Training Module
Training Module
Business Continuity Strategies & Solutions
Understand continuity strategy options, solution design components, and decision criteria aligned to ISO 22301 time-based requirements
Understand
Implement
Manage
Audit
Training module overview
Many organisations jump from “critical” to “we need DR” and end up with strategies that are either unaffordable, not implementable, or disconnected from real operational constraints. Others document generic options (alternate site, remote work, manual workarounds) but cannot show why they are sufficient for specific time requirements, dependencies, and minimum resources.
This full-day ISO 22301 specialisation module focuses on strategy selection and solution design: how to translate time-based requirements into practical continuity approaches across people, facilities, technology, information, and suppliers; how to evaluate options and constraints; and how to document decisions so they remain usable for implementation and assurance. The module does not teach Business Impact Analysis execution, and it does not develop business continuity plans, response procedures, or exercising programmes—those are handled in the dedicated ISO 22301 modules.
Many organisations jump from “critical” to “we need DR” and end up with strategies that are either unaffordable, not implementable, or disconnected from real operational constraints. Others document generic options (alternate site, remote work, manual workarounds) but cannot show why they are sufficient for specific time requirements, dependencies, and minimum resources.
This full-day ISO 22301 specialisation module focuses on strategy selection and solution design: how to translate time-based requirements into practical continuity approaches across people, facilities, technology, information, and suppliers; how to evaluate options and constraints; and how to document decisions so they remain usable for implementation and assurance. The module does not teach Business Impact Analysis execution, and it does not develop business continuity plans, response procedures, or exercising programmes—those are handled in the dedicated ISO 22301 modules.
Target audience
Business continuity managers, coordinators, and implementers designing continuity strategies under ISO 22301
Process/service owners and functional leads responsible for continuity decisions and resourcing
IT service continuity / DR leads translating business time requirements into recovery solutions
Supplier / outsourcing managers contributing to continuity solution dependencies
Auditors and assurance professionals who need domain understanding of continuity strategy expectations (audit craft assumed from the audit track)
Business continuity managers, coordinators, and implementers designing continuity strategies under ISO 22301
Process/service owners and functional leads responsible for continuity decisions and resourcing
IT service continuity / DR leads translating business time requirements into recovery solutions
Supplier / outsourcing managers contributing to continuity solution dependencies
Auditors and assurance professionals who need domain understanding of continuity strategy expectations (audit craft assumed from the audit track)
Agenda
What “strategy & solution” means in ISO 22301 (and what it doesn’t)
Boundaries: strategy selection vs. planning, response, and exercising
Inputs and outputs: how strategy consumes time requirements and produces implementable solution requirements
Strategy options landscape (continuity-specific)
Typical strategy families (avoid, reduce exposure, maintain, recover, substitute) and where they fit
Misfits and failure patterns (e.g., DR-only mindset, “paper resilience”, unrealistic assumptions)
Designing solutions across enabling dimensions
People, facilities, technology, information, and third parties as integrated solution components
Minimum operating model and recovery sequencing (what must be available first, and why)
Feasibility and constraint evaluation
Constraints: capability, time, cost, compliance/contractual, supply chain, and site realities
Practical checks: single points of failure, shared dependencies, and unrealistic manual workarounds
Decision logic and governance of trade-offs
Making trade-offs explicit (cost vs. recovery time vs. complexity vs. residual exposure)
Decision records: what must be documented so choices remain understandable and auditable
Traceability and maintainability of strategy decisions
Linking strategy and solution choices to time requirements and key assumptions
Change triggers: what updates strategies (service changes, supplier shifts, platform migrations)
Technology as an enabler
Using structured registers to keep strategy decisions current and comparable
AI-assisted summarisation of stakeholder inputs and consistency checks (supporting judgement, not replacing it)
Workshop (case-based)
Select strategies for a Halderstone case using given time requirements and dependency constraints
Consolidate into a solution set with documented trade-offs, assumptions, and ownership
What “strategy & solution” means in ISO 22301 (and what it doesn’t)
