Which ISO standards are right for your business? (1/3)

Posted on April 9 2021

Reading time: 6 minutes

ISO standards are international standards that indicate the best procedures to follow for certain industries.

These standards are as much about how to design a product, as they are about managing processes and materials.

There are several categories of ISO standards, each backed by the knowledge and experience of experts in each field. Here are some examples:

  • Standards on quality management, which aim to reduce defective goods produced in organizations
  • Environmental management standards, which aim to reduce the ecological footprint of the organization
  • Health and safety standards to anticipate incidents in the workplace
  • Energy management standards to limit our energy consumption
  • Food safety standards to avoid food contamination
  • Information security standards to ensure the security of computer data

categories of ISO standards

Of course, these categories include several sub-groups of standards that are sometimes more popular than others because of their more frequent use.

This is the case for quality management standards, also called ISO 9001, and information security standards, commonly called ISO 27001.

In this article, you will find a short summary of these 2 very popular standards.

In the coming weeks, we will talk in more detail about these standards and the related certification that a company can obtain to improve its image.

You will be able to see how Hector can help your company in the process of obtaining this certification.

ISO 9001 – Quality Management Standards

ISO 9001 is an international standard for QMS (Quality Management Systems).

The QMS is a set of procedures and documentation, which aim to put in place international rules to be followed by an organization, to ensure that it sells quality goods and services.

These rules are adapted for different needs depending on the type of company and have only one goal: to obtain the satisfaction of consumers and reassure them that the products they consume are of quality.

This standard can also serve as a guide and save you a lot of time.

You may not be an expert in the field of product quality, so this guide can help you avoid implementing rules that would be detrimental to your organization’s operations.

The ISO 9001 certification brings a real added value in terms of credibility for a company that acquires it.

It allows you to create standardized processes to reassure your customers of the quality of your products, as well as to conform to international standards.

ISO 27001 – Information security standards

Another very well known standard is the one that pertains to information security also referred to as ISO 27001. This standard sets out the requirements for establishing an information security management system (ISMS) in an organization.

ISO 27001 is based on best practices for computer data security and takes into account people, technology and procedures.

Regardless of your organization’s size or field of activity, ISO 27001 ensures that your company has the highest level of information protection.

What is ISMS?

The ISMS (Information Security Management System) ensures the protection of a company’s assets through a combination of legal regulations and security measures.

This protects data and computer systems from theft, loss or natural disasters.

The ISO 27001 standard is also based on 3 important principles:

  1. Confidentiality
  2. Availability
  3. Integrity

As for the ISO 9001 standard, it is also possible for a company to obtain its ISO 27001 certification, which is equally advantageous for a company.

This certification allows organizations to demonstrate to their clients that their information assets are secure at all times. It also helps reduce the dangers of IT incidents, which saves costs for companies.

Organizations with ISO 27001 certification demonstrate that they are taking the necessary steps to protect themselves against the risks of disaster, data theft, or loss.

iso certification for a compagny

How can Hector help you achieve your certifications?

The answer to this question is quite simple.

To ensure the quality of the products you sell is maintained and to ensure your customers’ personal information is safeguarded, it is essential to have an up-to-date inventory.

Hector will allow you to keep track of your assets to avoid ordering errors, make timely replacements for obsolete equipment, and make sure you have all the tools you need to respond to a natural disaster.

If you’d like to learn more about ISO 9001 and 27001 certification and how Hector can help you achieve it, contact our team!

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