Press Releases

For Immediate Release

BSI launches new business tool for business continuity management

BSI has launched the world’s first British standard for managing business continuity. The new BS 25999 Code of Practice will help organizations to minimize disruptions and demonstrate their ability to cope with major threats to their operation. By helping to put the fundamentals of Business Continuity Management (BCM) in place, BS 25999 is designed to keep organizations going during even the most difficult and unexpected circumstances while protecting staff, preserving reputation and providing a licence to trade. BS 25999 establishes the process, principles and terminology of BCM. It also provides a comprehensive set of controls based on "best practice" that will help organizations to develop and implement a business continuity plan. The standard can be used as a framework so that those organizations without a business continuity plan can quickly establish one, and those that already have a plan can ensure it meets best practice.

BS 25999 is being developed in two parts with Part One, the Code of Practice (already released) being followed by a Specification which is targeted for publication in August of 2009.

The Specification will detail requirements for a Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) and will provide organizations with a mechanism to ensure that their partners and suppliers also have the correct BCM procedures in place. Currently it is difficult to determine whether organizations are adequately prepared for disruptions, but the Specification will allow for an audit process and certification - meaning that organizations will be able to clearly demonstrate to others that they are meeting the standard and therefore BCM best practices.

Flemming Norklit, BSI Management Systems Managing Director said, “This standard is an important step towards helping organizations prepare for the unknown and to gain confidence from suppliers that they are ready in the event of disruptions. Above all, BS 25999 will help organizations survive. Companies will soon be able to call upon independent certification bodies, such as BSI Management Systems, to provide third party certification, independent assurance that organizations really do meet BCM best practice and so are ready to protect their businesses.”

Additionally, Chris Green, Vice Chair, Business Continuity Institute and Chairman of the BSI business continuity committee stated, “There is little doubt that using standards enhances productivity and competitiveness. Robust BCM standards such as BS 25999 can make supply chains more robust, improve enterprise stability, increase job security and ensure the flow of money into communities. Without this there is a significant risk to both economic growth and employment, let alone the fortunes of individual companies.”

About BSI Management Systems

BSI is the world's leading management systems certification body. Founded in 1901, BSI has certified more than 60,000 locations in nearly 90 countries. Many 'Global 500' companies have chosen BSI as their preferred ISO 9001:2000, ISO/TS 16949:2002, ISO 14001:2004 or ISO/IEC 27001:2005 certification body. BSI's certification experience covers virtually every industrial and commercial sector (i.e. automotive, aerospace, chemical and allied processes, IT/software, and service). BSI Management Systems America, Inc. is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with offices in Toronto, Canada, and Mexico City, Mexico to serve the North American market. BSI is truly a pioneering organization.

BSI Management Systems
12110 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 200
Reston, VA 20190-5902
www.bsiamericas.com

Media Contact:
Mary Nowinski
Email: mary.nowinski@bsi-global.com
Direct: 800/862 4977

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