These updates reflect growing global priorities around sustainability, climate resilience, and workplace wellbeing. For anyone studying, managing, or working with management systems, it’s important to understand what these changes mean and how to prepare for them.

In this article, we’ll cover:

Why Do ISO Standards Change?

ISO standards aren’t static, they evolve in line with global trends, risks, and stakeholder expectations. Typically reviewed every 5 to 10 years, updates aim to:

The upcoming revisions of ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 continue this cycle, sharpening the focus on environmental responsibility and occupational health and safety in a fast-changing world.

ISO 14001:2026 – Environmental Management Systems Update

Timeline and Transition

Key Areas of Change

While the standard is still under development, proposed updates include:

Preparing for ISO 14001:2026

To stay ahead:

ISO 45001:2027 – Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems Update

Timeline and Transition

Key Areas of Change

Expected focus areas include:

Preparing for ISO 45001:2027

Recommended actions include:

Comparing ISO 14001:2026 and ISO 45001:2027

Both revisions emphasise leadership, sustainability, and resilience, making them strategically important for modern organisations.

Why Preparing Early Matters

Waiting until the last minute often leads to unnecessary stress. By engaging early, professionals and organisations can:

Final Thoughts

The upcoming revisions to ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 highlight the evolving priorities in environmental and occupational health and safety management. Together with ISO 9001:2026, these standards reflect the growing importance of climate change, mental health, inclusivity, and governance in today’s business landscape.

At ICExperts Academy, we provide practical and accessible ISO training for professionals, business leaders, and teams who want to strengthen their knowledge of Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems.

Our Management System Internal Auditor online course is built around the current ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 standards and is continuously updated as official revisions are released. Delivered in a self-paced format, the course takes a process-based approach, helping you build the skills to effectively audit and support your organisation’s environmental and workplace health and safety systems.

Stay up to date with the upcoming ISO 14001:2026 and ISO 45001:2027 revisions by exploring our Internal Auditor training or subscribing to our mailing list for updates.

The post ISO 14001:2026 and ISO 45001:2027 Updates and Key Insights appeared first on ICExperts Academy.

This article will walk you through:

No Changes Are Required Yet

The current ISO 9001:2015 standard is now undergoing a scheduled update by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). These updates ensure that ISO standards remain relevant in a changing business and technological landscape.

The new version, ISO 9001:2026, is expected to be released in September 2026, and certified organisations will have a three-year transition window to shift from the 2015 version. That means certifications to ISO 9001:2015 will remain valid until September 2029, provided organisations continue to meet the current requirements.

Beware of “Updated ISO 9001” Training – It’s Too Early!

We’ve already seen some providers starting to market ISO 9001:2026 courses or updates, but these are purely speculative. The official standard hasn’t been finalised, and any training claiming to cover the new requirements cannot be accurate at this stage.

Until ISO officially publishes the updated version:

For now, your best strategy is to focus on mastering the current ISO 9001:2015 requirements, which are still in full effect and will provide a solid foundation for adapting to the next version when it arrives.

How You Can Prepare Now, Before the Update Is Released

There’s plenty you can do right now to ensure your ISO knowledge stays relevant and up to date, and it doesn’t require waiting for 2026.

1. Understand the Full ISO 9000 Family

ISO 9001 is just one part of the ISO 9000 series. By exploring how the different parts fit together, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of quality principles.

Recommended resource: Selection and Use of the ISO 9000 Family of Standards

This guide outlines a strategic approach to implementing a quality management system and includes seven key steps that support long-term success, from planning and documenting your QMS to improving and adapting it.

2. Learn How ISO 9001 Works for Smaller Organisations

Not every business has a large team or complex systems. The ISO 9001:2015 for Small Enterprises Handbook is an excellent resource tailored for SMEs, showing how to implement an effective QMS without unnecessary overheads.

3. Explore Integrated Management Systems

If your organisation follows multiple ISO standards, such as ISO 14001 (Environmental), ISO 45001 (Health & Safety), or ISO 27001 (Information Security), the Integrated Use of Management System Standards (IUMSS) guidance is ideal. It shows how to streamline your integrated systems for greater efficiency and better audit outcomes.

Should You Delay Studies or Certification Until 2026?

Short answer is NO, and here’s why:

A Process-Based Approach to Your QMS

One of the most effective ways to prepare for the ISO 9001:2026 update is to understand and apply a process-based approach to quality management, a key principle in both the 2015 and upcoming 2026 versions.

Many businesses and professionals make the mistake of treating ISO as a checklist of clauses. In reality, ISO 9001 is all about how your organisation delivers value through effective processes.

By understanding how to build and manage quality processes based on how your business or team actually operates, you’ll:

What Might Change in ISO 9001:2026?

While the new version is still being finalised, we already have clues based on ISO’s current direction:

These adjustments aim to reflect modern business challenges and global priorities, without reinventing the wheel. A strong foundation in ISO 9001:2015 will make adapting to the 2026 version straightforward.

Quick Recap: How to Prepare Now

Here’s your preparation checklist:

Stay Ahead of the Curve

At ICExperts Academy, we specialise in delivering practical, up-to-date ISO training designed for professionals, business owners, and teams looking to get the most out of their Quality Management Systems.

Our Management System Internal Auditor online training is based on the current ISO 9001:2015 standard and is regularly updated in line with official changes. This self-paced course follows a process-based approach, making it ideal for ensuring your Quality Management System remains aligned with current requirements.

Explore our Management System Internal Auditor course or subscribe to our mailing list to stay informed about the 2026 release.

The post Everything You Need to Know About the ISO 9001 Update in 2026 appeared first on ICExperts Academy.

So what exactly does this training involve, and what are the benefits of securing this qualification as a component of your Certification preparedness or maintenance? Our team at ICExperts Academy will be answering these questions, so stick with us as we outline the full strategic advantages of training in the ISO field for both business owners and professionals alike.

Benefits of Training in ISO Management Systems for Businesses

So what are the key advantages of ensuring you and your staff are equipped with training in ISO Standards? Here are just some of the highest value benefits of investing in training and equipping your business with its own Management System internal auditors.

