Business Continuity

Crisis Management Plan

A crisis management plan template for organisational-level crisis response, including decision-making frameworks, stakeholder communication, and crisis escalation.

16-20 pages|Updated 2026-02-15|1 frameworks
Aligned to:
ISO 22301

What's Included

1. Purpose & Scope

Defines crisis management objectives and scope.

2. Crisis Definition & Classification

Establishes criteria for declaring a crisis.

3. Crisis Management Team

Defines team structure and decision-making authority.

4. Crisis Response Procedures

Outlines immediate response actions by crisis type.

5. Stakeholder Communication

Defines communication strategies for all stakeholder groups.

6. Media Management

Establishes media response protocols and spokesperson guidelines.

7. Recovery & Stand-Down

Defines transition from crisis to recovery operations.

8. Post-Crisis Review

Sets out after-action review and improvement processes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a crisis management plan include?

A comprehensive crisis management plan should include purpose & scope, crisis definition & classification, crisis management team, crisis response procedures, and more. This template covers 8 key sections aligned to ISO 22301 requirements.

Which frameworks require a business continuity policy?

Major frameworks requiring business continuity policies include ISO 22301. This template maps directly to their control requirements, making it easier to demonstrate compliance across multiple standards.

How often should a crisis management plan be reviewed?

Best practice is to review your crisis management plan at least annually, or whenever significant changes occur in your organisation, technology environment, or regulatory landscape. Most frameworks including ISO 27001 and NIST CSF require documented policy review cycles.

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