Boundaries: strategy selection vs. planning, response, and exercising
Inputs and outputs: how strategy consumes time requirements and produces implementable solution requirements
Strategy options landscape (continuity-specific)
Typical strategy families (avoid, reduce exposure, maintain, recover, substitute) and where they fit
Misfits and failure patterns (e.g., DR-only mindset, “paper resilience”, unrealistic assumptions)
Designing solutions across enabling dimensions
People, facilities, technology, information, and third parties as integrated solution components
Minimum operating model and recovery sequencing (what must be available first, and why)
Feasibility and constraint evaluation
Constraints: capability, time, cost, compliance/contractual, supply chain, and site realities
Practical checks: single points of failure, shared dependencies, and unrealistic manual workarounds
Decision logic and governance of trade-offs
Making trade-offs explicit (cost vs. recovery time vs. complexity vs. residual exposure)
Decision records: what must be documented so choices remain understandable and auditable
Traceability and maintainability of strategy decisions
Linking strategy and solution choices to time requirements and key assumptions
Change triggers: what updates strategies (service changes, supplier shifts, platform migrations)
Technology as an enabler
Using structured registers to keep strategy decisions current and comparable
AI-assisted summarisation of stakeholder inputs and consistency checks (supporting judgement, not replacing it)
Workshop (case-based)
Select strategies for a Halderstone case using given time requirements and dependency constraints
Consolidate into a solution set with documented trade-offs, assumptions, and ownership
Course ID:
HAM-BCSS-1
Audience:
Manager
Auditor
Domain:
Business Continuity
Available in:
English
Duration:
7 h
List price:
CHF 550
Excl. VAT. VAT may apply depending on customer location and status.
What you get
Learning outcomes
Distinguish clearly between continuity strategy/solution design and continuity planning/exercising activities
Translate time-based recovery requirements into concrete continuity strategy options and solution components
Evaluate strategy feasibility against operational constraints, dependencies, and minimum resource needs
Select coherent strategy portfolios (not isolated measures) across people, facilities, technology, information, and suppliers
Document strategy decisions with explicit trade-offs, assumptions, and ownership so they remain maintainable and defensible
Recognise common strategy failure modes and gaps relevant for implementation reviews and readiness assurance (without teaching audit technique)
Distinguish clearly between continuity strategy/solution design and continuity planning/exercising activities
Translate time-based recovery requirements into concrete continuity strategy options and solution components
Evaluate strategy feasibility against operational constraints, dependencies, and minimum resource needs
Select coherent strategy portfolios (not isolated measures) across people, facilities, technology, information, and suppliers
Document strategy decisions with explicit trade-offs, assumptions, and ownership so they remain maintainable and defensible
Recognise common strategy failure modes and gaps relevant for implementation reviews and readiness assurance (without teaching audit technique)
Learning materials
Slide deck
Participant workbook
Certificate of completion
Slide deck
Participant workbook
Certificate of completion
Templates & tools
Continuity strategy options catalogue (structured by strategy family and applicability conditions)
Solution design canvas (people / facility / technology / information / supplier components)
Feasibility & constraint checklist (time, capability, cost, compliance, dependency realism)
Trade-off decision record (decision, rationale, assumptions, residual exposures, owners)
Strategy-to-requirement traceability table (time requirements → strategy choices → solution components)
Change trigger log (events that force strategy revalidation)
AI prompt set for summarising interviews and checking cross-team consistency (judgement retained)
Continuity strategy options catalogue (structured by strategy family and applicability conditions)
Solution design canvas (people / facility / technology / information / supplier components)
Feasibility & constraint checklist (time, capability, cost, compliance, dependency realism)
Trade-off decision record (decision, rationale, assumptions, residual exposures, owners)
Strategy-to-requirement traceability table (time requirements → strategy choices → solution components)
Change trigger log (events that force strategy revalidation)
AI prompt set for summarising interviews and checking cross-team consistency (judgement retained)
Prerequisites
This module assumes participants can work with management-system concepts and can discuss service impacts, dependencies, and time constraints. Participants should be comfortable interpreting time-based continuity requirements (e.g., MTPD/MAO, RTO, RPO) as design inputs—without needing to learn how these are produced.
