Comparison guide

In the world of international standards, ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 stand out as two prominent frameworks that organisations often seek for certification.

While both share the "ISO" label, they serve entirely different purposes and have distinct focuses. We will provide a comparative analysis of ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 to help you understand their differences and which one might be right for your organisation.

Focus and Purpose: ISO 9001 is primarily concerned with Quality Management Systems (QMS). Its main objective is to enhance the quality of products and services an organisation delivers. ISO 9001 emphasises customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and continual improvement. It's a versatile standard applicable to organisations of all types and sizes, spanning various industries.

Applicability: ISO 9001's broad applicability makes it a go-to choice for many businesses looking to improve their overall operations and customer experience. Whether you're in manufacturing, healthcare, or services, ISO 9001 can be tailored to suit your needs.

Documentation Requirements: ISO 9001 requires documentation to demonstrate compliance with its principles, but it's relatively flexible compared to some other standards. This flexibility allows organisations to adapt the QMS to their unique circumstances.

Risk Management: While ISO 9001 does include risk-based thinking, it's not as focused on systematic risk assessment and management as ISO 27001.

Focus and Purpose: ISO 27001, on the other hand, revolves around Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). It's all about safeguarding sensitive data, managing security risks, and ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information. ISO 27001 is particularly relevant for organisations dealing with sensitive or confidential data, including financial institutions, healthcare providers, and government agencies.

Applicability: ISO 27001 is specialized and often pursued by organisations that need to meet stringent security requirements and protect their data assets.

Documentation Requirements: ISO 27001 usually requires more extensive documentation, particularly in the realm of information security policies, procedures, and risk assessments.

Risk Management: ISO 27001 places a significant emphasis on systematic risk assessment and management, especially within the context of information security. This standard requires organisations to identify and mitigate security risks proactively.

• Focus and Purpose: ISO 9001 focuses on quality management, while ISO 27001 is all about information security management.
• Applicability: ISO 9001 applies to organisations of all types and sizes, while ISO 27001 is typically chosen by entities handling sensitive information.
• Documentation Requirements: ISO 27001 tends to have more extensive documentation requirements, especially in the context of information security.
• Risk Management: ISO 27001 places a greater emphasis on systematic risk assessment and management, particularly related to information security.