Business Continuity and Crisis Management

Governance, Risk and Compliance October 25, 2025
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Introduction

In an era of increasing volatility—from cyber attacks to supply chain disruptions and natural disasters—the ability to maintain critical operations is paramount. This rigorous course focuses on developing and implementing robust Business Continuity Management (BCM) and Crisis Management frameworks. Participants will master the methodology for conducting Business Impact Analysis (BIA), developing recovery strategies, and designing effective crisis communication plans. By applying global standards like ISO 22301, professionals will ensure their organization is prepared to prevent, respond to, and recover from any significant business disruption.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this program, participants will be able to:

  • Articulate the core principles and lifecycle of a robust Business Continuity Management (BCM) system.
  • Conduct a detailed Business Impact Analysis (BIA) to determine Recovery Time Objectives (RTO) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPO).
  • Develop and implement tailored business continuity and disaster recovery strategies.
  • Master the structure and function of the Crisis Management Team (CMT) and Incident Response Team (IRT).
  • Design an effective crisis communication plan for all internal and external stakeholders.
  • Implement a comprehensive program for testing, exercising, and maintaining BCM plans.
  • Understand the requirements and steps for achieving ISO 22301 BCM certification.
  • Integrate the BCM program with IT Disaster Recovery and Emergency Management plans.

Target Audience

  • Business Continuity and Resilience Managers
  • IT Disaster Recovery Specialists
  • Risk Management and Internal Audit Teams
  • Operational and Facility Managers
  • Crisis Communications and PR Professionals
  • Senior Executives and Department Heads
  • Compliance Officers in high-risk sectors

Methodology

  • Gain certification-aligned knowledge and expertise in a high-demand risk discipline.
  • Develop strong analytical skills in risk and business impact assessment.
  • Enhance leadership capabilities in high-pressure, uncertain environments.
  • Master structured decision-making and effective crisis communication techniques.
  • Increase professional credibility as a certified resilience leader.
  • Build a robust toolkit of BCM/CM templates and frameworks.

Personal Impact

  • Acquire specialized, certified knowledge in organizational resilience.
  • Gain confidence in leading and making decisions during high-stress crises.
  • Enhance career mobility into strategic risk and operational excellence roles.
  • Master the ability to conduct and justify key BCM analyses (BIA, risk assessment).
  • Develop expert-level crisis communication and leadership skills.
  • Position as a critical asset in protecting organizational value during disruption.

Organizational Impact

  • Guaranteed ability to maintain critical operations following any major disruption.
  • Significant reduction in financial losses and reputational damage from crises.
  • Faster, more efficient recovery and restoration of business functions.
  • Improved resilience of the supply chain and critical third-party relationships.
  • Compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements for business continuity.
  • Reduced insurance premiums and better strategic risk visibility for the Board.

Course Outline

Unit 1: BCM Framework and Lifecycle (ISO 22301)

Foundations of Resilience
  • Introduction to the Business Continuity Management (BCM) lifecycle and its key phases.
  • Defining the scope and objectives of the BCM program and policy.
  • Understanding key BCM metrics: RTO, RPO, and Maximum Tolerable Period of Disruption (MTPD).
  • The role of top management commitment and governance in BCM success.
  • Overview of the ISO 22301 standard and its requirements.

Unit 2: Business Impact Analysis (BIA)

Determining Criticality
  • Methodology for conducting a detailed Business Impact Analysis (BIA).
  • Identifying and prioritizing critical business activities and interdependencies.
  • Techniques for gathering data on disruption impacts (financial, legal, reputational).
  • Establishing and justifying the appropriate Recovery Time Objective (RTO) for each activity.
  • Analyzing resource requirements for recovery (people, technology, facilities).

Unit 3: Strategy Development and Recovery Plans

Mitigation and Response
  • Developing mitigation strategies to reduce the probability and impact of disruptions.
  • Designing continuity strategies for IT systems, facilities, and human resources.
  • Creating documented business continuity plans (BCP) and recovery procedures.
  • The importance of supply chain continuity and third-party risk management.
  • Implementing data backup, restoration, and IT disaster recovery (DR) solutions.

Unit 4: Crisis Management and Communication

Leading Through Disruption
  • Differentiating between Incident Management, Crisis Management, and BCM.
  • Establishing the Crisis Management Team (CMT) structure, roles, and decision authorities.
  • Developing a layered, internal, and external crisis communication strategy.
  • Managing media relations and social media during a high-stakes crisis.
  • Techniques for effective decision-making and leadership under extreme pressure.

Unit 5: Exercise, Maintenance, and Audit

Sustaining Readiness
  • Designing a BCM exercise program (e.g., walk-throughs, tabletops, full simulations).
  • Analyzing exercise results and driving post-exercise remediation and improvement.
  • Implementing a maintenance schedule for periodic review and updating of BCPs and BIAs.
  • The role of internal audit in assessing the effectiveness of the BCM program.
  • Strategies for achieving and maintaining BCM certification (e.g., ISO 22301).

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