ISO-22301-Lead-Auditor PECB Certified ISO 22301 Lead Auditor Exam Questions and Answers

 Corporate Services and Information Technology are the functions that provide a range of physical and technological infrastructure services to all other functions, such as human resources, finance, legal, procurement, facilities, security, IT systems, networks, applications, databases, etc. These functions are essential for the continuity of the organization’s operations, as they support the delivery of products and services to customers and stakeholders. Therefore, they need to be included in the scope and objectives of the business continuity management system (BCMS), and their roles and responsibilities need to be defined and communicated. References: ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, Chapter 2: Business Continuity Management System (BCMS), Section 2.1: Scope and Objectives, page 23.

The team that is responsible for determining how the impact of the incident is managed within the policy guidelines set by the strategic team is the tactical team. The tactical team is composed of managers or experts who have the authority and competence to make decisions and allocate resources to implement the business continuity plans and strategies. The tactical team coordinates and communicates with the operational team, which is responsible for executing the recovery and restoration activities, and reports to the strategic team, which is responsible for setting the overall direction and objectives of the incident response1.

References: 1: ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, Chapter 7: Business Continuity Response, Section 7.2: Incident Management Structure, Subsection 7.2.1: Incident Management Teams, Page 103

According to ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, Chapter 3.2.1, people-oriented objectives are the objectives that are related to shaping the attitudes, behaviours, and skills of individuals within the organization. These objectives aim to enhance the awareness, competence, and commitment of the personnel involved in the business continuity management system (BCMS). Some examples of people-oriented objectives are:

• To increase the level of business continuity awareness among all employees by conducting regular training and awareness sessions.
• To ensure that all business continuity roles and responsibilities are clearly defined and communicated to the relevant personnel.
• To develop and maintain the necessary skills and knowledge for performing business continuity tasks and activities.
• To foster a culture of business continuity within the organization that encourages participation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

People-oriented objectives are important for ensuring that the organization has the human resources required for implementing and maintaining the BCMS, and for achieving the desired business continuity performance and results. References: ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, Chapter 3.2.1.

A formal management system is a type of management system that provides the means for organizations to improve internal controls and management competence. A formal management system is a documented system that defines the policies, objectives, processes, procedures, roles, responsibilities, and resources for managing a specific aspect of the organization’s performance. A formal management system is based on a recognized standard or framework that specifies the requirements and best practices for achieving the desired outcomes and performance. A formal management system also includes mechanisms for monitoring, measuring, reviewing, and improving the system’s effectiveness and efficiency. A formal management system helps the organization to demonstrate its commitment and capability to meet the expectations and needs of its stakeholders, such as customers, regulators, employees, suppliers, etc. A formal management system also helps the organization to identify and manage the risks and opportunities that may affect its performance and continuity. Examples of formal management systems are ISO 22301 for business continuity management, ISO 9001 for quality management, ISO 14001 for environmental management, ISO 27001 for information security management, etc. References:

• ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, Chapter 1: Introduction to Business Continuity Management Systems, Section 1.1: Management System Concepts1
• What is a management system?2
• ISO - Management system standards3

Reviewing is the stage that helps management to define where focus and resources should be invested. According to ISO 22301, reviewing is the process of evaluating the performance and effectiveness of the business continuity management system (BCMS) and identifying opportunities for improvement. Reviewing can be done through internal audits, management reviews, performance evaluations, and corrective actions. Reviewing can help management to ensure that the BCMS is aligned with the organization’s strategic objectives, meets the needs and expectations of interested parties, complies with the applicable requirements, andcontinually improves its resilience and capability to respond to disruptive incidents. References: ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, page 171; ISO 22301:2019, clause 92

A management system is an integrated set of processes and tools that an organization uses to develop its strategy, transform it into actions, and monitor and evaluate its performance and effectiveness. A management system helps an organization to achieve its objectives and continually improve its performance.