1. Invest in in-house Management Systems internal auditors

Maintain a proactive approach to Management Systems improvements by investing in your own Management System internal auditors in-house. Having in-house Management System internal auditors offers a powerful advantage by combining deep operational understanding with agility and confidentiality. These auditors are familiar with the organisation’s specific processes, culture, and strategic goals. Issues can be addressed and followed up swiftly, reducing the time between identifying nonconformities and implementing corrective actions. Additionally, because they are part of the internal team, there’s often a higher level of trust and openness during audits, leading to more transparent discussions and more effective results.

Expert Tip: Remember that no auditors should audit the processes that they are directly involved in as that is not just a conflict of interest, but also does not add value to the business as the views tend to be biased.

2. Provide upskilling opportunities for staff

Losing highly skilled staff due to a lack of employee advancement opportunities is a concern for all business owners. Thankfully, with training, you can ensure your team members maintain access to upskilling opportunities that allow them to take on greater responsibilities within your organisation. With ISO training, these high-value team members can continue to hone new skills that will go on to benefit your organisation further.

3. Better understanding of business operations

In-house qualified Management System internal auditors would have a deeper knowledge of their organisation’s processes, culture, and context, therefore are better positioned to provide:

In addition, cross-auditing each other’s departments or operational areas can facilitate greater empathy and understanding across an organisation’s teams, improving organisational knowledge and communication.

4. Staff engagement

Foundational training in Management Systems and the main ISO Standards helps to better engage employees in your organisation’s Management System, promoting ownership and accountability which in turn supports system adoption and integration.

By engaging team members in your Management Systems and the internal audits, you can also ensure your staff uphold and become internal champions for the quality, safety, environment, and information security practices, depending on the ISO Standards you’ve invested in.

5. More efficient issue resolution

Establishing a Business Management System helps standardise operational processes and workflows, resulting in less confusion, smoother onboarding, and more effective task monitoring. When issues are identified during internal audits, having a trained internal auditor in-house ensures faster and more targeted follow-up on corrective actions. Their understanding of the organisation’s specific context enables them to resolve issues more efficiently and support continual improvement. In addition, staff training in Management Systems fosters a proactive mindset, encouraging team members to address risks and nonconformities before they escalate.

6. Greater confidentiality and trust

With an in-house Management Systems internal auditor, sensitive findings from internal audits are kept within the organisation. In addition, having an internal staff member conducting the internal audits may help employees feel more comfortable discussing issues openly with internal colleagues, supporting your organisation in establishing a culture built on trust and transparency.

Benefits of Training for Professionals in the ISO field

Have you been given the opportunity to upskill within the ISO space? If you’re contemplating enrolling in an ISO training course, then here are just some of the career benefits you can enjoy upon course completion.

1. Strengthen your professional CV

There’s a reason why professionals with a strong understanding of the ISO Standards and Certification requirements are highly sought after. The ISO Management System Standards are highly detailed documents that demand a working understanding of their respective Management Systems and the keys to effective implementation, auditing, and continual improvement.

If you can demonstrate experience with developing, implementing and maintaining Business Management Systems, you will be a far more valuable job candidate than others in your field that don’t have this additional experience. Completing a globally recognised course like our Exemplar Global recognised Management Systems internal auditor course also ensures your qualification is recognised worldwide, allowing for international opportunities. In this regard, an investment in ISO training courses is an investment in your own professional development, both in Australian and international job markets.

2. Upskill to enter new industries

Management Systems Internal Auditors must develop a variety of essential skills that are in-demand across many industries. This means that upskilling with ISO courses may help you qualify to enter new industries, expanding greatly on your professional opportunities.

There are also many different types of career pathways for professionals with internal auditor qualifications and training. From compliance managers to consultancy positions and even board positions for those looking to work within industry regulatory bodies, your internal auditor experience can be leveraged into more dynamic and high-opportunity roles.

3. Build stronger professional relationships

Management System internal auditors and compliance officers work closely with business decisionmakers, department leaders, and staff at every level. Your auditing and reporting responsibilities as a Management Systems Internal Auditor will also see you hone your interpersonal skills on the job, strengthening your ability to communicate and connect with professionals from all backgrounds and at all levels.

Even though every now and then you may find yourself dealing with difficult people during internal audits, these experiences are still highly valuable for your own professional development, and can help you build stronger relationships in professional spaces, both within your organisation and over the course of your future career.

4. Bolster your entrepreneurial skills

As Certification to ISO Standards provides many commercial benefits to business owners, equipping yourself with an understanding of ISO Standards and partnering with top leaders and stakeholders can provide professionals with greater insights into business management. This is optimal for anybody looking to start their own business later on in their career, or even for those looking to take on managerial roles in the future.

5. Establish stronger processes

Understanding how Management Systems work will naturally help you develop a good eye for process optimisation. This makes you an invaluable asset for virtually any organisation across any industry. No matter where you find yourself in the business landscape, one thing is always for certain: organisations will want to continue to evolve their systems and processes and adapt to change. Developing an ability to adeptly diagnose operational problems will make you a more competent and business-savvy professional.

How to Find the Ideal ISO Training Course for your Organisation

It’s important to make sure your shortlisted courses provide only the most up-to-date information and are taught by reputable and experienced ISO professionals. Look for course providers who offer robust digital materials to accommodate eLearners and overcome common online learning challenges that create barriers to digital course engagement.

Course providers should ideally be certified to ISO Standards like ISO 9001:2015 for Quality Management and ISO 27001:2022 for Information Security Management Systems. Certification to these Standards demonstrates that your course provider prioritises maintaining quality processes and products for their students and values their students’ rights to data privacy.

Finally, when it comes to ISO training courses, it’s essential to choose a course that is internationally recognised in the industry, such as being certified by Exemplar Global. Choosing ISO training courses certified by Exemplar Global ensures you receive high-quality, internationally accredited education that meets rigorous standards for content, delivery, and relevance.

