ISO 22301

Ensure ISO 22301 compliance with verified software escrow protection

Safeguard your operations and prove business continuity with Codekeeper’s escrow solutions built for ISO 22301 requirements.

Book a free demo

What is ISO 22301?

ISO 22301 is the global standard for Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS). It requires organizations to plan, implement, and maintain effective continuity strategies so operations can continue through disruptions, from vendor failure to cyber incidents.

Who needs to comply with ISO 22301?

ISO 22301 applies to any organization that must maintain continuous operations or prove resilience to clients, regulators, or partners. While certification is voluntary, it’s increasingly required in industries where downtime has material impact, including:

Technology & software

SaaS providers, cloud platforms, and IT service companies that must ensure continuous application performance and data availability.

Financial services

Banks, insurers, and fintechs that rely on 24/7 transaction and payment systems.

Healthcare & life sciences

Hospitals, medical device manufacturers, and health-tech organizations where continuity directly affects safety.

Government & public sector

Agencies maintaining critical infrastructure or citizen services that cannot afford disruption.

Manufacturing & utilities

Production, logistics, and energy companies reliant on integrated supply chains and operational uptime.

Professional & critical services

Legal, consulting, and outsourcing firms delivering time-sensitive or regulated client work.

Many organizations pursue ISO 22301 to meet contractual obligations, satisfy regulatory tenders, and demonstrate operational resilience in risk assessments.

Key ISO 22301 requirements

ISO 22301 requires organizations to:

Conduct business impact and risk assessments

Maintain tested continuity and recovery plans

Ensure supplier and third-party resilience

Provide documented proof of continuity effectiveness

ISO 22301 risk

Critical software vendors go out of business or discontinue support

Loss of access to source code prevents updates and recovery

Vendor failure halts essential operations and continuity plans

Auditors flag insufficient third-party resilience controls

Software escrow solution

Software escrow securely stores source code, data, and deployment assets

Legal frameworks guarantee release if vendors fail or cease trading

Verified deposits ensure completeness and functionality for recovery

Automated deposit updates create a traceable continuity audit trail

Compliance outcome

Vendor dependencies are secured as recoverable assets within the BCMS

Continuity evidence is demonstrated for ISO 22301 audits

Operational resilience is maintained despite third-party disruption

Risk management is verified with immutable records

When auditors ask how you’ll keep operations running during vendor disruptions, software escrow provides the proof.

We see the challenges you face:

Complex continuity requirements and limited resources

Growing dependencies on third-party software vendors

Demand for verifiable recovery documentation

Constant pressure to maintain uptime and audit readiness

Our expertise guides you through these challenges, turning continuity requirements into recoverability proof.

Software Escrow

Protection scope: On-premises applications

Safeguards locally deployed software components essential to ongoing operations.

Maintains access to critical application materials under defined release conditions

Enables restoration of operational environments when direct access is unavailable

Preserves business continuity for on-premise systems

Documents recoverability for ISO 22301 assurance

Learn more

SAAS escrow

Protection scope: Cloud applications

Extends resilience planning to cloud-based software environments.

Covers application data, configurations, and deployment dependencies

Supports continuity of hosted and cloud-native platforms

Enables restoration of service environments following disruption

Provides documented evidence for continuity compliance

Learn more

Continuity escrow

Protection scope: Hosting and service continuity

Protects supporting infrastructure and essential operational services.

Maintains continuity of hosting and connected environments

Mitigates downtime caused by service or payment interruptions

Preserves access to infrastructure credentials and records

Ensures seamless operation across supporting systems

Learn more

Verification

Protection scope: Proof of resilience

Validates the completeness and recoverability of escrowed materials.

Confirms integrity and usability of deposited content

Tests readiness of recovery procedures and build processes

Issues Software Resilience Certificates as formal evidence

Provides documented proof for ISO 22301 and audit reviews

Learn more

How ISO 22301 continuity evidence comes together with Codekeeper

Achieving ISO 22301 alignment with Codekeeper is simple: our team manages the technical and legal details so you can focus on your core operations.

Book your free ISO 22301 assessment call

We help identify which applications and vendors are critical to your continuity plans under ISO 22301.

Choose your software protection level

Select the right combination of escrow and verification services to fit your BCMS scope and audit requirements.

We'll handle everything else — from setup to implementation

Our team handles the full technical and legal setup so your software escrow protection is deployed smoothly.