A personal interview is a type of interview that employs verbal questioning as its principal technique of data collection. It is a face-to-face conversation between the interviewer and the interviewee, where the interviewer asks open-ended or closed-ended questions to obtain information from the interviewee. A personal interview can be conducted in various settings, such as at the interviewee’s workplace, home, or a neutral location. A personal interview can be structured, semi-structured, or unstructured, depending on the level of flexibility and standardization of the questions. A personal interview can be used for different purposes, such as to assess the interviewee’s competence, motivation, attitude, or opinion on a certain topic. A personal interview can also be used to establish rapport, trust, and credibility between the interviewer and the interviewee. A personal interview can have various advantages and disadvantages, such as:

Advantages:

• It allows the interviewer to observe the interviewee’s body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice, which can provide additional insights into the interviewee’s feelings, emotions, and reactions.
• It enables the interviewer to probe deeper into the interviewee’s responses, clarify ambiguities, and ask follow-up questions to obtain more detailed and comprehensive information.
• It gives the interviewer the opportunity to adapt the questions and the pace of the interview according to the interviewee’s level of knowledge, interest, and responsiveness.
• It can increase the interviewee’s willingness to participate, cooperate, and disclose information, as the interviewer can establish a personal connection and a positive atmosphere with the interviewee.
• It can reduce the possibility of misunderstanding, misinterpretation, or distortion of the information, as the interviewer can verify and confirm the interviewee’s answers immediately.

Disadvantages:

• It can be time-consuming, costly, and labor-intensive, as it requires the interviewer to travel to the interviewee’s location, schedule the interview, and conduct the interview.
• It can be influenced by various biases, such as the interviewer’s expectations, preferences, stereotypes, or prejudices, which can affect the interviewer’s choice of questions, interpretation of answers, and evaluation of the interviewee.
• It can be affected by various factors, such as the interviewer’s skills, personality, appearance, or mood, which can influence the interviewer’s performance, behavior, and interaction with the interviewee.
• It can be subject to various errors, such as the interviewer’s memory, recall, or transcription errors, which can result in the loss, omission, or alteration of the information.
• It can pose various challenges, such as the interviewer’s difficulty in maintaining control, neutrality, or objectivity, or the interviewee’s reluctance, resistance, or dishonesty, which can hinder the quality and validity of the information.

References:

• PECB Certified ISO 22301 Lead Auditor eLearning Training Course1, Module 5: Conducting an ISO 22301 audit, Lesson 5.2: Communication during the audit, Slide 8: Types of interviews
• ISO 22301 Auditing eBook2, Chapter 5: Conducting an ISO 22301 audit, Section 5.2: Communication during the audit, Subsection 5.2.1: Types of interviews

Suppliers are the role associated with specialist services offered by third parties, such as consultants, trainers, auditors, or certification bodies. Suppliers can provide external support and expertise to the organization in developing, implementing, maintaining, and improving its BCMS. Suppliers can also help the organization to demonstrate its conformance and competence to interested parties, such as customers, regulators, or investors. Suppliers are one of the key stakeholders of the BCMS, as they can influence or be influenced by the organization’s business continuity performance and objectives. References: ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, page 12 1; ISO 22301:2019, clause 4.2 2

According to the ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, there are five types of strategies involved in the process-centric approach to business continuity management. They are:

• Business continuity strategy: This is the overall approach that provides a framework for ensuring the continuity of an organization’s critical functions in the event of a disruption. It defines the objectives, scope, principles, and policies of the business continuity management system (BCMS).
• Recovery strategy: This is the specific approach that defines how an organization will restore its critical functions within a predefined time frame after a disruption. It identifies the resources, actions, and procedures required to recover the critical functions and resume normal operations.
• Continuity strategy: This is the specific approach that defines how an organization will maintain its critical functions during a disruption. It identifies the alternative arrangements, methods, and modes of operation that will enable the organization to continue delivering its products or services at an acceptable level of performance.
• Mitigation strategy: This is the specific approach that defines how an organization will reduce the likelihood and/or impact of a disruption. It identifies the preventive and protective measures that will minimize the exposure and vulnerability of the organization to potential threats and risks.
• Response strategy: This is the specific approach that defines how an organization will react to a disruption. It identifies the roles, responsibilities, and authorities of the incident management team, the communication channels and protocols, and the escalation and notification procedures.