These certifications are widely respected by employers and certification bodies, enhancing your credibility and career prospects in management systems auditing. Additionally, Exemplar Global supports ongoing professional development, helping you stay current with industry best practices and maintain your competitive edge.

As ISO Standards themselves are internationally recognised, the primary benefit of enrolling in an internationally certified training course is that your qualification and knowledge base will be applicable not only in Australia, but worldwide.

Secure Training at ICExperts Academy

At ICExperts Academy, our vision is to provide all of our students with internationally recognised eLearning training in ISO Management System Standards. We draw on over 18 years of industry experience to provide course materials that are up-to-date and with real-world case studies, helping you contextualise your knowledge better and put your new skills directly into practice.

Our course materials are also internationally recognised by Exemplar Global, ensuring that the qualifications we offer are relevant not only in Australian markets, but also globally. And best of all, our dedicated online learning platform makes accessing course content easy for students everywhere.

Want to gain ISO qualifications at your own pace? Then speak with our team at ICExperts Academy to learn more or to enroll online today.

The post The Strategic Advantages of Training in ISO Management System Standards appeared first on ICExperts Academy.

One of the criteria for assessing potential partners and suppliers might be that their management system holds certification to one or more ISO Management System Standards. Suppliers are then expected to provide their Certificate(s), typically as a PDF document issued by the Certification Body. However, obtaining the certificate is just the first step, as ensuring their validity is crucial.

Steps to check if a Certification to an ISO Standard is valid

In this blog, you’ll learn about how to check if an ISO Certificate is valid:

The Different Types of Management System Certifications

Among the most popular Certifications are:

Check out our blog article to read more about what the ISO Management System Standards are and what is the process for businesses to achieve Certification.

Risks of an Invalid Certification

Working with suppliers with an invalid Certification poses significant risks to organisations across various fronts. Firstly, it can lead to operational disruptions and financial losses. Suppliers with forged or outdated Certifications may fail to meet expected quality standards, resulting in unsatisfactory outcomes such as delayed deliveries, and unhappy customers, just to name a few. In addition, businesses may face damage to their reputation if products or services provided by uncertified suppliers do not meet regulatory requirements or industry standards.

In addition, invalid Certification can also expose organisations to legal risks and contractual disputes. Regulatory authorities may impose penalties or sanctions on organisations that rely on invalid certification to demonstrate compliance with industry standards.

By verifying the validity of Certificates, organisations demonstrate their dedication to due diligence and transparency, fostering trust among stakeholders. Customers, suppliers, and partners can have confidence in the reliability and consistency of products and services provided by certified organisations.

Checking to See if a Certificate is Valid

There are a few ways to verify the authenticity of a Certificate. The three below can be conducted online: 

Since 2020, the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) made available a global online register. Any Certificate worldwide can be verified on the platform by searching the business name.

Go to IAF CertSearch and type the business name in the search bar. If the business is certified, it should show up. You can then click on the listing to validate the currency of the Certificate(s), accessing information like the Accreditation and Certification Body and the scope of the Certification.

This is considered the simplest and easiest way to verify that a Certificate is valid. However, it is important to note that you have a limited number of daily searches, and when that threshold is reached you’re requested to sign up.

You can also verify a Certification via the local Accreditation Authority websites. For Australia and New Zealand, the local authority is the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand, also known as JASANZ.

To check if the Certification is valid, head to the JASANZ Certified Organisations Search on the JASANZ website. You can simply type in the organisation name and country and then click “apply”. All the valid Certifications for that business will appear, and again, you can click on the one(s) that you’re interested in to verify whether the status is active.

Another alternative is to verify an ISO Certificate directly with the Accredited Certification Body.

The first step here is to check that the provided Certificate holds the logo of a local Accreditation Authority for that region, such as JASANZ for Australia and New Zealand. A certificate holding an Accreditation Authority logo and/or IAF logo is recognised internationally.

Go to the website of the Accredited Certification Body, and look for a Certification search tool. Please note that this search process can vary significantly from Certifier to Certifier, with different website structures and required information. Also, not all Certifier websites provide this tool, and in these cases, contacting them could also be an option to ask for the validation of a Certificate.

For a thorough approach, as you do the online verification through the methods described above, be sure to look for the key points below:

_____________

Conducting regular Internal Audits of the Management System is a requirement of the Standards in order to maintain Certification. As the business undergoes the annual audits with the Certifier, the auditor will also verify that the organisation is meeting this Internal Audit requirement. 

Our Management System Internal Auditor Training is a practical eLearning course that teaches how to conduct effective Internal Audits of the main ISO Management System Standards. With our course, you can achieve three levels of internationally recognised certificates, giving you the skills, competency, and tools you will need to perform effective Internal Audits.

Check out our Management System Internal Auditor training page to download the course guide, or give us a call at 1300 614 007 to find out more about the training.

The post How to Check if an ISO Certificate is Valid? appeared first on ICExperts Academy.

As an ever-hot topic in business conversations, effective leadership is arguably one of the most important qualities in a workplace, as it can determine a business’s success. It can be described as the ability to influence and encourage others, take risks, act decisively, communicate effectively, and the list goes on. Almost every situation in business requires a leader to vary behaviour to fit the prevailing circumstances, which will directly contribute to the success of any business. But how can you ensure that leadership commitment transpires into business improvement projects, such as the implementation of an ISO Management System Standard?

As a key requirement across all main ISO Management System Standards, Leadership and Commitment are vital contributions to the certification-readiness and maintenance process. Its importance is reinforced from top to bottom in each core standard, as the Management System must be aligned with business objectives, which are usually formed by top management.

For example, in the ISO 9000 Family of Standards, top management is defined as the person or group of people who directs and controls an organisation at the highest level. They must ensure that the chosen standard’s requirements, with its policies and objectives, are consistent with the strategic context and direction of the business.

