ISO 27001 Business Continuity Policy Explained + Template

In this guide, you will learn what an ISO 27001 Business Continuity Policy is, how to write it yourself and I give you a template you can download and use right away.

What is an ISO 27001 Business Continuity Policy?

An ISO 27001 Business Continuity Policy is your company’s game plan for what to do when things go wrong. It’s a simple, easy-to-follow guide that helps you get back on your feet quickly after a disaster, like a power outage or a cyberattack. The goal is to keep your business running smoothly, no matter what happens.

This policy is a set of rules and guidelines that make sure your business can keep operating even during a crisis. It covers things like what to do if your office building is unavailable, how to access critical information, and how to keep in touch with your team and customers. Think of it as your emergency survival guide for the business world.

ISO 27001 Business Continuity Policy Example

An example ISO 27001 business continuity policy:

ISO 27001 Business Continuity Policy Template

The ISO 27001:2022 business continuity template is designed to fast track your implementation and give you an exclusive, industry best practice policy template that is pre written and ready to go. It is included in the ISO 27001 toolkit.

How to write an ISO 27001 Business Continuity Policy

Keep it simple! Start by identifying the most important parts of your business and what could threaten them. Then, list the steps you’ll take to protect those parts. Use clear, simple language and create a step-by-step action plan. You can use checklists and flowcharts to make it even easier to follow.

What you need to know about the ISO 27001 Business Continuity Policy

Why you need an ISO 27001 Business Continuity Policy

You need this policy to protect your business from unexpected problems. It helps you minimise damage, reduce financial loss, and maintain trust with your customers. Having a plan in place shows that you’re responsible and prepared, which is a big plus for your reputation. It’s a proactive way to avoid a huge headache later.

When you need an ISO 27001 Business Continuity Policy

You need a business continuity policy before a disaster ever happens. You should create it when you’re first setting up your information security system and review it regularly. You’ll use it every time there’s a serious problem that could stop your business, like a natural disaster, a technical failure, or a security breach.

Who needs an ISO 27001 Business Continuity Policy?

Everyone in the company needs to be aware of this policy. While a small team or a single person might be in charge of writing it, every employee should know their role in an emergency. This includes the CEO, IT staff, and every team member who needs to keep working during a crisis.

Where you need an ISO 27001 Business Continuity Policy

This policy applies everywhere your business operates. It covers your physical office, your remote workers’ homes, and your cloud-based systems. It’s a universal guide for your team, no matter where they are.

How to implement an ISO 27001 Business Continuity Policy

First, share the policy with everyone. Hold a team meeting to walk through the plan and make sure everyone understands their role. You should also practice the plan with drills, like a test run of your backup systems. Finally, make sure to keep the policy updated, especially as your business changes.

How the ISO 27001 toolkit can help

An ISO 27001 toolkit is like a toolbox full of pre-made documents and guides. It gives you a head start on creating your policy and other important security documents, saving you a ton of time and effort. It’s a great way to make sure you don’t miss anything.

Applicability to Small Businesses, Tech Startups, and AI Companies

This policy is useful for businesses of all sizes, including small businesses, tech startups, and AI companies.

• Small Businesses: A simple policy can ensure you can still send out invoices and serve customers if your main system goes down.
• Tech Startups: It’s crucial for keeping your app or service running and protecting customer data if there’s an outage.
• AI Companies: It’s essential for protecting your valuable data models and ensuring your AI services don’t stop working unexpectedly.

Examples of using it for small businesses

If you’re a small online shop and your website server fails, your policy might tell you to switch to a backup website, use social media to update customers, and have a list of emergency contacts for your hosting company.

Examples of using it for tech startups

For a startup with a mobile app, the policy could outline how to switch to a backup server if the main one fails. It might also specify how to alert users about the issue and when to expect a fix.

Examples of using it for AI companies

An AI company’s policy might include steps to back up large datasets in multiple locations. It would also explain how to quickly restore your AI model and its services to prevent a major disruption.

Information security standards that need an ISO 27001 Business Continuity Policy

This policy is a key part of ISO 27001, which is an international standard for managing information security. Other standards that need it include:

• GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
• CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act)
• DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act)
• NIS2 (Network and Information Security (NIS) Directive) 
• SOC 2 (Service Organisation Control 2)
• NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) 
• HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

List of relevant ISO 27001:2022 controls

The ISO 27001:2022 standard has specific controls for business continuity:

• ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 5.29 Information security during disruption
• ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 5.30 ICT readiness for business continuity

ISO 27001 Business Continuity Policy FAQ

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