Get your Software Resilience Certificate

Receive formal documentation that proves to auditors your critical assets are protected and resilient.

Every step is fully documented, so you can prove your continuity controls work in practice.

Book a free demo

ISO 22301 updates and certification milestones

The ISO 22301 standard has evolved to keep pace with modern continuity and resilience requirements. Whether you’re implementing a BCMS for the first time or maintaining certification, these key milestones help you understand how the standard developed and what it means for your organization today.

May 2012:

ISO 22301:2012 officially published as the first global standard for Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS).

Organizations begin formal certification under the 2012 version.
October 2019

ISO 22301:2019 released with updated structure and clearer requirements.

Aligns with ISO’s High-Level Structure (HLS) used across standards like ISO 27001 and 9001.
2020 – 2023

Transition period for organizations certified under the 2012 version.

Certification bodies phase out audits using ISO 22301:2012.
2020

Supporting guidance ISO 22313:2020 published.

Provides implementation best practices for achieving and maintaining compliance.
Ongoing from 2023

All certifications now issued under ISO 22301:2019.

Annual surveillance and three-year recertification audits are required to maintain compliance.

May 2012:

ISO 22301:2012 officially published as the first global standard for Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS).

Organizations begin formal certification under the 2012 version.

October 2019

ISO 22301:2019 released with updated structure and clearer requirements.

Aligns with ISO’s High-Level Structure (HLS) used across standards like ISO 27001 and 9001.

2020 – 2023

Transition period for organizations certified under the 2012 version.

Certification bodies phase out audits using ISO 22301:2012.

2020

Supporting guidance ISO 22313:2020 published.

Provides implementation best practices for achieving and maintaining compliance.

Ongoing from 2023

All certifications now issued under ISO 22301:2019.

Annual surveillance and three-year recertification audits are required to maintain compliance.

What’s at stake if you can’t prove continuity

Failing to align with ISO 22301 doesn’t just risk an audit finding — it threatens your reputation, contracts, and operations.

Operational downtime

Disruptions become longer and more costly without tested recovery measures or source code access.

Audit failure

Auditors and clients may reject your continuity claims without verifiable evidence of resilience controls.

Contract loss and procurement risk

Enterprise customers increasingly require ISO 22301 alignment; non-compliance can exclude you from tenders and renewals.

Financial and reputational damage

Unplanned downtime and failed recovery measures can lead to financial losses, contractual penalties, and long-term reputational harm.

E-BOOK

Prepare for business continuity: Download the ISO 22301 guide

Learn how to integrate software escrow into your BCMS and prepare audit-ready continuity evidence that demonstrates resilience and recovery capability.

*E-book available only in English

Get your free ISO 22301 guide

What ISO 22301 compliance delivers for your business

Operational continuity

Protect your critical software from vendor failure and maintain uninterrupted service.

Certified assurance

Use Codekeeper’s verification reports and Software Resilience Certificates as proof of tested continuity controls.

Customer and stakeholder trust

Demonstrate mature resilience governance and win confidence from clients, boards, and regulators.

Simplified compliance management

Embed software escrow into your BCMS for ongoing audit readiness without manual tracking or extra work.

Strengthen your ISO 22301 compliance posture

Our team makes it easy to demonstrate operational resilience and maintain continuous compliance. From setup to audit support, we guide you every step of the way.

Tailored continuity assessments

Clear, actionable steps

Audit-ready documentation

Ongoing verification support

Book a free demo

Frequently asked questions

Good questions to ask first.

Is ISO 22301 mandatory?

While not legally required, ISO 22301 is often mandated by regulators, auditors, or enterprise customers as evidence of operational resilience and continuity preparedness.

Who needs ISO 22301 certification?

Organizations that rely on critical software or digital infrastructure — including financial services, technology, and public sectors — benefit from ISO 22301 certification to prove continuity readiness.

How does software escrow support ISO 22301?

Software escrow demonstrates recoverability by securing access to essential code, data, and configurations, ensuring continuity even if a key provider becomes unavailable.

What proof does Codekeeper provide?

Codekeeper’s verification reports and Software Resilience Certificates provide verifiable audit evidence that continuity controls are tested, documented, and ISO 22301-aligned.

Can Codekeeper work with my existing BCMS?

Yes. Codekeeper’s escrow and verification services integrate seamlessly into your existing Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) without requiring process changes.

Ensure ISO 22301 compliance with verified software escrow protection

ISO 22301 makes continuity measurable. But without proof, compliance and trust can be at risk.