Among other topics, Clause 5.1 in the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Standard specifies that top management shall demonstrate leadership and commitment by:

The development and implementation of any Management System is a massive task for any business, which at times can be quite complex. Therefore, it should go without saying that there should be full leadership support throughout the entire process, as described above. However, leadership involvement by top management is too often overlooked, causing significant problems with the system implementation, and can become issues raised when the business has their Internal and External Audits.

What happens when leadership fails to support a Business Management System?

Although the decision to implement one or more ISO Management System Standards to achieve Certification mostly comes from top management, it’s common to find that their involvement stops there.

The Leadership and Commitment clause in the main ISO Management System Standards often ends up being neglected, as top management solely relies on their employees to develop and implement the Management System for them. In some cases, top management doesn’t even attend their Internal or External Audits, because they haven’t made it a priority to learn about the new Management System, or be involved in any part of the process.

Without involvement of top management throughout the certification process, there are some damaging consequences which could not only impact their certification, but also the business as a whole. Some of these include:

How can top management demonstrate leadership support when implementing and maintaining a Management System?

It goes without saying that a business cannot successfully operate day-to-day without effective leadership from top management. So why would it be any different when developing, implementing and maintaining a new Management System into the business?

The involvement of top management during this process is crucial, to ensure that the Management System policies, procedures and objectives directly align with the business’s strategic direction. Top management is responsible for communicating this to the team, and ensuring that these policies and procedures are being followed correctly, so that business objectives and strategic goals can be met. Regular check-ins with employees should be conducted to make certain that the Management System has been effectively integrated into the organisation’s existing processes.

The “set by example” effect is also applicable here – each person will take the policies and procedures as seriously as leadership does. This is especially sensitive as the development and implementation of the Management System can be a daunting process, one that requires motivation and encouragement, before and after achieving Certification.

Below are some of the actions top management must put into practice to support the effective implementation and use of the Management System:

By ensuring the Management System works cohesively with the organisation’s business processes, the organisation will not only meet the ISO Standard’s requirements, but also ensure it relishes all the benefits of working with an effective Management System. Reduced costs, increased productivity, continuous improvement culture, and improved staff morale are just a few of those benefits.

How can you approach the Leadership and Commitment clause when conducting Internal Audits?

As you progress your studies to become an ISO Management Systems Internal Auditor, it’s important to cover how you can approach the Leadership and commitment clause in your audit. Make sure you look for consistent evidence of a “hands-on” top management approach. This should be assessed during interviews with the staff and leadership members; key questions such as the below should help you:

Other evidence of top management involvement could be found in:

The post The Importance of Leadership Commitment for effective ISO Management Systems appeared first on ICExperts Academy.

Getting certified to one or more ISO Management System Standards can be a confusing and overwhelming process, especially if this is a brand new concept for you. What exactly are the ISO Management System Standards, and why are they important for a business? Most importantly, how can a business actually get certified to an ISO Standard?

We get it, the whole ISO world sounds complex, and can seem a bit confronting. But let’s start from the beginning, and clarify all these big questions.

What is ISO?

The International Organisation of Standardisation (ISO) is an independent, global body, made up of an extensive network of individuals that specialise in different areas. ISO is a non-governmental organisation that forms a bridge between the public and private sectors. Initially founded in Geneva, Switzerland, its memberships now extend to more than 160 countries.

ISO develops standards to ensure the quality, safety, sustainability and efficacy of products, services and systems. As technology and new markets continue to rapidly develop, new ISO Standards are drafted and implemented by ISO members globally. This ensures that businesses of all size, type and nature can benefit from International Standards.

What are ISO Standards, and how are they developed?

Essentially, an ISO Standard is an internationally proven and recognised way for a business to run its operations aligned with a particular discipline and objective. But how are ISO Standards developed?

ISO Standards are only developed once there is an identified industry need for standardisation. Experts begin working to prepare a draft, including its scope, key definitions and content. The draft is then shared with all ISO National members for review, where the approval process begins in various stages. Once all ISO members are satisfied with the standard, it will be published and available for the public to use, and in some cases, for business to work towards its Certification to that Standard when applicable.

All ISO Standards are then reviewed approximately every five years by the relevant ISO member bodies. This could result in confirmation, revision (resulting in a new updated version published), or complete withdrawal of the standard.

What are the main ISO Management System Standards?

There are over 24,000 ISO Standards available, each one developed to address different aspects or challenges that affect organisations globally. The standards serve as a framework to manage a variety of technical topics and processes throughout a business and achieve set goals and industry requirements.

The most widely-adopted ISO Management System Standards are:

ISO 9001:2015, ISO 45001:2018, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 27001:2013.

Let’s briefly have a look at each of these standards:

Business needs – Which ISO Standard is recommended?

It can be challenging to know exactly which ISO Management System Standard a business needs, as not all businesses will require the same ISO Standards.

Some businesses will need to be certified as part of contractual or regulatory requirements. This could be imposed by a client, a regulatory body, or for a government tender. In these cases, it’s easy to know which standards a business needs certification to – simply confirm with the appropriate interested party (it could be provided on a document from the requesting party, listing the standards).

If a business needs certification for any other reason, such as business improvement in particular areas, it will then be a different process. The business will need to analyse each standard, and figure out the most suitable and beneficial one for their particular industry to meet the desired objectives. Reading and understanding the actual standards you are interested in will help you understand more to make such a decision.

How can ISO Standards actually help a business?

Not only will the implementation of an ISO Management System Standard benefit a business, but the actual Certification itself will also provide businesses with a number of benefits, including:

How to become Certified to one or more ISO Standards

Once a business decides which ISO Management System Standards to go with, the journey to achieving certification begins.

The entire Certification process can be summarised as follows:

The business will need to define the standards required, and then purchase a copy of the chosen ISO Standards (this is an actual licensed document developed by ISO that you purchase, which contains all the requirements).

If the business already has a variety of things in place that could be used for meeting the requirements (such as established processes and policies), a gap analysis could be performed. This will determine what still needs to be done, to then plan the next steps.

The business will then need to develop all documentation required to meet the requirements of the chosen ISO Standard(s). This documentation is what the Standards refer to as a Management System, and could include business processes, policies, and software or templates to capture records, etc.

