What does ISO certification mean?

ISO certification is a seal of approval of a third-party organization that a company performs in one of the developed international standards and issued by the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO).

ISO is an independent international non-government organisation that brings together experts to share their knowledge and developing international standards which support innovation and deliver solutions to global challenges.

Why would I need to become ISO certified?

ISO certification demonstrates to your key stakeholders that you have a well-managed, structured, stable and growth-ready company.

Individual advantages of each ISO standard include:

• ISO 9001 prioritizes your clients.
• ISO 27001 provides protection for your systems, data and reputation.
• ISO 14001 cuts down on your environmental impact.
• The ISO 45001 standard helps keep your employees safe.
• ISO 22301 protects your enterprise from disturbances.

The benefits common to all ISO standards are:

• Increased efficiency.
• Reduced costs
• Improved client satisfaction.
• More engaged workers.
• Reduced risks
• Reduction in insurance prices.
• Assistance in the tender process.

By Applying ISO Certification, you demonstrate your organisation’s commitment to achieving your goals and enhance customer credibility and trust in your product or service.

How much does it cost to become ISO certified?

ISO certification costs vary depending on the size of the organization and the level of operation of the business in terms of processes and procedures. If you choose to implement several standards at the same time, special fares are offered. We offer a simple and economical service with flexible terms and conditions. You can ask for a quotation here.

Due to our tailor-made proposals and the number of variables which may affect the cost of implementation, we like to meet with our potential clients to better understand them before providing them with costs.

What is ISO accreditation and is it different to ISO certification?

In principle, the systems are the same, it is a matter of knowing who certifies you and how.

ISO accreditation or ISO certification is when the company has attained an ISO standard and/or a BS standard by a certification body which is accredited by IOAS and IAS or equivalent. Each country has a different version of  IAS and IOAS and although they are not related to the government, they act as the governing body of the certification societies.

ISO certification is only available once an accredited organization has been assessed and are unable to provide assistance or support, they can only complete the assessment and give you success or failure.

However, ISO certification provider such as us can fully support you in your implementation. The support we offer includes templates for documentation, orientation during visits and phone support. We will also visit you twice a year; for a support visit to help you with the problems you are facing and for your annual recertification check.

For many clients, certification is more than sufficient because it provides the necessary structure to improve their business and is well recognized. If ISO certification is required (e.g. if required by a potential client, professional association or regulatory body) we can provide ISO services to assist you in preparing your management system for evaluation by an accredited organisation. This increases your chances of successfully completing the evaluation once!

Can I become an ISO-certified startup?

Yes! ISO certification is appropriate for any company

How long is the validity of an ISO certificate?

All providers are different. Here at ISO Quality Services, our certificates are valid for one year and are subject to yearly recertification audits to ensure that you are still in compliance. As well, we conduct annual support visits to offer you additional support in areas where you are experiencing difficulties. The default of recertification is therefore rare.

Read also: How to check the validity of ISO Certificate online

We think it takes around three years for a management system to mature and at this point, more than 90% of clients recognize the value of their management system.

Is there a way to test our certification before making a commitment to full certification?

Yes, you can have a better idea about ISO certification by:

• ISO training: You will learn how to fully implement and maintain an efficient management system to its maximum potential.
• ISO advice: We can perform a GAP analysis, helping to identify where you are now and where you should be in order to achieve compliance. When you are appointed, you will benefit from the advice and support of our consultants.

How do you support me throughout that process?

We are proud of the support we provide to our clients from initial assessment to ISO certification and beyond.

We will give you all the support necessary to include:

A Designated Account Manager:

You will be assigned an Account Manager who will be on hand to assist you with any questions you may have regarding the day-to-day operation of your Management Standard.

Access to our Client Area:

There is a wealth of information about our Customer Space, including forms, templates, guidance notes, including webinars and video tutorials.

Annual Support Visits:

Our annual support visits are here to offer you extra support in areas where you feel less confident whether it is a matter of ensuring that you are compliant for your next certification renewal audit or whether you need help organizing a management review meeting. These tours are fully flexible and guided by you to ensure you feel confident in the day-to-day operation of your management system.

ISO Training:

All our training courses are designed to build your understanding and ability to manage an efficient management system. If you want to learn about each item individually or better understand a particular issue, we offer in-person and online training for various learning styles.  

If you feel you could benefit from additional support, we also offer personalized ISO guidance. Like annual support visits, these counselling days will be directed by you and can cover a variety of topics. For example, you may want to upgrade your existing systems, need additional support with your audit system, or no longer have the in-house skills to effectively manage your management system. It doesn’t matter what the reason is, we can help.

Is training available?

Yes. All of our training courses are designed to build your understanding and capacity to manage an effective management system. Whether you are considering implementation or already participating in the day-to-day operation of your management system, there is something new to learn.

We offer a variety of training styles to meet individual learning requirements, whether in the classroom, online or on-site.

We already have ISO certification; can we transfer our certification to you?

Yes. Simply contact our team and find out more.

Why should we become ISO 45001 certified?

ISO 45001 supports the overall health and safety management system for a company. It provides the framework for the company to manage the overall health and safety system, including on-site and off-site work. Businesses that use an ISO 45001 Certification make much easier to manage the health and safety of its employees, visitors and clients. It enables the business to link all aspects of its operations that may pose a health and safety risk.

We have the Cyber Essentials Scheme, do we still need the ISO 27001 IT security standard?

ISO 27001 integrates all the requirements of the Cyber Essentials Scheme and much more.

The information security management system ISO 27001 Certification takes into account the security of all data, both physical and numerical. It guarantees that you consider the risks generated by people and processes as well as external systems or factors.

We have an existing safety policy in place. Why is there a requirement for an ISO 27001 information security management system?

Having a safety policy alone is not enough to prevent violations; staff need to understand and practice it.

A ISO 27001 information security management system encourages adequate training and records for all employees to know what is expected of them. This can prevent accidental interference with security.

As an enterprise, we have backups, virus protection and passwords, why do we need ISO 27001 Security of Information?

Information security threats do not originate solely from IT. Unhappy staff, resentful ex-employees, deceiving managers and competitors may all have access to your confidential information and may use it to the detriment of the company and its reputation. This can be done intentionally or accidentally. The information is not restricted to electronic format, but encompasses all forms of communication, including verbal and paper communications.

ISO 27001 encourages the development of appropriate training and records for all personnel so that they are aware of what is expected of them. This may prevent accidental injury to security.

How long does it take to obtain an ISO certificate?

we understand that things can happen that may take a little bit of time. We will adjust to this as much as we can however for those seeking to become ISO certified as soon as possible.  We’ll make sure you get your ISO certification within our standard time frames.

Upon acceptance of the quote and receipt of payment of the down payment we offer all our customers a letter that you can send to your potential customers or include with invitations to tender. to confirm that you have entered the process and will receive full certification within 6-8 weeks. That is usually sufficient to go ahead with a bidding process. This can then be followed by a letter of announcement indicating you have obtained ISO certification.