IRCA launches new Business Continuity Management Systems programme
Failure of a key supplier to deliver, the discovery of a serious fault in a product and natural disasters such as flooding or fire could cause a huge disruption to an organisation’s day-to-day operations. Business continuity management has evolved to ensure continuity of service to a company’s customers when incidents occur, thereby protecting an organisation’s image and reputation – and it is becoming ever more important in today’s globalized world.
To ensure businesses have robust management systems in place to address these risks, the International Register of Certificated Auditors (IRCA) is delighted to announce the launch of its new Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS) Auditor certification programme. Developed in partnership with the Business Continuity Institute (BCI), the programme responds to the international demand for competent auditors of Business Continuity Management Systems.
The BCMS programme is based on the standard BS 25999-2:2007 which helps organizations minimize the risk of disruptions to continued operations as a result of incidents both large and small.
Commenting on IRCA’s BCMS Programme, Director, Simon Feary, said “auditor competence is fundamental to any systems certification scheme and this programme will provide confidence to business and industry worldwide that auditors of business continuity management systems have the necessary knowledge, skills and attributes.”
As part of the programme, auditors are required to pass the BCI Certificate Examination of the Business Continuity Institute or already have a BCI professional qualification to show that they have a good knowledge and understanding of business continuity. IRCA offers certification across six auditor grades for BCMS auditors, consultants and practitioners.
Auditor training organizations will benefit from the opportunity to apply for IRCA course certification for their Business Continuity Management Systems auditor training courses against three different course types: Internal Auditor, Lead Auditor and Conversion Auditor.
Lyndon Bird, Technical Director of the BCI, said: “Today businesses operate in an increasingly interconnected global environment, facing many threats beyond their direct control. Business continuity management is perhaps the only realistic way to deal with many of these threats and it is therefore rapidly moving up the boardroom agenda. Auditors who have been certified as competent at auditing BCMS will be ever more in demand.”
BS 25999
Business continuity management systems and business continuity planning are now more crucial than ever to organizations of all sizes sectors. Any organization can be affected by a disruption of business operations, which in the worst possible case could be fatal for an organization, leading to its bankruptcy. Certification to BS 25999- 2 provides confidence that organizations have a system in place which will allow them to continue to operate and consistently meet customer needs when faced with incidents large and small which are disruptive to business.
Find out more
Download the criteria for certification as a Business Continuity Management Auditor from our website or contact us directly for more information at irca@irca.org.
Please note that IRCA will accept applications for auditor and training course certification to this programme from 1 July 2008.
The Business Continuity Institute
The Business Continuity Institute (BCI) is a “not for profit” professional body for Business Continuity practitioners. Founded in 1994, it has over 4000 members in more than 85 countries worldwide. Its mission is to promote the art and science of Business Continuity globally through education, certification and professional development. The Institute has no commercial shareholders, and is owned by its statutory members.
1 July 2008