Training Module

Business Impact Analysis (BIA) & Critical Activities

Understand ISO 22301-aligned business impact analysis, critical activity identification, and time-based recovery requirements

Training Module

Business Impact Analysis (BIA) & Critical Activities

Understand ISO 22301-aligned business impact analysis, critical activity identification, and time-based recovery requirements

Training Module

Business Impact Analysis (BIA) & Critical Activities

Understand ISO 22301-aligned business impact analysis, critical activity identification, and time-based recovery requirements

High-availability data center environment with illuminated server racks, representing business impact analysis, critical activity identification, and ISO 22301-aligned time-based recovery requirements for decision-ready continuity planning.

Does your business impact analysis fail to guide effective business continuity design?

This training module teaches how to conduct ISO 22301‑aligned BIA, define critical activities and derive time‑based recovery requirements for decisions.

High-availability data center environment with illuminated server racks, representing business impact analysis, critical activity identification, and ISO 22301-aligned time-based recovery requirements for decision-ready continuity planning.

Does your business impact analysis fail to guide effective business continuity design?

This training module teaches how to conduct ISO 22301‑aligned BIA, define critical activities and derive time‑based recovery requirements for decisions.

High-availability data center environment with illuminated server racks, representing business impact analysis, critical activity identification, and ISO 22301-aligned time-based recovery requirements for decision-ready continuity planning.

Does your business impact analysis fail to guide effective business continuity design?

This training module teaches how to conduct ISO 22301‑aligned BIA, define critical activities and derive time‑based recovery requirements for decisions.

Training module overview

Training module overview

Training module overview

Many organisations treat BIA as a spreadsheet exercise: inconsistent criteria, unclear definitions of “critical”, and outputs that don’t translate into design choices or audit-ready justification. The result is friction between business and IT, continuity strategies that are disconnected from real impacts, and plans that are hard to maintain or defend.

This training module focuses on the continuity-specific logic of BIA: defining impact criteria and evaluation scales, identifying critical activities and dependencies, and deriving time-based requirements (e.g., MTPD/MAO, RTO, RPO and resource needs) that can be handed over cleanly to continuity strategies and continuity plans. It stays within BIA scope: it does not teach continuity strategy design or plan/exercise development; those are handled in the dedicated ISO 22301 modules.

Many organisations treat BIA as a spreadsheet exercise: inconsistent criteria, unclear definitions of “critical”, and outputs that don’t translate into design choices or audit-ready justification. The result is friction between business and IT, continuity strategies that are disconnected from real impacts, and plans that are hard to maintain or defend.

This training module focuses on the continuity-specific logic of BIA: defining impact criteria and evaluation scales, identifying critical activities and dependencies, and deriving time-based requirements (e.g., MTPD/MAO, RTO, RPO and resource needs) that can be handed over cleanly to continuity strategies and continuity plans. It stays within BIA scope: it does not teach continuity strategy design or plan/exercise development; those are handled in the dedicated ISO 22301 modules.

Applicable environments

This module applies to organisations implementing or operating a Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) in line with ISO 22301. It focuses on how the standard’s requirements are interpreted and applied in practice within real organisational contexts.

The content is relevant for organisations seeking certification as well as for those using ISO 22301 as a reference framework to structure responsibilities, processes, and controls in the BCM domain.

Target audience

Target audience

Target audience

  • People involved in designing, building, operating, or improving a BCMS aligned with ISO 22301

  • Executives and department heads accountable for BCMS effectiveness and performance

  • Those responsible for processes, policies, assets, risks, and controls related to business continuity management

  • Auditors of ISO 22301 who want to deepen their understanding of management-side best practices (not audit technique)

  • People involved in designing, building, operating, or improving a BCMS aligned with ISO 22301

  • Executives and department heads accountable for BCMS effectiveness and performance

  • Those responsible for processes, policies, assets, risks, and controls related to business continuity management

  • Auditors of ISO 22301 who want to deepen their understanding of management-side best practices (not audit technique)

Decision support

Is this module for you?

It is a good fit if you…

  • need clear, time-based continuity requirements instead of vague “criticality”.

  • want consistent criteria to identify critical activities and dependencies.

  • translate business impact into MTPD, RTO, and RPO decisions.

  • align business, IT, and continuity planning on shared assumptions.

  • need BIA outputs that stand up in audits and management review.

  • need clear, time-based continuity requirements instead of vague “criticality”.

  • want consistent criteria to identify critical activities and dependencies.

  • translate business impact into MTPD, RTO, and RPO decisions.

