ISO 9001 vs ISO 27001: what are the key differences?

If you’re new to the world of compliance, all the different ISO standards can be confusing. There are multiple ISO regulations and they all serve a different purpose. The biggest two ISO norms are 9001 and 27001.

We often get the questions what the differences are between these two regulations. In this article, we’ll tell you the key differentiators. It’s the closest thing you’ll get to a TL;DR on the subject.

What is ISO 9001?

ISO 9001 is an international standard for quality management systems (QMS). It’s all about ensuring that organizations consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.

Key Points of ISO 9001:

The main focus of the ISO 9001 standard is quality management and customer satisfaction. It can apply to any organization, no matter its size or industry.

Core components:

• Leadership commitment: Top management must be actively involved in the QMS.
• Process approach: Emphasizes the importance of processes and their interactions.
• Continuous improvement: Organizations must continually improve their QMS.

What is ISO 27001?

ISO 27001 is an international standard for information security management systems (ISMS). It provides a framework for managing and protecting sensitive information to ensure it remains secure. Imagine it as a toolkit for safeguarding data from threats.

Key points of ISO 27001:

The focus of the ISO 27001 norm is information security and risk management. In a world where cybercriminals are rapidly getting more active, it’s key to protect your data. This norm gives you the right set of standards to do this successfully. Any organization, regardless of size or industry, can choose to comply with this norm.

Core components:

• Risk assessment: Identifying and evaluating information security risks.
• Security controls: Implementing measures to mitigate identified risks.
• Continuous monitoring: Regularly reviewing and updating security measures.

Key Differences Between ISO 9001 and ISO 27001

While both standards aim to improve organizational processes, they focus on different areas. Here are the main differences:

1. Scope and Focus

• ISO 9001:
  • Scope: Quality management.
  • Focus: Ensuring products and services meet customer expectations and regulatory requirements.
• ISO 2701:
  • Scope: Information security management.
  • Focus: Protecting sensitive information from risks and threats. This involves improving cyber security.

2. Objectives

• ISO 9001:
  • Objective: Enhance customer satisfaction and improve overall quality.
• ISO 2701:
  • Objective: Safeguard information and manage security risks.

3. Core Processes

• ISO 9001:
  • Core Processes: Quality control, process optimization, customer feedback.
• ISO 2701:
  • Core Processes: Risk assessment, implementation of security controls, continuous monitoring.

4. Implementation and Compliance

• ISO 9001:
  • Implementation: Focuses on establishing a quality management system with clear processes and responsibilities.
  • Compliance: Regular internal audits and external certification audits.
• ISO 2701:
  • Implementation: Focuses on creating an information security management system with risk management and security controls.
  • Compliance: Regular risk assessments, internal audits (an audit performed by one of your team members or a hired entity), and external certification audits.

Is it mandatory to comply with ISO 27001 and ISO 9001?

The short answer is no. No organization is required by law to comply with any of these norms. However, it can be required by specific industry regulations, contractual obligations, or customer demands.

Many organizations want their entire supply chain to comply with these regulations. They want to avoid one of their suppliers to either lack in quality management or deal with cyber criminals. In both instances, this will also hurt them. When their supply chain complies with these standards, this improves the odds for business continuity.

Conclusion

While ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 both aim to improve organizational effectiveness, they do so in different ways. ISO 9001 is all about quality management and customer satisfaction, while ISO 27001 focuses on information security and risk management.