Course Details

Auditing and Reviewing Business Continuity Management Programs Training Course

Introduction

In an era where organizational resilience is a strategic imperative, merely having a Business Continuity Management (BCM) program is insufficient; its effectiveness, adherence to standards, and continuous improvement must be rigorously assessed. Our intensive 10-day "Auditing and Reviewing Business Continuity Management Programs" training course is meticulously designed to equip auditors, compliance officers, and BCM professionals with the specialized knowledge and practical skills required to conduct thorough and impactful evaluations of BCM programs. This program delves into the methodologies for assessing compliance with internal policies, external regulations (including local Kenyan contexts), and international standards like ISO 22301:2019, ensuring the BCM program is not just present, but truly robust and capable of safeguarding the organization.

This hands-on course will guide participants through the entire audit lifecycle, from planning and evidence collection to reporting findings and recommending corrective actions. You will learn how to identify gaps, verify the effectiveness of continuity strategies, assess the maturity of BCM governance, and ensure that recovery objectives are achievable. By the end of this comprehensive training, you will be proficient in objectively evaluating BCM programs, providing invaluable insights that strengthen organizational resilience, enhance stakeholder confidence, and ensure continuous preparedness for any disruptive event.

Duration

10 Days

Target Audience

The "Auditing and Reviewing Business Continuity Management Programs" training course is essential for professionals who are responsible for assessing, evaluating, and improving the effectiveness of their organization's Business Continuity Management capabilities. This includes:

• Internal Auditors: Specializing in BCM, IT, and operational audits.
• External Auditors/Consultants: Providing independent assessments of BCM programs for clients.
• Business Continuity Managers/Coordinators: Seeking to understand audit expectations and improve their BCM program's audit readiness.
• Compliance Officers: Ensuring BCM compliance with legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations.
• Risk Management Professionals: Evaluating the effectiveness of BCM controls in mitigating identified risks.
• Quality Management System (QMS) Auditors: Expanding their expertise to include BCM.
• Senior Management: Accountable for organizational resilience and needing to understand how to verify program effectiveness.
• IT Audit Professionals: Focusing on the disaster recovery aspects of BCM.
• Information Security Professionals: Understanding the interplay between security and continuity audits.
• Anyone involved in the governance, oversight, or assurance of BCM programs.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of the "Auditing and Reviewing Business Continuity Management Programs" training course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles, scope, and objectives of auditing Business Continuity Management (BCM) programs.
• Interpret and apply relevant audit standards, guidelines, and best practices for BCM.
• Plan and prepare for a BCM audit, including defining audit scope, criteria, and methodology.
• Collect and evaluate objective audit evidence related to BCM policies, plans, and procedures.
• Assess the effectiveness of Business Impact Analysis (BIA), risk assessments, and continuity strategies.
• Evaluate the adequacy of BCPs, DRPs, and crisis management plans.
• Conduct interviews, observe processes, and review documentation as part of the audit process.
• Identify nonconformities, observations, and opportunities for improvement within the BCM program.
• Prepare clear, concise, and impactful audit reports, including actionable recommendations.
• Understand the importance of follow-up on corrective actions and continuous improvement of the BCM program.

Course Modules

Module 1: Fundamentals of BCM Auditing

• Purpose and objectives of auditing a Business Continuity Management Program.
• Key principles of auditing (independence, evidence-based approach, due professional care).
• Understanding the role of BCM audits in enhancing organizational resilience.
• Distinction between internal audits, external audits, and third-party certification audits.
• Ethical considerations for BCM auditors.

Module 2: Audit Standards and Best Practices for BCM

• Overview of relevant auditing standards (e.g., ISO 19011: Guidelines for auditing management systems).
• In-depth focus on auditing against ISO 22301:2019 (Societal security - Business continuity management systems - Requirements).
• Understanding industry-specific BCM regulatory requirements relevant to Kenya (e.g., KCAA, CBK guidelines for financial sector).
• Best practices from professional bodies (e.g., DRI International, BCI).
• Mapping audit criteria to BCM program components.

Module 3: BCM Audit Planning and Preparation

• Defining the scope and objectives of the BCM audit.
• Developing an audit plan: audit schedule, resources, and methodology.
• Understanding the audit criteria: policies, procedures, standards, regulations.
• Reviewing existing BCM documentation (policies, BIA, plans, test reports).
• Preparing audit checklists and interview questions.

Module 4: Auditing BCM Governance & Policy

• Assessing top management commitment and leadership for the BCMS.
• Evaluating the adequacy and approval of the BCM policy.
• Auditing the BCM governance structure: roles, responsibilities, accountability.
• Reviewing terms of reference for BCM committees and teams.
• Assessing the integration of BCM with overall corporate governance and risk management.

Module 5: Auditing Business Impact Analysis (BIA)

• Evaluating the methodology used for conducting the BIA.
• Assessing the completeness and accuracy of BIA outputs (RTOs, RPOs, MTDs).
• Verifying stakeholder involvement and validation of BIA results.
• Auditing the quantification of impacts (financial, operational, reputational, legal).
• Checking the identification and documentation of interdependencies.

Module 6: Auditing Risk Assessment & Strategy Development

• Assessing the methodology and completeness of the risk assessment process for BC.
• Verifying that continuity strategies align with identified risks and BIA objectives.
• Auditing the feasibility and practicality of chosen continuity solutions (IT, facilities, personnel, supply chain).
• Evaluating the cost-effectiveness justification for continuity strategies.
• Reviewing documentation of risk mitigation actions and controls.

Module 7: Auditing Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) & Procedures

• Assessing the completeness, clarity, and usability of BCPs and IT Disaster Recovery Plans (DRPs).
• Verifying that plans address critical processes and systems identified in the BIA.
• Auditing roles, responsibilities, and communication protocols within the plans.
• Reviewing procedures for incident response, crisis management, and recovery.
• Checking for version control and accessibility of plans.

Module 8: Auditing BCM Testing & Training

• Evaluating the scope, frequency, and rigor of BCM testing and exercises.
• Assessing the objectives and effectiveness of different test types (tabletop, simulation, full-scale).
• Reviewing test reports, lessons learned, and implementation of corrective actions.
• Auditing BCM training and awareness programs for relevant personnel.
• Verifying evidence of ongoing competence and awareness.

Module 9: Audit Reporting, Findings & Recommendations

• Techniques for documenting audit findings: nonconformities, observations, opportunities for improvement.
• Categorizing findings based on severity and impact.
• Writing clear, concise, and objective audit reports for various audiences.
• Developing actionable recommendations for improvement.
• Presenting audit findings to management and negotiating corrective actions.

Module 10: Audit Follow-up & BCMS Continual Improvement

• Understanding the process for audit follow-up and verification of corrective actions.
• Assessing the effectiveness of implemented corrective and preventive actions.
• The role of audits in driving the continual improvement of the BCMS (PDCA cycle).
• Preparing for external certification audits based on internal audit findings.
• Fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement in BCM.

CERTIFICATION

• Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with Macskills Training and Development Institute Certificate

TRAINING VENUE

• Training will be held at Macskills Training Centre. We also tailor make the training upon request at different locations across the world.

AIRPORT PICK UP AND ACCOMMODATION

• Airport pick up and accommodation is arranged upon request

TERMS OF PAYMENT

• Payment should be made to Macskills Development Institute bank account before the start of the training and receipts sent to info@macskillsdevelopment.com