Once the documentation is developed, reviewed and published (live and ready for use), the next step is implementation.

Implementing the Management System means actually putting the system into practice. This involves coaching the team on how to use it, following the new processes, populating forms, saving records, and making sure it’s fully embedded in the day-to-day business activities.

Once the system is implemented, the business will need to conduct an Internal Audit and a Management Review, to define the strategy moving forward for the monitoring of the effectiveness of its Management System.

Internal Audits are a requirement of the main ISO Management System Standards. An Internal Audit is a full review of the management system to ensure that it has met all of the ISO Standard requirements, as well as the organisation’s own requirements, before going for certification. The ISO Standards require that an auditor has to be deemed competent to conduct these internal audits. Therefore, if a business does not engage an external auditor, and decides to use its internal resources (employees) to conduct these Internal Audits, they have to make sure these people are trained and qualified to do so.

Our Management Systems Internal Auditor training is a practical eLearning course that teaches how to conduct effective Internal Audits in accordance with the core ISO Management System Standards. In addition to a Certificate of Completion, included in the course is also a competency assessment (and Verification of Competency Certificate) that will demonstrate that your are qualified to conduct internal audits.

When the business is ready for certification, they will need to be audited by an Accredited Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) – also known as Certification Body. A CAB is an organisation that is accredited to conduct audits of businesses’ Management Systems and issue internationally recognised Certifications to the ISO Standards.

The Certification Audits are split into two stages:

If all business activities prove to conform according to the requirements, the CAB will issue the Certification(s) to the audited business.

Note: The Certification Audit is also commonly referred to as a Third Party Audit.

After the business has achieved Certification(s), the 3-year certification cycle begins. During this period, the Certification Body will return to conduct yearly Surveillance Audits to verify that the Business Management System is still meeting the ISO Standard(s) requirements, as well as their own operational requirements.

Note: The business is also required to conduct Internal Audits each year. With our Internal Auditor training, your team can become qualified to conduct these.

Download a summary of the entire Certification process below!

Get your FREE Certification Process Diagram today!

Now that you know what it means to be certified to an ISO Management System Standard, it’s time to decide what your next step is and your role in this journey. Are you assisting a business in achieving certification? Is it for your own business?

The post What Exactly is Certification to ISO Standards? appeared first on ICExperts Academy.

Lately, consumers are looking for more than a transactional relationship with businesses, and are increasingly demanding that businesses take action and do their part to reduce their environmental footprint. In a survey conducted by Deloitte, almost 40% of participants said they would stop buying from a company whose products or services negatively impacted the environment. Businesses that fail to respond to these expectations and motivations will eventually feel the effect on their bottom lines.

Climate change is both a critical challenge and critical opportunity for businesses. Profit and Government incentives, as well as executives’ increasing fears about climate change’s potential negative effect on businesses are giving organisations plenty of reasons to join in on taking action.

But even then, it can be challenging to know where to start implementing change within the business. This is where ISO 14001:2015, the international Environmental Management System standard, is able to support organisations with managing their environmental impacts, responsibilities and initiatives in a systematic manner.

What is 14001:2015?

The ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System standard is an internationally-recognised documented framework for better management control, with the goal of reducing the business’ environmental impacts, and compliance with environmental regulatory requirements.

ISO 14001:2015 helps organisations achieve the intended outcomes of its Environmental Management System, which provides value for the environment, the organisation itself and interested parties. The intended outcomes of an Environmental Management System include:

The ISO Environmental Management System standard, as well as the other ISO Standards we’ve covered in previous blogs (ISO 9001:2015, ISO 45001:2018, and ISO 27001:2013), is flexible and can be implemented by any organisation, regardless of size, industry and nature, and applies to the environmental aspects of its activities, products and services that the organisation determines it can either control or influence through its activities.

What are the business benefits of ISO 14001:2015?

Environmental awareness is essential for all businesses, as we are a part of a society that is becoming increasingly conscious of the impact we have on the environment. Implementing an Environmental Management System can achieve numerous business benefits, which include:

What are the ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System requirements?

The ISO 14001:2015 standard has 10 clauses, as detailed below:

Clause 4: Context of the organisation – The organisation needs to determine its ability to achieve the intended outcomes of its Environmental Management System, and how related internal and external issues can affect these. Understanding and determining the needs and expectations of the business stakeholders and the scope of the management system is also required, along with how the management system will be implemented, maintained and continually improved.

Clause 5: Leadership – Top management needs to demonstrate commitment and support with respect to the Management System. This includes establishing an Environmental Policy and ensuring that roles, responsibilities, and authorities are clearly defined within the environmental context.

Clause 6: Planning – A risk and opportunity action plan should be put in place to ensure that the Environmental Management System can achieve its goals, which include meeting compliance obligations, preventing and reducing undesired effects, and encouraging continual improvement. There needs to be measurable and relevant ways to evaluate the effectiveness of the set environmental objectives.

Clause 7: Support – This clause addresses the requirements of resources, competence, awareness, communication and documentation. The organisation must ensure that relevant employees are consulted and communicated with about the policies and processes of the Environmental Management System, and that they understand their role in contributing to the success of the Management System.

Clause 8: Operation – The business must establish, implement, control and maintain required processes, with consideration of the environmental life cycle stages, including emergency preparedness and response plans. The organisation needs to keep documentation for all processes, to ensure they have been carried out as planned.

Clause 9: Performance evaluation – The organisation must outline how they will monitor, measure, analyse and evaluate the Environmental Management System’s performance, including their compliance obligations. This also needs to include plans for regular internal audits, as well as regular top management reviews, to ensure the ongoing effectiveness, suitability and adequacy of the Management System.

Clause 10: Improvement – The business has to continually improve the suitability, adequacy and effectiveness of its Environmental Management System by identifying opportunities for improvement, and implementing corrective actions.

What is the ISO 14000 Family of Standards?

The ISO 14000 Family of Standards is the set of standards related to Environmental Management that was developed by ISO to help businesses reduce their impact on the environment.

