ISO 22301 Lead Auditor

The ISO 22301 Lead Auditor Course prepares professionals to conduct and manage full-scale audits of Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS). It covers the audit lifecycle in detail, including planning, interviewing, evidence gathering, reporting, and follow-up actions. Through case studies and practical sessions, learners gain the skills needed to evaluate an organisation's preparedness for disruptions.

Key Topics Covered 

• ISO 22301 Audit Process: Full-cycle audit planning, execution, reporting, and corrective actions. 

• Clause Interpretation: Deep understanding of ISO 22301 clauses and how to audit them. 

• Audit Techniques: Evidence collection, interviews, sampling, and risk-based focus. 

• Reporting and Leadership: Writing accurate reports and leading audit teams effectively. 

Course Benefits 

• Lead Audits with Confidence: Gain practical skills to manage and optimise ISO 22301 audits. 

• Boost Organisational Resilience: Identify risks, gaps, and improvements in continuity systems. 

• Career Advancement: Step into senior leadership roles in risk, audit, and business continuity. 

• Global Recognition: Acquire a qualification respected across sectors and geographies. 

This course is ideal for professionals involved in auditing, business continuity, and risk management, such as: 

• Internal or External Auditors 

• Business Continuity Managers 

• Risk and Regulatory Officers 

• Quality Managers 

• IT Disaster Recovery Coordinators 

Module 1: Introduction to Business Continuity Management Systems

• What is a BCMS?
• Scope of a BCMS
• Management Systems
• BCM System Process
• Business Continuity Management (BCM)
• BCMS Benefits
• Business Continuity Management Lifecycle
• Applicability and Objectives

Module 2: Fundamental Principles and Concepts of Business Continuity

• Fundamental Principles
  • Build a Comprehensive Plan
  • Implement Each Step of the Action Plan
  • Check and Evaluate Results
  • Review and Make Improvements
• Business Continuity

Module 3: Clauses 4 to 8 of ISO 22301

• Introduction
• Clauses of ISO 22301
  • Clause 4 – Context of the Organisation
  • Clause 5 – Leadership
  • Clause 6 – Planning
  • Clause 7 – Support
  • Clause 8 – Operations

Module 4: Overview of ISO 22301 Standard

• Introduction to ISO 22301
• 22301 Standard Progression
• 22301 High-level Methodology
• Implementation Cycle Times

Module 5: BCM Mandatory Documents

• Clause 4.2.2
• Clause 4.3
• Clause 5.3
• Clause 6.2
• Clause 7.2
• Clause 7.4
• Clause 8.2.1
• Clause 8.2.2
• Clause 8.2.3
• Clause 8.4.1
• Clause 8.4.2
• Clause 8.4.3
• Clause 8.4.4
• Clause 8.4.5
• Clause 9.1.1
• Clause 9.3
• Clause 10.1

Module 6: Leadership

• Leadership and Commitment
• Establishing the Business Continuity Policy
• Communicating the Business Continuity Policy

Module 7: Management Roles and Responsibilities

• Overview
• Impediments to Success
• Aids to Success

Module 8: Implementation Phases of the ISO 22301 Framework

• Management Support
• Identification of Requirements
• Business Continuity Policy and Objectives
• Support Documents for Management System
• Risk Assessment and Treatment
• Business Impact Analysis
• Business Continuity Strategy
• Business Continuity Plan
• Training and Awareness
• Documentation Maintenance
• Exercising and Testing
• Post-Incident Reviews
• Communication with Interested Parties
• Measurement and Evaluation
• Internal Audit
• Corrective Actions
• Management Review

Module 9: Continual Improvement of a BCMS

• Continual Improvement
• BCMS Control System
• Areas of Continual Improvement

Module 10: Audit and Auditing Principles

• Introduction to Audit
• Fundamental Principles of Auditing
• Scope of Auditing
• PDCA Cycle

Module 11: Auditing Roles

• What are the Roles?
• Organisational Context
• Management Responsibilities
• Planning, Support, and Operation
• Performance Evaluation
• Improvement

Module 12: Roles and Responsibilities of the Auditor

• Internal Auditing
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Typical Internal Audit

Module 13: Skills of an Internal Auditor

• Internal Auditing Goals
• Qualities of an Auditor
• Auditing Skills

Module 14: Purpose of Internal Auditing

• 22301 Mission
• Key Benefits of BCMS

Module 15: Audit Procedures

• BCMS Audit Process
• Elements of an Internal Audit
• Internal Audit Process
• Required Documentation
• Supporting Procedural Documentation
• Required Records and Documentation

