ISO Certification vs ISO Compliance

Determine which ISO standard is applicable and most beneficial to your organization or industry. There are industries that require organizations to get certified for specific ISO standards. Getting to know the most popular ISO standards is a good start.

Introduction

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) provides many standards and frameworks that guide organizations across industries toward better performance. Compliance with ISO 9001 for example is essential for businesses seeking to thrive in an increasingly competitive environment.

ISO was established in 1947 to develop quality standards worldwide. With members from 164 countries, ISO has created more than 22,700 requirements, specifications, and guidelines for quality assurance across all sectors, including standards for risk assessment, risk management, and security controls.

While ISO certification is voluntary, its significance is undeniable. Implementing an QMS for example to achieve ISO 9001 certification demonstrates a business’s commitment to quality, continuous improvement, and access control. Customers and stakeholders recognize the ISO seal as a dedication to meeting the highest operations and vendor management standards.

Which Set of Standards is Right for My Organization?

ISO has published thousands of standards in various sectors and industries, including service, environment and industry, technology, and health and medical. Every business will comply with different frameworks depending on its situation and sector.

Some ISO frameworks are particular. For example, ISO 34101-1 sets standards for the cocoa bean industry; ISO 80079-34 governs manufacturing in explosive atmospheres.

Other ISO publications are more general. For example, ISO 9001 serves as a guide to developing an effective quality management system and can be helpful for any organization. ISO 14001 does the same for environment management systems.

What Is ISO?

Definition and Background

“ISO” stands for the International Organization for Standardization. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, ISO comprises members from 164 nations who develop and produce publications that guide organizations of nearly every kind to achieve the highest quality standards in their processes and products.

ISO began in 1946 when 65 delegates from 25 countries met in London to discuss the need for international standards and development. The following year, the organization had its first meeting of 67 technical committees or groups of experts, each focusing on a different subject.

The organization published its first standard, or “recommendation,” in 1951 (to measure length for industrial manufacturing). Over time, ISO grew in membership and influence, becoming noted for its standards, establishing an International System of Units (the second as the official unit of time, for instance), governing freight and packaging, and assuring environmental quality.

Although there are more than 28,000 ISO standards for different industries today (and counting), a few stand out as essential and influential such as ISO 9000 family governs quality management systems (QMS), ISO 9001 is the only standard in this group that is eligible for certification.

ISO Compliance vs. ISO Certification: What’s the Difference?

ISO compliance and ISO certification are related concepts, but have distinct differences.

ISO Compliance

ISO compliance means that you adhere to the standards and guidelines outlined by the ISO, for example including the ISO 27001 framework for ISMS. The organization follows recommended practices and procedures to protect information assets, address cybersecurity risks, and mitigate data breaches.

Compliance can be voluntary or required by certain regulations, industry standards, or customer contracts. Organizations choose compliance to improve operations, enhance quality, and demonstrate commitment to international best practices.

ISO compliance involves internal audits and self-assessments to assure conformity with ISO standards, such as implementing an information security policy and risk management processes.

ISO Certification

ISO certification, or registration, is a formal process where an accredited certification auditor assesses and certifies an organization’s management system, processes, or products conform to specific ISO standards (chief among them ISO 27001, for example).

Certification involves rigorous external audits, verifying that the organization has implemented required processes and complies with the relevant ISO standard, such as the Statement of Applicability for ISO 27001.

ISO certification demonstrates a commitment to quality, data protection, or other elements covered by ISO standards. It can be a valuable marketing tool and competitive advantage at the same time.

While ISO compliance involves an internal commitment to ISO standards, certification involves external verification through formal audits. Certification provides official recognition of conformity and can build trust with stakeholders regarding an organization’s information security posture and security programs.

Does Your Company Need ISO Certification?

Certification that your company complies with International Organization for Standardization criteria is a matter of want, not need. For most industries, certification is voluntary. That said, some organizations need to be certified to do business. To determine whether you are one of them, ask these questions:

Is ISO certification required for my industry or business? Different ISO standards apply to various industries, but rules vary among sectors. For example, ISO 9001 quality management system certification is required for automotive industry suppliers.

✓  Are your competitors ISO-certified? If they are but you aren’t, your business could suffer

✓  Do you conduct business internationally or wish to do so? ISO standards are internationally respected

✓  Are your customers and clients concerned about data security and privacy? Attaining an ISO 27001 certification verifies that you are committed to protecting their confidential information.

✓  Are you contractually obligated to maintain certification for an ISO standard or standards? This list makes it easy to see why ISO certification is a must for many organizations. 

Although some organizations opt out of expensive certification audits and are content to reach ISO compliance, many others need certification to be competitive. It’s expected in their industry, and others have clients or customers who demand certification as a condition of doing business.

Even if you don’t need it, the many benefits of ISO certification — international recognition, customer confidence, robust processes, insightful third-party audits, and a proven commitment to maintaining the highest standards in your industry or sector — may convince you to pursue it anyway.

How Much Does ISO Certification Cost?

ISO certification costs depend on several factors, including the organization’s size, complexity, and maturity level. Larger and more complex organizations, or those with immature procedures and process documentation, typically face higher costs.

For example, estimates range from JOD 3,100 for a small business (up to 25 employees) with a mature system to JOD20,000+ or more for a large enterprise (500-1,000 employees) without a system.

Factors to consider when drawing up your ISO certification budget include:

✓  Internal resource costs. The internal team designated to oversee ISO compliance and certification will spend time away from their other duties performing ISO-related tasks, including:

✓ Establishing or improving your QMS, ISMS, EMS, FSMS, OHSMS etc. or other pertinent systems

✓ Implementing the system

✓ Performing a gap analysis and risk analysis as needed

✓ Conducting internal audits to determine compliance with ISO

✓ Ongoing system maintenance

✓ Employee training

✓ External resource costs. Hiring consultants and an ISO-certified auditors etc. 

✓  Implementation costs such as the cost of a registrars, audits , Re-certification fees etc

Seven steps to achieving ISO certification

Implementing accredited ISO Standards is simple, and are here to support you at every stage. Just follow these 7 straightforward steps.