The core standard of the ISO 14000 Family of Standards is ISO 14001:2015, but there are also other standards to help businesses implement, evaluate, and improve their Environmental Management System. We’ve listed the six most common ones below, which are applicable to the majority of businesses looking to implement an Environmental Management System:

Your business can only achieve certification to ISO 14001:2015. The other standards in the family are supporting guidelines for the implementation of the ISO 14001:2015 Standard. Therefore, there is no certification to achieve for these.

Where to start with implementing the requirements of ISO 14001:2015?

ISO 14001:2015 is a powerful framework for businesses with today’s growing green culture, and interpreting the requirements and implementing the standard into your organisation can be challenging. Getting help from professional ISO Management System Consultants is one of the best approaches a business can take, resulting in an effectively customised and implemented Management System that will be beneficial for the business.

Even if an organisation decides to implement the requirements of the standard by itself, or with the help from a professional consultant, the business should have a copy of the ISO 14001:2015 document, so the team can get familiar with the requirements and intent of the standard.

Varying factors, such as the size of the organisation, the complexity of its operations, and the current systems that are in place, will impact the costs and timeframes when implementing an Environmental Management System. Once the Management System has been successfully implemented, the business can go for the Certification Audits with an Accredited Conformity Assessment Body (read more about the certification process here).

It’s also important to note that Internal Audits of the Management System are a requirement prior to the Certification Audits. If the business decides to go with internal resources to conduct these Internal Audits, the ISO Standards require that the auditor is deemed competent to do so. You’ll need to qualify your team to conduct your Management System Internal Audits.

References

– https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/global/Documents/About-Deloitte/deloitte-2019-millennial-survey.pdf
– https://www.forbes.com/sites/deloitte/2020/01/22/reducing-environmental-impact-is-now-a-business-imperative/?sh=646551c6cc69
– https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/store/en/PUB100372.pdf

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The United Nations Global Compact estimates that 2.78 million workers die from occupational accidents or work-related diseases each year, while another 374 million workers suffer from non-fatal occupational accidents. To put this into perspective, there are more than 7,600 fatalities occurring from dangerous working conditions every single day!

These figures are very concerning, especially considering these deaths could have, and should have, been prevented. This is where ISO 45001:2018, the international Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Standard, also known as Work Health and Safety (WHS), is able to support organisations with a Management System framework that provides a risk and opportunity based approach to preventing harm to workers.

Although it’s a relatively new standard, ISO 45001:2018 supersedes OHSAS 18001 and AS/NZS 4801 and builds further on the crucial framework these previous standards introduced, to ensure all workers have a safe and healthy workplace. It promotes consultation for transparency and building trust throughout an organisation’s operations and supply chain. Implementing and achieving certification to the OHS Management System Standard reflects the organisation’s commitment to their employees health, safety and wellbeing. It also demonstrates their efforts of continually working towards creating a better, safer workplace.

Continue reading to learn more about ISO 45001:2018, and its requirements and benefits.

What is ISO 45001:2018?

The ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Standard provides a framework for managing and preventing work-related injury and illness by identifying risks and opportunities to eliminate hazards and minimise risks (including system deficiencies). The standard assists organisations of any size, type, or industry in taking effective preventative actions to promote a safe and healthy workplace, while also effectively addressing legal and ethical concerns.

The hazards and risks which align with poor working conditions may be a result of a multitude of factors: governance gaps, failure to comply with the law, insufficient resources, scarce knowledge, unsustainable business practices, and the lack of a culture of prevention, just to name a few. Effective implementation of the ISO 45001:2018 Standard should provide a systematic approach to enable organisations to address and manage these OHS risks.

The Safety Management Standard approach emphasises the responsibilities of those in positions of authority, and highlights how all stakeholders in the organisation should participate, to ensure effectiveness. The intended outcomes of an OHS Management System include:

Other ISO OHS Standards

Unlike the other core ISO Management System Standards, the ISO 45001 Standard doesn’t yet have a comprehensive “ISO 45000 Family of standards”. ISO 45001:2018 was the only standard for this topic until recently, when an additional two standards were released to complement an organisation’s safety management:

A business will not be able to get certified to either one of these two new standards, as they are guidelines only.

As at the time of publishing this blog, the following additional guidelines standards are also under development:

What are the benefits of ISO 45001:2018?

All stakeholders benefit from a safer and healthier workplace, from employees to managers, business owners and external suppliers. Consequently, the benefits of successfully implementing ISO 45001:2018 and achieving Certification to this standard, will positively influence many areas of the organisation, such as:

What are the ISO 45001 requirements?

ISO 45001:2018 is structured similarly to other core management system standards, such as ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2013. This facilitates one integrated management system for an organisation, that can meet the requirements of multiple management system standards.

The Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems Standard is comprised of 10 clauses, which are as follows:

Clause 4: Context of the Organisation – The organisation will determine all external and internal parties, as well as issues that can impact the intended outcomes of its OHS Management System. This includes understanding the needs and expectations of employees and other stakeholders, and determining the scope of the OHS Management System.

Clause 5: Leadership and worker participation – The standard requires top management to be responsible and accountable for preventing work-related injury and ill-health. Top management must demonstrate leadership and commitment concerning the OHS Management System, and promote consultation with and participation of workers through clear communication, and allocating appropriate resources to support the safety culture.

Clause 6: Planning – This clause outlines actions to address risks and opportunities. It requires that the organisation keeps documentation about their OHS objectives and determines what will be done. Organisations should also demonstrate project timelines, roles and responsibilities, as well as how they will measure results. The plan must take into consideration the identified issues and hazards, in addition to regulatory requirements.

Clause 7: Support – The organisation should determine and provide the resources needed for establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving the OHS Management System. This includes human, infrastructure, and financial support, ensuring employees know all relevant information required to meet the ISO OHS standard’s requirements.