Helpful background includes:
Familiarity with key services/processes and their enabling dependencies (people, sites, technology, suppliers)
Ability to discuss operational workarounds realistically (constraints, not aspirations)
This module assumes participants can work with management-system concepts and can discuss service impacts, dependencies, and time constraints. Participants should be comfortable interpreting time-based continuity requirements (e.g., MTPD/MAO, RTO, RPO) as design inputs—without needing to learn how these are produced.
Helpful background includes:
Familiarity with key services/processes and their enabling dependencies (people, sites, technology, suppliers)
Ability to discuss operational workarounds realistically (constraints, not aspirations)
Strongly recommended preparatory modules
System Foundations: Context, Stakeholders, and System Boundaries
Understand organisational context, stakeholders, and system boundaries
7 h
System Foundations: Context, Stakeholders, and System Boundaries
Understand organisational context, stakeholders, and system boundaries
7 h
System Foundations: Context, Stakeholders, and System Boundaries
Understand organisational context, stakeholders, and system boundaries
7 h
Governance Foundations: Role Design, Decision Rights, and Escalation in Management Systems
Learn the fundamentals of role design, decision rights, governance mechanisms, and escalation paths in management systems
7 h
Governance Foundations: Role Design, Decision Rights, and Escalation in Management Systems
Learn the fundamentals of role design, decision rights, governance mechanisms, and escalation paths in management systems
7 h
Governance Foundations: Role Design, Decision Rights, and Escalation in Management Systems
Learn the fundamentals of role design, decision rights, governance mechanisms, and escalation paths in management systems
7 h
Helpful preparatory modules
The modules below prepare for an optimal learning experience – but are not strictly necessary for participants to follow.
Documentation & Knowledge Foundations: Documented Information, Records, and Organisational Knowledge
Fundamentals of documented information control, records, and knowledge capture for management systems
7 h
Documentation & Knowledge Foundations: Documented Information, Records, and Organisational Knowledge
Fundamentals of documented information control, records, and knowledge capture for management systems
7 h
Documentation & Knowledge Foundations: Documented Information, Records, and Organisational Knowledge
Fundamentals of documented information control, records, and knowledge capture for management systems
7 h
Information Security Foundations II: Detective & Responsive Controls
Understand the fundamentals of detection, logging, monitoring, alerting, and responsive control concepts in information security
7 h
Information Security Foundations II: Detective & Responsive Controls
Understand the fundamentals of detection, logging, monitoring, alerting, and responsive control concepts in information security
7 h
Information Security Foundations II: Detective & Responsive Controls
Understand the fundamentals of detection, logging, monitoring, alerting, and responsive control concepts in information security
7 h
ISO 22301 Business Impact Analysis (BIA) & Critical Activities
Understand ISO 22301-aligned business impact analysis, critical activity identification, and time-based recovery requirements
7 h
ISO 22301 Business Impact Analysis (BIA) & Critical Activities
Understand ISO 22301-aligned business impact analysis, critical activity identification, and time-based recovery requirements
7 h
ISO 22301 Business Impact Analysis (BIA) & Critical Activities
Understand ISO 22301-aligned business impact analysis, critical activity identification, and time-based recovery requirements
7 h
Continuous learning
Follow-up modules
Follow-up modules
After completion of this module, the following modules are ideal to further deepen the participant's competence.
After completion of this module, the following modules are ideal to further deepen the participant's competence.
Ready to achieve mastery?
Bring ISO requirements into everyday practice to reduce avoidable issues and strengthen the trust of your customers and stakeholders.
Ready to achieve mastery?
Bring ISO requirements into everyday practice to reduce avoidable issues and strengthen the trust of your customers and stakeholders.
Ready to achieve mastery?
Bring ISO requirements into everyday practice to reduce avoidable issues and strengthen the trust of your customers and stakeholders.