[OR] [P2] [S1] [CBS] [C12] [Back Cover] eBook 1

[P2] [S1] Chapter 12

Identifying Critical Business Services: The Foundation of Operational Resilience

In today’s increasingly complex and disruption-prone environment, organisations must move beyond traditional risk and continuity practices to focus on what truly matters—delivering critical services to customers and stakeholders.

Identifying Critical Business Services is the essential first step in building a robust and regulator-aligned Operational Resilience framework.

This eBook provides a structured, practitioner-focused guide for Operational Resilience team leads, coordinators, and risk professionals tasked with implementing the Plan Phase – Stage 1 of the Operational Resilience Planning Methodology.

Developed by the BCM Institute, it translates leading practices, regulatory expectations, and real-world implementation experience into a clear and actionable approach.

Through this guide, you will gain:

• A clear understanding of what constitutes a Critical Business Service (CBS) and why it is central to resilience
• Practical methodologies to identify, assess, and validate CBS within your organisation
• Insights into regulatory expectations and alignment with global standards such as ISO 22301 and ISO 22361
• Tools and techniques to support service mapping, analysis, and stakeholder engagement
• Awareness of common pitfalls and how to avoid them
• A practical case study demonstrating real-world CBS identification in action
• Guidance on integrating CBS into impact tolerance, mapping, scenario testing, and governance frameworks

More than just a guide, this eBook serves as a companion resource for professionals pursuing advanced capability in Operational Resilience.

To further deepen your expertise, consider the OR-5000 Operational Resilience Expert Implementer programme by the BCM Institute—an expert-level training designed for appointed Operational Resilience leaders and practitioners.

This programme adopts a “Training-led Implementation” approach, enabling participants to apply concepts directly to their organisation.

Participants who complete the course and qualifying examination will attain a globally recognised certification, demonstrating their ability to design, implement, and sustain Operational Resilience programmes aligned with international standards and regulatory expectations.

Start with what matters most—identify your Critical Business Services, and build resilience from the ground up.