  • align business, IT, and continuity planning on shared assumptions.

  • need BIA outputs that stand up in audits and management review.

If most of the points above apply, this module is likely a good fit.

It may not be the best fit if you…

  • are looking for continuity strategy or recovery plan design.

  • want to run exercises, simulations, or crisis response training.

  • need tool-based BIA templates or spreadsheet walkthroughs.

  • already operate a stable, well-embedded ISO 22301 BIA practice.

  • are looking for continuity strategy or recovery plan design.

  • want to run exercises, simulations, or crisis response training.

  • need tool-based BIA templates or spreadsheet walkthroughs.

  • already operate a stable, well-embedded ISO 22301 BIA practice.

Agenda

Agenda

Agenda

  • Role of BIA within ISO 22301 continuity design

  • Defining impact criteria and evaluation logic

  • Identifying activities and determining “critical”

  • Dependencies and resource requirements

  • Time-based requirements and recovery parameters

  • Documented outputs and traceability

  • Technology as an enabler

  • Case-based workshop

Show detailed agenda...

  • Role of BIA within ISO 22301 continuity design

  • Defining impact criteria and evaluation logic

  • Identifying activities and determining “critical”

  • Dependencies and resource requirements

  • Time-based requirements and recovery parameters

  • Documented outputs and traceability

  • Technology as an enabler

  • Case-based workshop

Show detailed agenda...

  • Role of BIA within ISO 22301 continuity design

  • Defining impact criteria and evaluation logic

  • Identifying activities and determining “critical”

  • Dependencies and resource requirements

  • Time-based requirements and recovery parameters

  • Documented outputs and traceability

  • Technology as an enabler

  • Case-based workshop

Show detailed agenda...

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Key outcomes

  • Define impact criteria that reflect organisational objectives and stakeholder needs

  • Structure activities and determine which are critical based on impact and time sensitivity

  • Map dependencies and resource needs to support recovery requirement derivation

  • Define impact criteria that reflect organisational objectives and stakeholder needs

  • Structure activities and determine which are critical based on impact and time sensitivity

  • Map dependencies and resource needs to support recovery requirement derivation

Additional capabilities

  • Derive time‑based recovery requirements (RTOs, RPOs) that drive continuity design

  • Produce maintainable BIA outputs that can be reviewed and updated over time

  • Communicate BIA results to stakeholders to inform decision‑making and assurance

  • Derive time‑based recovery requirements (RTOs, RPOs) that drive continuity design

  • Produce maintainable BIA outputs that can be reviewed and updated over time

  • Communicate BIA results to stakeholders to inform decision‑making and assurance

Additional benefits

Additional benefits

Additional benefits

Learning materials

  • Slide deck

  • Participant workbook

Templates & tools

Practical, reusable artefacts to apply the module directly to your organisation.

  • Impact criteria library

  • BIA worksheet template

  • Critical activities register template

  • Dependency mapping canvas template

  • Interview and validation guide

  • AI prompt set for BIA

  • Impact criteria library

  • BIA worksheet template

  • Critical activities register template

  • Dependency mapping canvas template

  • Interview and validation guide

  • AI prompt set for BIA

Confirmation

  • Certificate of completion

Module ID

HAM-BC-S-01

Domain

Audience

Manager

Language

English

Delivery

Live virtual

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

Excl. VAT. VAT may apply depending on customer location and status.

Delivery & learning format

Delivery & learning format

Delivery & learning format

Virtual live teaching

This module is delivered live, with a strong focus on discussion, practical application, and direct interaction with the instructor.

Sessions work through realistic examples, clarify concepts in context, and apply methods directly to participants’ organisational realities.

Custom delivery options

For organisations with specific constraints or learning objectives, the module can be adapted in format or scope, including in-house delivery and contextualised case material.

Not sure if this module is right for you?

Not sure if this module is right for you?

Not sure if this module is right for you?

Send a short message and describe your context.

For an optimal learning experience

Preparation guidance

This module is designed as part of a modular training approach. Topics are deliberately distributed across modules and are not repeated in full, in order to avoid unnecessary redundancy. Each module is self-contained and can be taken on its own. Where prior knowledge or experience is helpful, this is indicated below so you can decide whether any preparation is useful for you.

For an optimal learning experience

Preparation guidance

This module is designed as part of a modular training approach. Topics are deliberately distributed across modules and are not repeated in full, in order to avoid unnecessary redundancy. Each module is self-contained and can be taken on its own. Where prior knowledge or experience is helpful, this is indicated below so you can decide whether any preparation is useful for you.

