Easily Obtain Your ISO 22301:2012 Societal Security Certification to Ensure Continuity of Your Business

Table of Content 

• What is ISO 22301:2012 Societal Security Certification?
• Key Principles of Quality Management outlined in ISO 22301:2012 Societal Security Certification?
• Key Requirements for Obtaining ISO 22301:2012 Societal Security Certification?
• Why Choose ISO 22301:2012 Societal Security Certification?
• Process for Obtaining ISO 22301:2012 Societal Security Certification?

What is ISO 22301:2012 Societal Security Certification?

ISO 22301:2012 Societal Security Certification, or the ISO 22301 Business Continuity Management System Certification, is an internationally accepted certification that helps organisations to plan, respond, prepare, or recover from disruptive incidents. These disruptive incidents include natural disasters, supply chain failures, pandemics, cyberattacks, or any other emergency. 

ISO 22301 Societal Security Certification combined with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and ISO 50001 creates a robust organisational structure and reflects the organisation’s commitment towards preparedness, reliability, and long-term sustainability.  

Key Principles of Quality Management outlined in ISO 22301:2012 Societal Security Certification?

Here are the key principles of quality management outlined in the ISO 22301:2012 Societal Security Certification: 

• Leadership Commitment: Top management must actively support business continuity objectives and promote societal security culture.
• Risk-Based Thinking: Identify, assess, and prioritise risks to plan effective business continuity strategies.
• Business Impact Analysis: Determine critical activities, their dependencies, and potential impact during disruptions.
• Process Approach: Manage and integrate organisational processes systematically to ensure continuity and resilience.
• Continual Improvement: Regularly enhance business continuity plans and procedures based on lessons learnt.
• Evidence-Based Decision Making: Base decisions on accurate data, analysis, and verified information for reliability.
• Competence and Awareness: Ensure employees are trained and aware of their roles during incidents.
• Communication and Information: Establish effective internal and external communication channels for emergencies and updates.
• Documentation: Maintain clear, accurate, and accessible records of procedures, plans, and actions.
• Resource Management: Allocate sufficient personnel, infrastructure, technology, and finances to maintain continuity.

Key Requirements for Obtaining ISO 22301:2012 Societal Security Certification?

The key requirements for obtaining ISO 22301:2012 societal security certification are as follows:

1. Business Continuity Management System: The organisation must prepare and define BCMS, including location, activities, goals, policies, and boundaries or limitations. The BCMS should be aligned with the objectives of organisations, regulatory requirements, legal requirements, and relevant to the societal security scheme. 

2. Business Impact Analysis: The organisation is required to make a well-structured Business Impact Analysis plan to identify critical activities, incidents, and recovery from them. This plan establishes the recovery methods, prioritises activities, and ensures continuity of operations after disruption. 

3. Risk Assessment and Threat Identification: The organisation must identify the potential risk and threat and develop a plan to cope with them. As these disruptions cannot be eliminated, organisations should develop a plan to reduce their impact and losses. 

4. Business Continuity Plan: The organisation must make a detailed, robust, and organised business continuity plan. It should include clear procedures for response, recovery plan, and communication and management policies after disruption. 

5. Competence, Training, and Awareness: The organisation must schedule training and awareness sessions for the employee. It should ensure that the employees are trained, competent, and prepared for emergency response.

6. Performance Evaluation: The organisation must evaluate the training of employees, functionality of the emergency response plan, and effectiveness of the business continuity management system. If any non-conformity is found during evaluation, effective corrective measures should be taken by the organisation as soon as possible.  

Why Choose ISO 22301:2012 Societal Security Certification?

ISO 22301:2012 societal security certification is a globally recognised benchmark that helps organisations to prepare for, respond to, and recover from unexpected disruptions that cause losses and harm to them. It provides businesses with a responsive and emergency plan to ensure continuous operation during crises, natural disasters, or any other disruption. 

By choosing ISO 22301 certification, businesses demonstrate strong leadership, commitment to resilience, and a robust management system. Obtaining an ISO 22301 certification strengthens stakeholder confidence by assuring customers, partners, regulators, and investors that the organisation is well-prepared for emergencies. 

Overall, ISO 22301 certification ensures long-term stability, operational continuity, and sustainable organisational growth. 

Process for Obtaining ISO 22301:2012 Societal Security Certification?

Here is the detailed step-by-step process for obtaining ISO 22301:2012 societal security certification: 

1. Gap Analysis and Assessment 

The very first step in the ISO 22301 certification process is to evaluate the existing business practices, including policies, procedures, methods, operations, management systems, and emergency response plans, to identify gaps or risks. 

2. Planning and Scope Definition

After evaluating the organisation's performance and potential gaps in the management, the organisation prepares an effective ISO 22301 certification plan.  It defines certification scope, implementation strategy, objectives, roles, responsibilities, and timelines. Leadership commitment is established under the plan along with an effective business continuity management system. 

3. Documentation 

The organisation is required to prepare or update necessary documentation, including business continuity policies, risk assessment, recovery strategy, business impact analysis, and operational procedures. Documentation ensures smooth and consistent implementation of the plan across all departments of the organisation. 

4. Implementation and Employee Training 

In the next stage, the business continuity plan is implemented step by step in the organisation, and employees are provided with the necessary training. It is important that employees understand emergency response action, prepare for any emergency, and effectively perform their roles and responsibilities. 

5. Internal Audit and Management Review 

The organisation is required to evaluate an internal audit to check the effectiveness and implementation of the ISO 22301 certification plan. Management reviews the audit result, assesses performance, analyses the gap, and takes corrective measures for them. 

6. Certification Audit 

After the internal audit, the accredited certification body conducts a certification audit and on-site visit to verify the documentation and plan implementation. If any non-conformity is found during this stage, it must be corrected before certification approval and as soon as possible. 

7. Certification Grant and Surveillance Audits

After a successful audit, the certification body grants the ISO 22301 certification to the organisation. Certification bodies conduct periodic surveillance audits to ensure continued compliance and system effectiveness.