criteria and give your business the best chance of securing lucrative contracts and opportunities. 

Reduced Costs

A company’s expenditure has a direct impact on its value and profits, which is why it’s important to keep costs low while maintaining quality and performance. As you might expect, operational disruptions can increase your costs as investment may be required to resolve the issue. When companies don’t have a business continuity management system in place, higher costs may be incurred as the organisation struggles to implement effective solutions when disaster strikes. 

If you have a compliant ISO 22301 certification in place, however, you’ll be able to deploy pre-planned solutions that have been carefully assessed and budgeted for. By doing so, you’ll restore your operations more quickly and at a lower cost, thus avoiding potential losses and conserving your resources.

In addition to this, an ISO 22301 certificate can also reduce your insurance costs, as insurance premiums will reflect the impact that a compliant business continuity management strategy can have.

Competitive Advantage

Businesses face fierce amounts of competition in any industry, so it’s vital to outperform your competitors and develop unique value propositions (UVPs) that allow you to increase your share of the market. Obtaining ISO 22301 certification can help you to do just that. 

When you’re competing against businesses that don’t have a recognised business continuity management system, you can use this to your advantage by showcasing your ISO 22301 certification and highlighting the benefits it brings to your business and, in turn, your customers.  

Achieving ISO 22301 Certification with QAS International

At QAS International, we’re committed to helping our clients achieve their potential via securing international standard certifications, including ISO 22301. To find out how we can support you and assist in the certification process, contact our team today.