Supporting functions are the functions that provide support to the critical functions of an organization, such as human resources, finance, IT, or facilities management. Supporting functions are essential for the continuity of the critical functions, but they are not directly involved in delivering the products or services to the customers. Supporting functions are also part of the scope of the business continuity management system (BCMS) and need to be identified, analyzed, and protected by the organization. Supporting functions are one of the key concepts of ISO 22301, as they help the organization to determine its business continuity requirements and strategies. References: ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, page 23 1; ISO 22301:2019, clause 8.2.2 2