Clause 8: Operation – The business shall plan, implement, control and maintain the processes needed to meet the requirements of the OHS Management System. This includes any temporary or permanent changes that could impact the OHS performance, the procurement of products, services and contractors, and the establishment of a process for emergency readiness and response​​.

Clause 9: Performance Evaluation – There must be a process for monitoring, measurement, analysis and performance evaluation of the OHS Management System. Internal audits and top management reviews are required to ensure the Management System’s ongoing improvement, adequacy and effectiveness.

Clause 10: Improvement – The organisation should be committed to continually improving its management system, take a proactive approach when seeking new OHS opportunities, and implementing the necessary measures to address any incidents and nonconformities that may occur.

Where to start with implementing the requirements of the ISO 45001:2018 Standard?

ISO 45001:2018 provides a robust framework for managing OHS risks and opportunities. Interpreting the requirements and matching them with the businesses needs and resources can be overwhelming. Getting assistance from a professional ISO Management System Consultant is often the best way to implement the requirements of and achieve certification to a Management System Standard. The consultant can help you to integrate the requirements of one or more ISO Management System Standards into your existing business systems and operational processes.

Regardless if an organisation decides to implement the requirements of the ISO 45001:2018 Standard by itself, or outsource it to a professional consultant, it’s recommended that the organisation has a licensed copy of the standard document. This is so everyone involved in the project is familiar with the requirements. In addition, external auditors from the Conformity Assessment Body may ask if you have it as a reference, as it is important to be aware of the requirements in order to effectively implement them.

The cost and timeframe to implement an OHS Management System will vary depending on the size of the organisation, the complexity of its operations, and the systems that are currently in place. Once the requirements of the standard are successfully implemented, the business can go for the Certification Audits with an Accredited Conformity Assessment Body to achieve its ISO 45001:2018 Certification (read more about the certification process here).

It’s also important to consider that conducting internal audits of the Management System is a requirement to achieve and maintain certification to an ISO Management System Standard. As a business owner or manager, you can benefit from qualifying your team to conduct these audits.

The post What is ISO 45001:2018? Learn about the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Standard appeared first on ICExperts Academy.

In a hyper-connected digital world, the threat of data breaches and cyber attacks has become incontestable. According to the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s latest report, one cybercrime is reported in Australia every eight minutes, a 13% increase from the previous year. Self-reported losses total more than $33 billion, but the actual figure is likely higher due to under-reporting.

Consumers are increasingly concerned with how companies use and store their data. At the same time, businesses struggle to find effective ways to protect private information and sensitive data, an even more significant concern as more people are working remotely and challenging information security best practices. As cybercriminals become more sophisticated, many specialists say that it’s not a case of if but when a cyber attack or a data breach will occur. How, then, can a business protect its data?

The easy answer seems to be to invest in a good anti-virus software or some other type of privacy protection tool. However, software may not be enough without promoting a culture of information security within the organisation, and that’s why the Information Security Management System (ISMS) Standard, ISO 27001:2013, has become such a popular framework in the past few years.

Whether a company offers technology-based solutions to clients, or if the products and services are technology-light or non-existent, they are likely to deal with personal information from consumers and other stakeholders, as well as commercially sensitive information. Hence, implementing a Management System for Information Security will benefit organisations in any industry.

Continue reading to learn more about ISO 27001:2013 and have the most common questions about this standard answered.

What is ISO 27001:2013?

By definition, the ISO 27001:2013 Standard specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS) within the organisation’s context. It also includes requirements for the assessment and treatment of information security risks tailored to the needs of the business.

Similar to other ISO Management System Standards, the requirements outlined in the document are generic and applicable to organisations of all types, sizes and industries.

The core aspects of ISO 27001:2013 are:

These aspects must be maintained by applying a risk management process, giving confidence to interested parties that risks are adequately managed.

If you’re new to ISO Management Systems, you may expect the standard to provide strictly technical guidelines for the Information Security Management System. However, rather than specifying software requirements, ISO 27001:2013 is a framework for a strategic approach to Information Security. This will become more evident as we go through the standard’s benefits and overarching clauses below.

What are the benefits of ISO 27001:2013?

Information Security is an essential component to the successful operation of any business in an increasingly connected world. By ensuring data and confidential information is protected, implementing and achieving certification to ISO 27001:2013 will help businesses:

What are the ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System requirements?

The ISO 27001:2013 standard comprises 11 clauses (0 to 10), as detailed below:

Clause 4: Context of the organisation – This requires an organisation to understand the needs and expectations of interested parties and determine the scope of the organisation’s Information Security Management System. It is crucial to clarify what areas of the business are covered by the ISMS. It also comprises how the organisation implements, maintains and continually improves the Information Security Management System.

Clause 5: Leadership – Emphasises how top management should support and demonstrate commitment to the Information Security Management System, including establishing an Information Security Policy and ensuring roles, responsibilities, and authorities are clear within the information security context.

Clause 6: Planning – Requires an organisation to determine actions to address risks and opportunities to ensure the Information Security Management System can achieve goals such as preventing and reducing risks and promoting continual improvement. It also states the organisation shall implement measurable and relevant ways to evaluate the effectiveness of these actions. The organisation must keep documentation about their information security objectives and determine what will be done, project timelines, roles and responsibilities and how they will evaluate results.

Clause 7: Support – To support the establishment, implementation, maintenance and continual improvement of the Information Security Management System, the organisation must promote awareness through clear communication and provide employees with the necessary resources to create, update and control the ISMS.

Clause 8: Operation – To meet this requirement, the business must plan, implement and control information security processes. The organisation shall keep documented information to ensure that the processes have been carried out as planned. Performing an information security risk assessment and treatment plans are also mandatory.

Clause 9: Performance evaluation – The organisation needs to assess its information security performance and effectiveness, determining what needs to be monitored and measured, when, which methods will be used, and who will perform the ISMS evaluation and analysis. Internal audits are also requested within this clause, as well as top management action to review the Information Security Management System and ensure its continuing suitability, adequacy and effectiveness.