References: ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, pages 40-42

The key areas of exercise are organisation and plans. According to the ISO 22301 Auditing eBook1, an exercise is a process to train for, assess, practice, and improve performance in an organization. The purpose of an exercise is to evaluate the organization’s capability to respond to a disruptive incident and implement its business continuity plans. Therefore, the key areas of exercise are the organization itself, which includes its structure, roles, responsibilities, resources, and culture, and the plans that define the objectives, scope, scenarios, procedures, and evaluation criteria of the exercise. These two areas are essential to ensure that the exercise is realistic, relevant, effective, and aligned with the organization’s business continuity objectives and expectations. References:

• ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, page 71
• ISO 22301:2019, clause 8.5

Maintenance is the activity that ensures that the programme and its components remain in line with the organization’s overall strategy. Maintenance involves monitoring and reviewing the performance and effectiveness of the programme, identifying and implementing improvements, and ensuring alignment with the changing needs and expectations of the organization and its stakeholders. Maintenance is an essential part of the programme management cycle, as it helps to ensure that the programme delivers the intended benefits and outcomes, and that the programme remains relevant and adaptable to the changing environment. Maintenance is also a requirement of ISO 22301, the international standard for business continuity management systems (BCMS). According to ISO 22301, the organization shall establish, implement and maintain a process for continual improvement of the BCMS, which includes evaluating the need for changes to the BCMS, and ensuring that the BCMS remains suitable, adequate and effective1. References:

• ISO 22301:2019, clause 10.2

 All outsourced functions or processes that are part of the organization’s delivery system should be included in the scoping analysis, as they can have a significantimpact on the organization’s ability to deliver its products or services in the event of a disruption. The organization should also consider the dependencies and interdependencies between its internal and external functions or processes, and the potential consequences of their failure or disruption. The organization should define the scope of its business continuity management system (BCMS) based on the results of the scoping analysis and document it in the BCMS policy. References: ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, page 29; ISO 22301:2019 standard, clause 4.3

Coordination is the process of planning and arranging BCM tasks into a proper order of relationship to achieve the defined outcomes. Coordination involves establishing the roles and responsibilities of the BCM team, the stakeholders, and the external parties, as well as defining the communication channels and protocols. Coordination also ensures that the BCM activities are aligned with the organizational objectives, policies, and procedures, and that the BCM resources are allocated and utilized efficiently and effectively. References: ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, page 281

 According to ISO 22301 Lead Auditor objectives and content, the communication structure for managing information between various groups of stakeholders in the organization should include both internal and external communication. Internal communication refers to the exchange of information and messages within the organization, such as between employees, managers, and business continuity teams. External communication refers to the exchange of information and messages with parties outside the organization, such as customers, suppliers, regulators, media, and the public. Both types of communication are essential for ensuring the effective operation of the business continuity management system (BCMS) and the successful response and recovery from disruptions. The communication structure should be aligned with the organization’s communication strategy, which should identify the communication needs, define the communication channels, and establish the communication procedures for the BCMS. The communication structure should also consider the unique communication requirements that may arise during a disruption, such as timely and accurate information, alternative communication channels, and managing rumours and misinformation. References: ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, page 291; ISO 22301 Clause 7.4 Communication2

The knowledge of BCM and its methodology is not related to technical expertise, but to domain expertise. Technical expertise refers to the knowledge and skills related to the audit process, such as audit principles, procedures, techniques, and tools. Domain expertise refers to the knowledge and skills related to the specific field of the audit, such as BCM concepts, terms, definitions, requirements, and best practices. References: ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, page 11; ISO 19011:2018, clause 7.2.2

 The Do step in the PDCA cycle implements the previous selected controls to meet the control objectives. According to the ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, the Do step involves implementing and operating the business continuity policy, controls, processes, and procedures that have been planned in the previous step. The Do step also includes establishing the necessary resources, competencies, awareness, communication, and documentation to support the effective operation of the business continuity management system (BCMS). The Do step aims to ensure that the organization is prepared to respond to and recover from disruptive incidents in a timely and effective manner. References: ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, pages 9, 10, 11, 22, 23, and 24.

The Do phase in the PDCA cycle consists of operation, which means implementing and operating the business continuity policy, controls, processes, and procedures that have been planned in the previous phase. The Do phase also involves establishing the necessary resources, competencies, awareness, communication, and documentation to support the effective operation of the business continuity management system (BCMS). The Do phase aims to ensure that the organization is prepared to respond to and recover from disruptive incidents in a timely and effective manner. References: ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, pages 9, 10, 11, 22, 23, and 24.

