scope:

This International Standard for business continuity provides guidance based on best international practice for planning, establishing, implementing, operating, monitoring, reviewing, maintaining and continually improving a documented management system that enables organizations to prepare for, respond to and recover from disruption. It is not the intent of this International Standard to imply uniformity in the structure of a BCMS but for an organization to design a BCMS that is appropriate to its needs and that meets the requirements of its interested parties. These needs are shaped by legal, regulatory, organizational and industry requirements, the products and services, the processes employed, the size and structure of the organization and the requirements of its interested parties. This International Standard is generic and applicable to all sizes and types of organizations, including large, medium and small organizations operating in industrial, commercial, public and not-for-profit sectors that wish to: a) establish, implement, maintain and improve a BCMS; b) assure conformance with the organization's business continuity policy; or c) make a self-determination and self-declaration of compliance with this International Standard. This International Standard should not be used to assess an organization's ability to meet its own business continuity needs, nor any customer, legal or regulatory needs. Organizations wishing to do so should use the ISO 22301, Societal security - Business continuity management systems - Requirements, to demonstrate conformance to others or seek certification/registration of its BCMS by an accredited third party certification body.