Clause 10: Improvement – Following up on the evaluation, the organisation shall continually improve the suitability, adequacy and effectiveness of the Information Security Management System by taking corrective action (and eliminating the causes) in case a nonconformity to the Standard or to business processes is identified.

Annex A is also an essential component of ISO 27001:2013. This second part of the Standard comprises a list of 114 controls, organised in 14 sections. These are used to support the implementation of ISO 27001:2013’s requirements as part of the risk management process. The controls to be implemented should be selected based on the risk treatment options that are decided on for the organisation’s risks that are identified (as a result of the Information Security Risk Assessment).

What is the ISO 27000 Family of Standards?

ISO 27001:2013 is part of a wider set of standards, the ISO 27000 series. Published by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the 27000 family comprises over a dozen Standards, as well as Guidelines, Specifications and Codes of Practice. Among them, there are six fundamental elements that will be a good starting point when implementing an Information Security Management System (ISMS):

Accredited Certification can be achieved to ISO 27001:2013.

A tender requirement or client contract may also determine that the organisation needs to implement one or more specific controls from codes of practices such as ISO 27017:2015 (contains additional cloud-based risk controls) and ISO 27018:2019 (guidelines to the protection of personally identifiable information). In these cases, the business can also ask the certification body to assess its ISMS against the requirements and get a “verification of conformity” (in conjunction with their Accredited Certification to ISO 27001:2013).

ISO 27002:2013 is a guidance document that supports the implementation of the requirements of ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management Systems. The new version of this standard was published just recently, in February 2022. You can find out more about what changed here.

Where to start with implementing the requirements of the ISO 27001:2013 Standard?

Interpreting the requirements and matching them with the business’ context and needs can be an overwhelming task. Getting help from an ISO Management System Consultant can assist, resulting in a more effectively implemented system that will work for the business, and lower the risk of failing the Certification Audits. Regardless of whether an organisation will implement the standard by itself or with the help of a professional consultant, the business must have a copy of the Standard document so the team can get familiar with the requirements.

Elements such as the size of the organisation, complexity of its operations, and systems that are currently in place will impact costs and timeframes when implementing the Business Management System. After successfully doing so, the business can go for the Certification Audits with an Accredited Conformity Assessment Body (click here to read more about the certification process).

From a strategic planning perspective, the business can benefit from qualifying the team who will be conducting internal audits of the Business Management System, as this will be a requirement to achieve and maintain certification to ISO 27001:2013.

Check out our practical Management System Internal Auditor Training as an option to train your team to conduct effective Internal Audits in accordance with the main ISO Management System Standards, including ISO 27001:2013.

The post What is ISO 27001:2013? Understand the Information Security Standard appeared first on ICExperts Academy.

When talking about ISO Management System Standards, ISO 9001:2015 is the world’s most popular standard. Even those who aren’t familiar with ISO terminologies and practices recognise that certification to ISO 9001:2015 speaks for the high quality with which a business operates and delivers its products and services.

More precisely, the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems standard provides a framework for world-class business growth via a risk and opportunity based process approach to managing businesses. It determines the requirements that an organisation must meet to:

Some people may refer to this standard as ISO 9001 only. However, the ISO Standards should always be identified by their version year (:2015 for ISO 9001), to ensure everyone is referring to the most recent published version of the standard.

Keep reading to get the most common questions about ISO 9001:2015 answered!

What are the benefits of ISO 9001:2015?

In essence, this standard focuses on continually identifying opportunities for business improvement and meeting customers’ requirements and expectations, while also focusing on leadership and management commitment. It’s no surprise then that organisations that implement the requirements of and achieve certification to ISO 9001:2015 experience benefits such as:

What are the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System requirements?

The following clauses specify the requirements when implementing a quality management system:

In order to achieve certification to ISO 9001:2015, the quality management system must meet the requirements detailed in the clauses noted above. Not all requirements may be applicable to an organisation; in this case, a justification of why the given requirement wasn’t addressed must be provided and recorded as part of the management system scope wording. To review all requirements, you need to purchase a licensed copy of the Standard, which is an actual document setting out all the requirements.

What is the ISO 9000 Family of Standards?

The ISO 9000 family is an internationally recognised quality management set of standards that provide the framework for business continual improvement and operational excellence. It consists of:

Your business can only be certified to ISO 9001:2015. The other standards in the family are supporting guidelines for the implementation of the ISO 9001:2015 Standard. Therefore, there’s no certification to achieve for these.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look at the ISO 9000 family of standards as a whole. Using it taking an integrated approach is key to providing the most significant value to an organisation pursuing effective quality management.

Specialists recommend first using ISO 9000:2015 to become familiar with a quality management system’s fundamental concepts, principles, and vocabulary before adopting ISO 9001:2015.

Furthermore, ISO/TS 9002:2016 contains technical specifications with examples, descriptions and options that aid both in the implementation of a quality management system and in strengthening its relationship to the overall management of the organisation, while ISO 9004:2018 focuses on making the management system more efficient towards achieving the business goals and objectives.

Where to start with implementing the requirements of the ISO 9001:2015 standard?

Interpreting the requirements and matching them with the business needs and current state can be an overwhelming task. That’s why getting help from a professional ISO Management System consultant is often the way to make the management system implementation process as smooth and effective as possible.

Whether an organisation decides to implement the requirements of the Quality standard by itself or count on the services of a consultant, the business must have a copy of the ISO 9001:2015 Standard requirements document so the people involved in the project can read and get familiar with the requirements and implementation process.

Costs and timeframes for the implementation of the Management System will vary according to factors such as the size of the organisation, complexity of its operations, and systems that are currently in place.

Upon successful implementation of the Management System, the business can go for the Certification Audits with an Accredited Conformity Assessment Body. If you want to read more about this process, check out this blog article.

As a business owner or manager, you might also like to qualify your team to conduct internal audits of the Management System, as this will be a requirement to achieve and maintain certification to ISO 9001:2015. Our Management System Internal Auditor Training is a practical eLearning course that teaches how to conduct effective Internal Audits in accordance with the main ISO Management System Standards, including ISO 9001:2015.

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