COURSE OVERVIEW:

ISO 22301 is the international standard for Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS), designed to help organizations protect against, prepare for, and recover from disruptive incidents. This Lead Auditor course provides the professional expertise required to assess the ability of an organization to continue operating during a crisis. Participants will learn how to lead audits that evaluate whether a BCMS is capable of meeting an organization’s business continuity objectives and legal obligations.

The scope of this training covers the advanced application of audit principles to the specific requirements of ISO 22301. Attendees will explore the critical link between Business Impact Analysis (BIA), Risk Assessment, and Business Continuity Strategies. The curriculum focuses on the lead auditor’s responsibility to evaluate the effectiveness of recovery procedures, the adequacy of resource allocation, and the maturity of the organization’s exercise and testing programs.

Coverage includes the management of an entire audit team, from initial planning to the final reporting of audit conclusions to executive management. Participants will learn how to audit high-stakes elements such as emergency response, crisis management, and IT disaster recovery. By the end of the course, attendees will possess the technical authority to provide credible audit findings that help organizations build resilience and ensure the survival of critical business functions in the face of unforeseen disasters.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

After completion of this course, the participants will be able to:

• Interpret ISO 22301 requirements for business continuity auditing.
• Lead the planning and execution of a full BCMS audit cycle.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the Business Impact Analysis (BIA) process.
• Audit the link between risk assessment and business continuity strategies.
• Assess the adequacy of business continuity plans and recovery procedures.
• Evaluate the maturity of an organization’s BCMS exercise and testing program.
• Audit the communication and response protocols during disruptive incidents.
• Manage an audit team and assign tasks based on auditor competence.
• Collect and verify objective evidence through advanced interviewing techniques.
• Synthesize audit findings into high-level conclusions for senior management.
• Write professional audit reports that meet certification body standards.
• Verify the effectiveness of corrective actions for business continuity gaps.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

Business Continuity Managers, Risk Managers, IT Disaster Recovery Professionals, Lead Auditors from other disciplines, and EHS Managers.

TRAINING COURSE METHODOLOGY:

A highly interactive combination of lectures, discussion sessions, and case studies will be employed to maximize the transfer of information, knowledge, and experience. The course will be intensive, practical, and highly interactive. The sessions will start by raising the most relevant questions and motivating everybody to find the right answers. The attendants will also be encouraged to raise more of their questions and to share in developing the right answers using their analysis and experience. There will also be some indoor experiential activities to enhance the learning experience. Course material will be provided in PowerPoint, with necessary animations, learning videos, and general discussions.

The course participants shall be evaluated before, during, and at the end of the course.

COURSE CERTIFICATE:

National Consultant Centre for Training LLC (NCC) will issue an Attendance Certificate to all participants completing a minimum of 80% of the total attendance time requirement.