A competitor is an organization or individual that operates in the same market as another organization or individual and offers similar products or services that are in direct or indirect competition with each other. Competitors are interested parties that can affect or be affected by the organization’s business continuity objectives, strategies, and performance. Competitors can also pose threats or opportunities for the organization’s business continuity management system (BCMS). References: ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, page 18; ISO 22301:2019 standard, clause 3.3.1

Adopting the BCMS optimizes the organization’s business continuity capability by enabling it to identify, prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruptive events. The BCMS provides a systematic approach to plan, implement, operate, monitor, review, maintain, and improve the organization’s ability to protect its critical functions and deliver its products and services at an acceptable level of performance during and after a disruption. The BCMS also helps the organization to enhance its resilience, reduce its risks, improve its reputation, and increase its customer satisfaction. References: ISO 22301:2019, Clause 1; ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, Chapter 1.1.

 The step in the PDCA cycle that formulates and implements a management plan with actions is the Do step. The Do step is the second phase of the PDCA cycle, following the Plan step. In the Do step, the organization executes the plan that was developed in the Plan step, based on the objectives, policies, and procedures of the business continuity management system (BCMS). The Do step involves implementing the new or improved processes,controls, activities, and measures that are designed to achieve the desired outcomes and performance of the BCMS. The Do step also involves documenting the results and outcomes of the implementation, as well as any problems or deviations that occurred. The Do step provides the basis for the Check step, where the organization monitors and evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of the implemented plan. References:

• ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, Chapter 1: Introduction to Business Continuity Management Systems, Section 1.3: PDCA Cycle1
• ISO 22301:2019 - Security and resilience — Business continuity management systems — Requirements, Clause 8: Operation2

Organizational activities are the actions and processes that an organization performs to achieve its objectives and deliver its products and services. These activities are exposed to innumerable threats that have the potential to compromise the achievement of corporate goals. These threats can be internal orexternal, natural or man-made, intentional or accidental, and can affect the organization’s resources, capabilities, reputation, and continuity. Some examples of threats that can disrupt organizational activities are:

• Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, storms, fires, or pandemics
• Cyber-attacks, such as hacking, malware, ransomware, denial-of-service, or data breaches
• Human errors, such as mistakes, negligence, or miscommunication
• Malicious acts, such as sabotage, theft, fraud, vandalism, or terrorism
• Supply chain issues, such as delays, shortages, quality problems, or contractual disputes
• Regulatory changes, such as new laws, standards, or policies that affect the organization’s operations or compliance
• Market changes, such as shifts in customer demand, preferences, or expectations, or increased competition or innovation
• Social changes, such as changes in demographics, culture, values, or behaviors that affect the organization’s stakeholders or environment To protect against these threats and ensure the continuity of organizational activities, organizations need to implement a business continuity management system (BCMS) that follows the requirements of ISO 22301. A BCMS is a set of policies, procedures, and practices that enable an organization to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruptions when they arise. A BCMS helps an organization to identify its critical activities, assess the risks and impacts of potential disruptions, develop strategies and plans to mitigate and manage the disruptions, and test and improve the effectiveness of the BCMS. By implementing a BCMS, an organization can enhance its resilience, reduce its losses, and maintain its reputation and customer satisfaction. References: : What is ISO 22301 standard and what is its purpose? : Building Business Resilience: A Guide to ISO 22301 Certification : ISO 22301:2019(en), Security and resilience ? Business continuity management systems ? Requirements

 The evaluation process that enables senior executives to manage decisions on building resilience in the development programme is the new product/service assessment. This process involves evaluating the potential impact of new products or services on the organization’s business continuity objectives, risks, and capabilities. The new product/service assessment helps senior executives to identify and prioritize the business continuity requirements and resources needed for the successful launch and delivery of new products or services. The new product/service assessment also helps senior executives to monitor and review the performance and effectiveness of the new products or services in relation to the business continuity objectives and expectations. References:

• ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, page 67
• ISO 22301:2019, clause 8.3

A multidisciplinary function encompasses the knowledge and skills of a diverse group of professionals to manage the corporate Business Continuity Management programme.According to the ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, "Business continuity is a multidisciplinary function that involves several different departments and business units, such as IT, human resources, finance, legal, public relations, etc. Each of these departments and units has a role and responsibility in ensuring the continuity of the organization’s critical activities and processes in the event of a disruption. Therefore, a business continuity auditor needs to have a broad understanding of the various aspects and functions of the organization, as well as the specific requirements and expectations of each stakeholder group."1 References:

• ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, Chapter 2: Business Continuity Concepts and Principles, Section 2.2: Business Continuity Auditor Competencies1

