The certification covers the entire Etisalat Mobile Network services in the UAE. The British Standards Institution (BSI) awarded the certification to Etisalat last month, with its audit team carrying out stringent certification audits in two stages in November and December 2011.
Saeed Al-Zarouni, SVP/mobile network, Etisalat said: “This certification is a proactive initiative from Etisalat to demonstrate its commitment to the UAE government and TRA requirements. The certification acknowledges Etisalat’s continuity, recovery and emergency response preparedness.”
By being part of the UAE Critical National Infrastructure, the certification process laid emphasis on continuity of Etisalat services to stakeholders and customers alike. Etisalat is among the few telecoms in the world to obtain this prestigious certification. The BS25999-2: 2007 certification is further assurance to customers that Etisalat’s risk management and incident response processes meet international standards.
“Through this certification, we are also contributing toward the nation’s strategy of an effective crisis management model, while ensuring compliance of all laws and regulatory requirements,” Al-Zarouni added.
“Any organization that puts in place a business continuity plan is sending out a message that it can respond robustly to disruptions,” commented Theuns Kotze, regional director MEA, BSI.
“Etisalat’s commitment to achieving BS 25999 certification with BSI should be applauded. BS 25999, the standard for Business Continuity Management, not only gives Etisalat a competitive edge, but BSI’s certificate allows Etisalat to demonstrate customers and key stakeholders that tested business continuity management is in place,” stated Kotze.