Module 16: Audit Triangle

• Fraud Triangle
• Tackling the Fraud Triangle

Module 17: Auditing Techniques

• Classifying Audit Findings
• On-Site Auditing
• Remote Auditing Methods

Module 18: Work Document Approach

• Steps to Certification
• Certification Audits

Module 19: Business Continuity Control Best Practice

• Overview
• BCM Policy
• Management Commitment
• Plan How to Deal with an Emergency
• Impediments to Success
• Disaster Recovery

Module 20: Planning a Business Continuity Management System (BCMS)

• Planning a BCMS

Module 21: Implementation of Business Continuity and Writing Procedures

• Communication
• Writing a Scenario
• Delivering the Scenario

Module 22: Business Impact Analysis (BIA) and Risk Assessment

• Business Impact Analysis
• Risk Assessment
• Risk Assessment Methodologies and Implementation
• Risk Treatment Implementation

Module 23: Incident Management and Emergency Management

• Overview
  • Incident Management
  • Emergency Management
• Key Elements of Crisis Management Respond Process

Module 24: Operations Management of a BCMS

• Introduction to Operations Management of a BCMS

Module 25: Business Continuity Strategies and Solutions

• General
• Identification of Strategies and Solutions
• Selection of Strategies and Solutions
• Resource Requirements
• Implementation of Solutions

Module 26: Business Continuity Plans and Procedures

• General
• Response Structure
• Warning and Communication
• Business Continuity Plans
• Recovery
• Evaluation of Business Continuity Documentation and Capabilities

Module 27: Performance Evaluation, Monitoring, and Measurement of a BCMS

• Performance Evaluation, Monitoring, and Measurement of a BCMS
• Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
• Identifying Indicators of an Organisation
• Critical Success Factors (CSFs)
• Writing an Effective Critical Success Factor
• CSFs for Strategic Planning
• Performance Evaluation
• Case Study: Telefonica
• Cutting Complexity
• Taking Actions

Module 28: Development of Metrics, Performance Indicators, and Dashboards

• Development of Metrics
• KPI Dashboards
• Steps to Create KPI Dashboards

Module 29: Internal Audit and Management Review of a BCMS

• Internal Audit
• Introduction to Management Review
• Purpose of Management Review
• Management Review Input
• Management Review Outputs

Module 30: Improvement and Implementation of a Continual Improvement Program

• Nonconformity and Corrective Action
• Continual Improvement
  • Lifelong Learning
  • Tone from the Top
  • Let’s have a Plan
  • Second Opinion
  • Catching up
  • Takeaway

Module 31: Preparing for a BCMS Certification Audit

• BCMS Certification Audit
  • Choose a Certification Body
  • Certification Audits
  • Surveillance Visits

Module 32: Development of a BCMS and Business Continuity Policies

• Development of a BCMS
  • Steps for Development of a BCMS
• Business Continuity Policies

Module 33: Purpose of Management Review

• Conducting an Audit
• Core Audit Principles and Concepts
• Evidence and Risk
• Preparation of an Audit
• BCMS Documentation Audit
• Opening Meeting

Module 34: Directing an ISO 22301 Audit

• Communication During the Audit
• Audit Actions
• Findings from the Audit
• Components of the Documentation
• Supporting Procedural Documentation
• Closing Meeting
• Assessing Corrective Action Plans
• ISO 22301 Surveillance Audit
• Internal Audit Management Programme
• Second Party Audits

Module 35: Manage Auditing Teams, Improve Analysing, and Reporting Skills

• Introduction
• Management Audit Procedure
• Improvement Analysing
• Data Analyses
• Root Cause Analysis
• Reporting Skills

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Understand ISO 22301 requirements and their audit implications
• Plan, lead, and report audits based on ISO 19011 and ISO 22301
• Identify nonconformities and recommend corrective actions
• Support your organisation in improving continuity and recovery measures

To achieve the ISO 22301 Lead Auditor, candidates will need to sit for an examination. The exam format is as follows: 

• Question Type: Multiple Choice 

• Total Questions: 30 

• Total Marks: 30 

• Pass Mark: 50%, or 15/30 Marks 

• Duration: 40 Minutes 

• Open Book/Closed Book: Closed Book