Bank of Africa Tanzania Secures ISO 22301 Certification for Business Continuity
Bank of Africa Tanzania has secured ISO 22301:2019 certification for its Business Continuity Management System (BCMS), adopting an internationally recognised framework for managing operational disruptions.
The certification covers the bank’s systems and processes for preparing for, responding to and recovering from incidents that could interrupt its operations.
Business continuity is particularly important in banking, where disruptions to information technology systems, communications networks, power supply or physical facilities can affect customers’ access to financial services.
The ISO 22301:2019 standard provides a framework for organisations to establish, implement, maintain and continually improve business continuity management systems.
For Bank of Africa Tanzania, the certification applies to a BCMS designed to protect critical banking operations and support the continuity of services during unexpected disruptions.
Bank of Africa Tanzania Business Continuity System
The bank’s BCMS provides a structured framework for managing risks that could affect its operations. The system covers preparation before an incident, response during a disruption and recovery of affected operations.
It incorporates the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) approach under the ISO 22301 framework, allowing business continuity processes to be planned, implemented, reviewed and improved.
The system also aligns with business continuity requirements applicable to financial institutions in Tanzania.
The Bank of Tanzania requires financial institutions to maintain business continuity arrangements aimed at ensuring the continued availability of critical operations and services during disruptions.
Business Impact Analysis and Risk Assessment
A key component of the BCMS is the identification of activities and services that are critical to the bank’s operations. Through Business Impact Analysis (BIA), the bank can determine which functions require priority recovery following an interruption.
The process also establishes Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs), which determine how quickly critical systems or services should be restored, and Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs), which determine the amount of data loss that can be tolerated following an incident.
The bank’s risk management processes also consider potential operational threats, including information technology failures, cyberattacks, power disruptions, communications outages and other events that could affect banking operations.
These assessments provide a basis for determining the resources, systems and procedures required to maintain or restore critical services.
Crisis Response and Alternative Infrastructure
When a disruption occurs, the BCMS provides an incident response structure through designated crisis management and business resumption teams. These teams are responsible for coordinating the response and supporting the recovery of affected operations.
The framework also provides for alternative infrastructure and working arrangements where primary facilities or technology environments become unavailable.
For banking operations, such arrangements can support the continued availability of critical services, including digital banking platforms, information technology systems, branch operations and other customer-facing services.
The approach is designed to allow affected operations to transition to available backup environments or alternative locations where required.
Regular Testing Of Business Continuity Plans
Bank of Africa Tanzania’s business continuity arrangements also involve regular testing and review.
The ISO 22301 framework requires organisations to test their business continuity capabilities to determine whether established plans and procedures can operate as intended during an incident.
The bank conducts activities including tabletop simulations, crisis drills and disaster recovery testing.
These exercises allow the bank to assess response procedures, test backup technologies and establish whether employees understand their assigned responsibilities during a disruption.
The results of such exercises can then be used to identify areas requiring improvement within the business continuity system.
