Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about ISO standards and our search tool.
About ISO Standards
What is ISO?
ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is an independent, non-governmental organization that develops and publishes international standards. Members include national standards bodies from over 160 countries.
How many ISO standards are there?
There are over 24,000 published ISO standards covering everything from quality management and environmental practices to information security and food safety.
Are ISO standards legally required?
Generally no—ISO standards are voluntary. However, some industries, contracts, or regulations may effectively require specific certifications. Certain standards also become incorporated into law in some jurisdictions.
What's the difference between ISO compliance and certification?
Compliance means you follow a standard's requirements. Certification means a third-party auditor has verified your compliance and issued a certificate. Many organizations comply without seeking formal certification.
How long does ISO certification take?
It varies widely—typically 3-12 months depending on the standard, your organization's size, and your current practices. Preparation (implementing the standard) takes longer than the actual audit.
How much does ISO certification cost?
Costs depend on the standard, your company size, and complexity. A small company might spend $10-25K for initial certification including consulting, implementation, and audit fees. Enterprise organizations may spend significantly more.
About This Tool
What does your search do?
You describe your business in plain English. Our AI analyzes your description and surfaces the ISO standards most likely to be relevant, with explanations of why each one might apply.
Is this an official ISO service?
No. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to ISO. We use publicly available ISO metadata to help you navigate the standards landscape.
How accurate are your results?
Our search is designed to surface relevant possibilities, not provide definitive answers. Think of it as a smart starting point that saves you hours of research. Always verify relevance with official ISO documentation and appropriate experts.
Can you certify my business?
No. We are not a certification body. Certification must be performed by an accredited third-party auditor. We help you discover which standards to investigate—not implement or certify.
How current is your data?
We sync with ISO's open data periodically. There may be a short delay between when ISO publishes updates and when they appear in our system.
Do you store my searches?
If you create an account, we store your search history so you can reference it later. We don't share or sell this data. See our privacy policy for details.
Common Questions
Which ISO standard do I need?
It depends on your industry, customers, and goals. Common starting points:
- ISO 9001 — Quality management (applicable to almost any business)
- ISO 27001 — Information security (if you handle sensitive data)
- ISO 14001 — Environmental management (manufacturing, operations)
- ISO 45001 — Occupational health and safety
Our search tool can help you discover standards specific to your situation.
Do I need multiple certifications?
Often yes. Different standards cover different aspects of your operations. A software company might pursue both ISO 9001 (quality) and ISO 27001 (security). A manufacturer might add ISO 14001 (environmental).
Can small businesses get ISO certified?
Absolutely. Many standards are designed to be scalable. Implementation complexity depends on the standard and your current practices, not just company size.
What's an ICS code?
The International Classification for Standards (ICS) is ISO's taxonomy for organizing standards. Each standard has one or more ICS codes indicating its subject area(s).
What's the difference between ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 9001:2008?
The year indicates the edition. ISO 9001:2015 is the current version; 2008 was the previous one. Certifications typically require the latest edition after a transition period.
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