Scope is the term that defines the area of operation in which the task and its activities should be performed, as described in ISO 22301. Scope is one of the key elements of a business continuity plan (BCP), which is a documented information that specifies the procedures and resources needed to manage a disruptive incident and ensure the continuity of the organization’s critical functions. Scope helps to define the boundaries and applicability of the BCP, as well as the roles and responsibilities of the involved parties. Scope also helps to ensure the consistency and compatibility of the BCP with the organization’s business continuity objectives and strategies. Scope is one of the key requirements of ISO 22301, as it provides the basis for planning, implementing, monitoring, reviewing, and improving the business continuity management system (BCMS). References: ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, page 36 1; ISO 22301:2019, clause 8.4.2 2

The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) paradigm ensures that organizations can effectively complete the full cycle of the management system, thereby achieving its intended outcomes. The PDCA cycle is a four-step iterative process that helps organizations to establish, implement, maintain, and continually improve their management systems. The PDCA cycle consists of the following phases:

• Plan: Establish the objectives and processes necessary to deliver the desired results.
• Do: Implement the processes as planned.
• Check: Monitor and measure the processes and results against the objectives and report the outcomes.
• Act: Take actions to improve the performance of the processes, if necessary. The PDCA cycle is also known as the Deming cycle, after its creator, W. Edwards Deming. The PDCA cycle is widely used in various management system standards, including ISO 22301, as it provides a structured approach to achieve continual improvement and customer satisfaction. References: ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, page 10 1; ISO 22301:2019, clause 0.3 2

According to ISO 22301 Lead Auditor objectives and content, a qualitative approach is a type of approach that has a straightforward process based on informed judgement supported by appropriate guidance. A qualitative approach is used to assess the impacts and risks of a disruption to the organization’s processes, resources, and objectives. A qualitative approach relies on the subjective evaluation of the likelihood and severity of the disruption, as well as the effectiveness of the existing controls and mitigation measures. A qualitative approach can use descriptive scales, such as low, medium, and high, to rank the impacts and risks. A qualitative approach can also use tools, such as matrices, diagrams, and checklists, to facilitate the analysis and communication of the results. A qualitative approach is suitable for organizations that have limited data, resources, or time to conduct a quantitative approach, which requires more complex and objective calculations and measurements. References: ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, page 401; ISO 22301 Clause 8.2.2 Risk assessment2

 Non-compliance can often lead to undesirable outcomes. Non-compliance means the failure or refusal to comply with the requirements and expectations of a standard, regulation, contract, policy, or other obligation. Non-compliance can have negative consequences for an organization, such as:

• Legal penalties: Non-compliance can result in fines, sanctions, lawsuits, or criminal charges from the authorities or other parties that have the power to enforce the compliance. For example, non-compliance with data protection laws can lead to hefty fines and reputational damage for the organization.
• Loss of trust: Non-compliance can erode the confidence and trust of the stakeholders, such as customers, suppliers, employees, investors, regulators, etc. This can affect the organization’s reputation, credibility, and competitiveness in the market. For example, non-compliance with quality standards can lead to customer dissatisfaction and defection.
• Loss of business: Non-compliance can cause the organization to lose business opportunities, contracts, or partnerships with other organizations that require or expect compliance. For example, non-compliance with environmental standards can prevent the organization from entering certain markets or sectors that have strict sustainability criteria.
• Loss of continuity: Non-compliance can expose the organization to increased risks and vulnerabilities that can disrupt its operations and performance. For example, non-compliance with business continuity standards can impair the organization’s ability to respond to and recover from disruptive incidents, such as natural disasters, cyberattacks, supply chain failures, etc.

Therefore, non-compliance can often lead to undesirable outcomes that can harm the organization’s interests, objectives, and values. To avoid these outcomes, the organization should establish, implement, and maintain a compliance management system that ensures the organization’s adherence to the relevant standards, regulations, contracts, policies, and other obligations. The compliance management system should also include mechanisms for monitoring, measuring, reviewing, and improving the organization’s compliance performance and effectiveness. References:

• ISO 19600:2014 - Compliance management systems — Guidelines1
• ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, Chapter 5: Audit Process, Section 5.2: Audit Objectives2
• ISO 22301:2019 - Security and resilience — Business continuity management systems — Requirements, Clause 9.1: Monitoring, measurement, analysis and evaluation3