Diploma in NATO Operational Continuity Plans
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in NATO operational continuity plans: 8 modules covering NATO resilience, ISO 22301 continuity management systems, ISO 22317 business impact analysis, continuity strategies, continuity and crisis plans, ICT recovery and exercises, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand the NATO framework for resilience and civil preparedness.
Apply continuity management systems in accordance with ISO 22301.
Carry out business impact analyses and risk assessments.
Design operational continuity strategies and plans.
Plan the recovery of critical ICT systems.
Organise exercises and tests of the plans.
Maintain and improve the continuity programme.
Who it's for
- Operational continuity managers.
- Resilience planners.
- Crisis managers.
- Business continuity auditors.
- ICT recovery specialists.
- Civil emergency planning advisers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the defence sector.
What you'll work with
- ISO 22301 (business continuity management systems)
- ISO 22313 (guidance on business continuity)
- ISO 22317 (business impact analysis)
- ISO/IEC 27031 (ICT readiness for business continuity)
- NIST SP 800-34 Rev. 1 (contingency planning for information systems)
- Directive (EU) 2022/2557 (resilience of critical entities)
- NATO baseline requirements for resilience (Article 3 of the North Atlantic Treaty)
- Fusion Risk Management
- Veoci
- Microsoft Power BI
- Everbridge
8 modules
1.1Article 3 of the North Atlantic Treaty1.2Baseline requirements for resilience1.3Civil preparedness1.4Continuity of government1.5Essential services1.6Civil-military cooperation1.7Hybrid threats1.8Resilience in the EU1.9EU-NATO coordination1.10Case study: assessment of national resilience
2.1Structure of ISO 223012.2Context of the organisation2.3Leadership and policy2.4Roles and responsibilities2.5Continuity objectives2.6Resources and competences2.7Documentation2.8Performance evaluation2.9Certification2.10Workshop: scope of a continuity management system
3.1ISO 22317 methodology3.2Critical activities3.3Maximum tolerable period of disruption3.4Recovery time and recovery point objectives3.5Internal and external dependencies3.6Risk assessment3.7Physical and cyber threats3.8Prioritisation3.9Analysis report3.10Practical exercise: business impact analysis of a unit
4.1People strategies4.2Alternative sites4.3Technology strategies4.4Supplier strategies4.5Information strategies4.6Stockpiles and supplies4.7Distributed working4.8Cost of strategies4.9Strategy selection4.10Case study: evaluation of an alternative site
5.1Plan structure5.2Activation and escalation5.3Crisis management5.4Crisis command centres5.5Internal and external communication5.6Coordination with authorities5.7Recovery procedures5.8Return to normal operations5.9Information management5.10Workshop: drafting a continuity plan
6.1ISO/IEC 270316.2NIST SP 800-346.3Backups and replication6.4Backup centres6.5Redundant communications6.6Classified systems and continuity6.7Cyber incidents and continuity6.8Recovery testing6.9Cloud providers6.10Lab: recovery plan for a critical system
7.1Types of exercises7.2Tabletop exercises7.3Functional drills7.4Full-scale exercises7.5Exercise evaluation7.6Lessons learned7.7Programme audits7.8Management review7.9Plan maintenance7.10Practical exercise: designing a continuity exercise
8.1Description of the organisation8.2Business impact analysis8.3Risk assessment of the organisation8.4Selected strategies8.5Continuity plan8.6ICT recovery plan8.7Exercise programme8.8Improvement plan8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with your tutor
How you'll learn
Training is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Fusion Risk Management, Veoci, Microsoft Power BI and Everbridge, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: business impact analysis in a defence organisation, design of a continuity exercise and evaluation of an alternative site. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: ISO 22301, ISO 22313, ISO 22317, ISO/IEC 27031, NIST SP 800-34 Rev. 1, Directive (EU) 2022/2557, NATO baseline requirements for resilience (Article 3 of the North Atlantic Treaty).
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Fusion Risk Management, Veoci, Microsoft Power BI and Everbridge, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
Related programmes
Postgraduate Diploma in International Armoured Vehicle Safety Standards
Online 800 h Postgraduate Diploma in International Armoured Vehicle Safety Standards. 8 modules covering STANAG 4569 (occupant protection levels), AEP-55 (protection assessment procedures) and LS-DYNA. Assigned…
Diploma in International Supply and Non-Proliferation Policies
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in international nuclear supply and non-proliferation policies. 8 modules covering the fuel cycle and market, the non-proliferation regime, export control…
Postgraduate Diploma in Safety and Ethical Maintenance of Powerpacks
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Safety and Ethical Maintenance of Powerpacks. 8 modules covering ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety), EN 13306 (maintenance terminology) and IBM…
More in Defense, Military Engineering & Land Systems
All Defense, Military Engineering & Land Systems programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships