# Answers

## Is ISO/IEC 20996 published?

No. ISO records ISO/IEC DIS 20996 as under development at stage 40.60, close of voting, dated 24 September 2026. It is a draft in the enquiry phase, not a published standard.

## What is ISO/IEC 20996?

ISO/IEC 20996 is a draft International Standard that gives cloud service customers guidance on business continuity and resilience when using cloud services. It is written for the customer side of cloud, not the provider side.

## When will ISO 20996 be published?

A planning date of 13 September 2027 is used here, estimated from the close of voting on 24 September 2026. It is not an ISO date. The ballot outcome and the FDIS steps will move it.

## What does ISO 20996 mean for cloud customers?

It means the continuity evidence you already keep will be read in a cloud-specific way: which services carry critical activities, which regions, what the contract promises, and what you have tested yourself.

## How do I prepare for ISO 20996?

Name the cloud services that carry critical activities, run one restore yourself, review recovery, data return and exit terms in every critical contract, and set a dated plan with a named owner.

Last updated: 2026-10-20