Is ISO27001 better than ISO9001?

ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 are two of the most widely used ISO management standards globally. But what exactly do they focus on and how do they differ? Here we will explain the unique objectives and scopes of ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 to help you understand which standard is most relevant for your organisation.

ISO 27001 – Information Security Management

ISO 27001 is specifically focused on information security. It has requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS) within an organisation.

A padlock surrounded by connections to demonstrate the need for security

The key aims of ISO 27001 include:

– Protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information assets

– Managing risks related to information security

– Complying with legal, regulatory and contractual requirements

– Gaining certified compliance that reassures customers about the security of the information shared.

By following ISO 27001 guidelines, organisations can effectively manage their information security risks with a systematic approach. The standard covers a broad range of information security areas like access control, cryptography, physical security, operations security and more.

ISO 9001 – Quality Management Systems

In contrast, ISO 9001 focuses on overall organisational quality management. It defines the requirements for a Quality Management System (QMS) that demonstrates an organisation’s ability to consistently deliver products or services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.

Key aims of ISO 9001 include:

– Enhancing customer satisfaction

– Continually improving processes and performance

– Establishing a quality-focused culture

– Standardising operations for consistency

– Gaining certified QMS compliance.

While quality and information security management are related, ISO 9001 does not go deeply into technical details of securing information assets. Its scope is much broader around overall performance and the quality of customer service.

Choosing Between ISO 27001 and ISO 9001

So which standard should your business implement? ISO 27001 is specially targeted at organisations that handle significant sensitive information like customer data, financial records, intellectual property etc. It allows you to evidence a rigorous approach to securing those vital assets.

ISO 9001 is better suited to manufacturers, service providers and other businesses focused on improving how their overall processes and systems meet customer expectations.

Many organisations choose to implement both ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 to cover information security along with quality management disciplines. But those organisations driven by customer information and requiring the security of that information find that ISO 27001 on its own delivers tremendous value.

If you want to know more about ISO 27001 you could look at our free webinar covering the requirements of the standard – You can find it here.