CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLANNING FOR AUDITORS
Equipping Auditors with the Tools to Assess Organizational Resilience and Crisis Preparedness
Course Schedule
| Date | Venue | Fees (Face-to-Face) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 – 17 Jul 2025 | Doha, Qatar | USD 2495 per delegate |
Course Introduction
Auditors play a critical role in evaluating an organization’s preparedness for crises and disruptions. As risks grow more complex—from cyberattacks to natural disasters—internal auditors must be equipped to assess and validate the effectiveness of crisis response plans and business continuity frameworks.
This 3-day course is specifically tailored for audit professionals tasked with evaluating crisis management structures and continuity planning. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of frameworks like ISO 22301, learn to audit risk responses, and develop practical skills in assessing plans for readiness, adequacy, and effectiveness.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
• Understand the principles and components of crisis management and business continuity
• Evaluate plans using ISO 22301 and related audit criteria
• Identify gaps and weaknesses in emergency preparedness and recovery frameworks
• Develop audit plans, checklists, and reporting tools for continuity audits
• Provide actionable recommendations to improve organizational resilience
Key Benefits of Attending
• Learn how to audit BCM programs and crisis response plans effectively
• Understand the auditor’s role in ensuring business resilience
• Master tools for reviewing emergency plans, BIA, and recovery strategies
• Benchmark plans against ISO and global best practices
• Gain credibility as a risk-aware, resilience-focused audit professional
Intended Audience
This program is designed for:
• Internal and external auditors
• Risk and compliance professionals
• Business continuity and emergency planning personnel
• Corporate governance and assurance officers
• Consultants supporting crisis management audits
Individual Benefits
Key competencies that will be developed include:
• Audit planning for continuity and crisis readiness
• Knowledge of ISO 22301, NFPA, and related standards
• Risk-based evaluation of preparedness and recovery controls
• Communication of audit findings and resilience gaps
• Strategic insight into risk response and continuity integration
Organization Benefits
Upon completing the training course, participants will demonstrate:
• Strengthened internal assurance over BCM and crisis management
• Early identification of resilience weaknesses and compliance gaps
• Improved audit coverage of risk, continuity, and emergency readiness
• Support for board-level confidence in organizational preparedness
• Integration of BCM into enterprise risk and audit frameworks
Instructional Methdology
The course follows a blended learning approach combining theory with practice:
• Strategy Briefings – BCM, crisis response, and audit frameworks
• Case Studies – Failures and successes in crisis preparedness audits
• Workshops – Plan review, gap analysis, and audit simulation
• Peer Exchange – Audit challenges in real continuity scenarios
• Tools – ISO 22301 audit checklists, reporting templates, and BIA models
Course Outline
Training Hours: 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Daily Format: 3–4 Learning Modules | Coffee breaks: 09:30 & 11:15 | Lunch Buffet: 01:00 – 02:00
Day 1: Crisis and Continuity Management Foundations
- Module 1: Introduction to BCM and Crisis Response (07:30 – 09:30)
• Definitions, scope, and organizational impact
• Legal, regulatory, and business drivers - Module 2: ISO 22301 and Other Frameworks (09:45 – 11:15)
• Key clauses, audit checkpoints, and governance
• NFPA 1600, BS 25999 comparisons - Module 3: Auditor’s Role in BCM Oversight (11:30 – 01:00)
• Responsibilities, expectations, and risks
• Integrating BCM into internal audit planning - Module 4: Workshop – Review a BCM Policy for Gaps (02:00 – 03:30)
• Use a checklist to evaluate governance and scope
Day 2: Auditing Business Continuity Plans and Systems
- Module 5: Business Impact Analysis and Risk Assessment (07:30 – 09:30)
• Evaluating BIA methodology, risk ranking, and critical functions
• Ensuring accuracy and stakeholder input - Module 6: Plan Content, Testing, and Review (09:45 – 11:15)
• Recovery strategies, RTO/RPO, communications, plan updates
• Drill and test program evaluation - Module 7: Continuity Resources and Infrastructure (11:30 – 01:00)
• Alternate sites, systems, suppliers, and data access
• Dependency mapping and third-party audits - Module 8: Workshop – Score a Business Continuity Plan (02:00 – 03:30)
• Assign ratings and write audit commentary
Day 3: Crisis Simulation and Audit Reporting
- Module 9: Evaluating Crisis Communication and Escalation (07:30 – 09:30)
• Notification systems, roles, and response timelines
• Internal/external communication audits - Module 10: Incident Response and Recovery Audit Criteria (09:45 – 11:15)
• Emergency response protocols and coordination
• Continuity postures and effectiveness indicators - Module 11: Reporting Audit Findings and Action Plans (11:30 – 01:00)
• Audit reports, recommendations, and stakeholder feedback
• Follow-up and reassessment - Module 12: Final Workshop – Simulated BCM Audit (02:00 – 03:30)
• Conduct a full audit scenario and present findings
Certification
Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion in Crisis Management and Business Continuity Planning for Auditors, confirming their ability to evaluate, audit, and strengthen resilience strategies and continuity frameworks in line with international standards.