ISO 22301 vs ISO 27001: business continuity vs information security
A BCMS and an ISMS — different objectives, shared Annex SL structure, and a deliberate bridge between them.
Objective, core artefacts and overlap
| Feature | ISO 22301 | ISO 27001 |
|---|---|---|
| Management system | Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) | Information Security Management System (ISMS) |
| Primary objective | Keep critical activities running through disruption | Protect confidentiality, integrity and availability of information |
| Core artefacts | Business Impact Analysis, RTO/RPO, continuity plans | Risk assessment, treatment plan, Statement of Applicability |
| Common structure | Annex SL clauses 4-10 | Annex SL clauses 4-10 (shared) |
| Exercising | Exercise programme and after-action review required | Internal audit and management review of the ISMS |
| Bridge | Continuity discipline referenced by ISO 27001 | Annex A A.5.29 and A.5.30 cover ICT/continuity |
| Certifiable | Yes — accredited certification against ISO 22301 | Yes — accredited certification against ISO 27001 |
Continuity vs security — and where they overlap
These standards answer different questions. ISO 22301 asks how the organisation keeps critical activities running through a disruption — its core work is the business impact analysis, recovery time and recovery point objectives, continuity strategies, and a tested exercise programme. ISO 27001 asks how the organisation protects information — its core work is risk assessment, treatment, and the Statement of Applicability. They are not alternatives. Because both follow the Annex SL management-system structure (clauses 4 to 10), an organisation can run a single integrated programme with shared context, leadership, and review. The explicit bridge is in ISO 27001 Annex A: controls A.5.29 (information security during disruption) and A.5.30 (ICT readiness for business continuity) connect the ISMS to the continuity discipline that ISO 22301 specifies in depth. Choose based on objective: pursue ISO 22301 for continuity assurance, ISO 27001 for security assurance, and integrate both where the scope overlaps.
Build the BCMS and map the overlap with the ISO 22301 Copilot →Running an integrated programme
- Reuse shared Annex SL context, leadership and review across both systems
- Drive recovery objectives from the ISO 22301 business impact analysis
- Satisfy ISO 27001 A.5.29 and A.5.30 from the continuity programme
- Maintain one integrated audit and management-review cycle
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ISO 27001 cover business continuity?
Only at the information-security level. ISO 27001 Annex A controls A.5.29 and A.5.30 address information security during disruption and ICT readiness for continuity, but the full BCMS discipline — business impact analysis, RTO/RPO, continuity plans, exercises — is specified in depth by ISO 22301.
Should I do ISO 22301 or ISO 27001 first?
It depends on your objective. If buyers or regulators ask for security assurance, ISO 27001 comes first; if operational resilience is the driver, ISO 22301. Because both share the Annex SL structure, the second is significantly faster once the first is in place.
Can ISO 22301 and ISO 27001 be combined?
Yes. Both use the Annex SL management-system structure, so context, leadership, planning, and review clauses can be run as one integrated programme, with A.5.29 and A.5.30 acting as the bridge between security and continuity.
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