Definition

Business Continuity Management is a systematic approach to develop and exercise an organization’s capability to continue the delivery of products and services within acceptable time frames at predefined capacity during a disruption. It safeguards the interests of its key stakeholders, reputation, brand, and value-creating activities.

ISO 22301:2019

Business Continuity is the capability of an organization to continue the delivery of products and services within acceptable time frames at predefined capacity during a disruption. (ISO, 2019)

ISO 22300

Business Continuity is the capability of the organization to continue the delivery of products or services at acceptable predefined levels following a disruptive incident. (The definition has been replaced.)

International Glossary for Resiliency

Business Continuity Management is a “Holistic management process that identifies potential threats to an organization and the impacts to business operations those threats, if realized, might cause, and which provides a framework for building organizational resilience with the capability of an effective response that safeguards the interests of its key stakeholders, reputation, brand and value-creating activities.”

ISO, DRI, and BCI

There are three primary business continuity related organizations. The Organization of International Standard (ISO) defines the ISO 22301 standard; the Disaster Recovery Institute (DRI) and the Business Continuity Institute (BCI) propose professional practices and administer business continuity certifications.

Certifications

BCI accredits Certification of the BCI (CBCI), while DRI manages Associate Business Continuity Planner (ABCP), Certified Functional Continuity Professional (CFCP), Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP), and Master Business Continuity Professional (MBCP).