Leveraging ISO 22336 to Support Operational Resilience with GRC Frameworks

In an increasingly volatile world where disruptions are the norm, organizations must prioritize operational resilience to ensure business continuity, safeguard stakeholder interests, and maintain regulatory compliance. One global benchmark for resilience is ISO 22336, the international standard designed to guide organizations in building a robust resilience and continuity framework. When paired with a Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) platform, ISO 22336 becomes a powerful tool to operationalize resilience across enterprises.

Operational resilience is a critical capability for organizations striving to adapt, survive, and thrive in the face of disruptions. In recent years, several models of resilience have emerged, each offering a unique framework for building and understanding resilience within organizations. This blog explores six key operational resilience models: the Principles Model of Resilience, Integrated Functions Model, Attributional Resilience Model, Composite Resilience Model, Herringbone Model, and the Resilience Triangle Model. Each model offers a distinct perspective on resilience, from foundational principles to functional integration, providing valuable insights for organizations looking to strengthen their ability to withstand and adapt to challenges.

In today’s complex and rapidly evolving business environment, risk management has become indispensable, acting as the backbone for strategy, operations, business continuity, and resilience efforts across organizations. At its core, risk is about understanding the uncertainties that impact an organization’s goals, whether they stem from external forces like regulatory changes or internal dynamics like operational errors. When effectively managed, risk is not simply a source of concern but a strategic enabler that strengthens the entire organizational foundation.

Three ISO standards—ISO 31000 for risk management, ISO 37000 for governance, and ISO 37301 for compliance management—provide a comprehensive, structured approach to risk management, governance, and compliance. When deployed together, they not only help organizations navigate uncertainty but also bolster operational resilience, ensuring that organizations are equipped to adapt and thrive amid disruptions.

In today’s ever-evolving business landscape, operational resilience has become essential to the long-term sustainability and success of any organization. It’s no longer enough for a business to simply “bounce back” from disruptions—companies must develop the ability to anticipate, withstand, and adapt to changes and crises. At the core of this capability lies robust governance, and the ISO 37000 standard for governance of organizations provides a crucial framework that supports resilience-building from the ground up.

We have been advising clients on Operational Resilience and Business Continuity for years and observed certain trends and gaps that repeatedly emerge. While regulatory changes are inevitable, the most significant change in the resiliency landscape first came to our attention nearly eight years ago and has since been exacerbated by the post-COVID working model.

Why Operational Resilience and Business Continuity are Essential, Not Just Costs

Discover how operational resilience is transforming the way businesses approach continuity planning and risk management.