For an optimal learning experience

Preparation guidance

This module is designed as part of a modular training approach. Topics are deliberately distributed across modules and are not repeated in full, in order to avoid unnecessary redundancy. Each module is self-contained and can be taken on its own. Where prior knowledge or experience is helpful, this is indicated below so you can decide whether any preparation is useful for you.

Assumed background

This module assumes participants can work with management-system concepts and organisational process thinking. ISO 22301 clause knowledge is not required, but participants should be comfortable discussing service impacts, dependencies, and time constraints.

Helpful background includes:

  • Basic familiarity with process/service descriptions and ownership

  • Ability to discuss operational consequences of disruption (not risk methodology)

This module assumes participants can work with management-system concepts and organisational process thinking. ISO 22301 clause knowledge is not required, but participants should be comfortable discussing service impacts, dependencies, and time constraints.

Helpful background includes:

  • Basic familiarity with process/service descriptions and ownership

  • Ability to discuss operational consequences of disruption (not risk methodology)

Preparatory modules

Foundational modules (depending on background)

Useful if you are new to the underlying concepts or want a shared baseline before attending this module.

Risk Management Foundations

Learn the fundamentals of identifying, evaluating, treating, and monitoring risks and opportunities across management systems

7 h

Risk Management Foundations

Learn the fundamentals of identifying, evaluating, treating, and monitoring risks and opportunities across management systems

7 h

Risk Management Foundations

Learn the fundamentals of identifying, evaluating, treating, and monitoring risks and opportunities across management systems

7 h

Supporting modules (optional)

Helpful if you want to deepen related skills, but not required to participate effectively.

System Foundations

Understand organisational context, stakeholders, and system boundaries to build and operate effective management systems

7 h

System Foundations

Understand organisational context, stakeholders, and system boundaries to build and operate effective management systems

7 h

System Foundations

Understand organisational context, stakeholders, and system boundaries to build and operate effective management systems

7 h

Continuous learning

Follow-up modules

Continuous learning

Follow-up modules

Continuous learning

Follow-up modules

After completion of this module, the following modules are ideal to further deepen your competence. If you are looking for a structured learning path, modules can also be taken as part of a professional track.

Risk Management Foundations

Learn the fundamentals of identifying, evaluating, treating, and monitoring risks and opportunities across management systems

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Risk Management Foundations

Learn the fundamentals of identifying, evaluating, treating, and monitoring risks and opportunities across management systems

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Risk Management Foundations

Learn the fundamentals of identifying, evaluating, treating, and monitoring risks and opportunities across management systems

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Monitoring & Measurement Foundations

Learn the fundamentals of measurement methods, data quality checks, and measurement registers for consistent performance data

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Monitoring & Measurement Foundations

Learn the fundamentals of measurement methods, data quality checks, and measurement registers for consistent performance data

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Monitoring & Measurement Foundations

Learn the fundamentals of measurement methods, data quality checks, and measurement registers for consistent performance data

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Performance Evaluation Foundations

Learn the fundamentals of analysing performance results, interpreting trends and deviations, and summarising evaluation outputs for management decisions

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Performance Evaluation Foundations

Learn the fundamentals of analysing performance results, interpreting trends and deviations, and summarising evaluation outputs for management decisions

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Performance Evaluation Foundations

Learn the fundamentals of analysing performance results, interpreting trends and deviations, and summarising evaluation outputs for management decisions

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Management Review

Learn the fundamentals of planning, conducting, and documenting management reviews using integrated inputs and decision-focused outputs

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Management Review

Learn the fundamentals of planning, conducting, and documenting management reviews using integrated inputs and decision-focused outputs

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Management Review

Learn the fundamentals of planning, conducting, and documenting management reviews using integrated inputs and decision-focused outputs

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Improvement Management

Understand corrective actions, root cause analysis, action tracking, and effectiveness verification in management systems

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Improvement Management

Understand corrective actions, root cause analysis, action tracking, and effectiveness verification in management systems

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Improvement Management

Understand corrective actions, root cause analysis, action tracking, and effectiveness verification in management systems

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Office scene with people standing, walking and sitting

Ready to improve your management systems?

We support continuous improvement by embedding ISO requirements into everyday practice and daily operations.

Office scene with people standing, walking and sitting

Ready to improve your management systems?

We support continuous improvement by embedding ISO requirements into everyday practice and daily operations.

Office scene with people standing, walking and sitting

Ready to improve your management systems?

We support continuous improvement by embedding ISO requirements into everyday practice and daily operations.