CE Marking
EU marking for conformity to harmonised legislation
COBIT
Global framework for enterprise IT governance and management
Quick Verdict
CE Marking mandates product safety compliance for EU market access, while COBIT provides voluntary IT governance framework for enterprise value and risk management. Manufacturers require CE for legal sales; executives adopt COBIT for strategic IT alignment.
CE Marking
CE Marking (Conformité Européenne)
Key Features
- Manufacturer's legally binding conformity declaration
- Enables free EEA market circulation
- OJEU harmonised standards presume conformity
- Risk-proportionate assessment modules A-H
- 10-year technical file retention required
COBIT
COBIT 2019 Governance and Management Objectives
Key Features
- 40 objectives across 5 domains (EDM, APO, BAI, DSS, MEA)
- 11 design factors for tailored governance systems
- CMMI-based capability levels 0-5 for performance
- Goals cascade from stakeholder needs to practices
- Separation of governance from management responsibilities
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
CE Marking Details
What It Is
CE Marking (Conformité Européenne) is the EU's mandatory conformity marking for products under harmonised legislation. It signifies the manufacturer's declaration that products meet essential health, safety, and environmental requirements. Scope covers categories like electrical equipment, machinery, and medical devices via New Legislative Framework (NLF). Approach is risk-based, using conformity modules A-H.
Key Components
- Essential requirements from directives/regulations
- Harmonised OJEU standards for presumption of conformity
- Technical documentation, EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
- Conformity assessment (self or Notified Body) Self-declaration for low-risk; third-party for high-risk; 10-year retention.
Why Organizations Use It
Mandated for EEA market access; avoids fines, withdrawals. Reduces trade barriers, builds trust, enables scale. Manages liability, leverages standards for efficiency.
Implementation Overview
Map legislation, assess conformity, compile technical file, issue DoC, affix mark. Applies to manufacturers/importers in EEA; varies by product risk. Involves audits for Notified Body routes; post-market surveillance required.
COBIT Details
What It Is
COBIT 2019, developed by ISACA, is a comprehensive framework for governance and management of enterprise information and technology (I&T). It helps organizations create value from I&T, manage risks, and optimize resources by translating stakeholder needs into tailored governance systems using a design workflow and goals cascade.
Key Components
- 40 governance and management objectives across 5 domains: EDM (governance), APO (strategy), BAI (delivery), DSS (operations), MEA (assurance).
- 6 governance system principles and 3 framework principles.
- **7 componentsprocesses, structures, culture, information, skills, infrastructure.
- CMMI-based performance management with capability levels 0-5; no formal certification.
Why Organizations Use It
- Aligns I&T with business strategy via goals cascade.
- Supports compliance (SOX, GDPR) and risk optimization.
- Enables board oversight, assurance, and digital transformation.
- Builds stakeholder trust through measurable outcomes.
Implementation Overview
Phased: assess maturity, design via 11 factors, pilot objectives, train staff, monitor via MEA. Applies to all sizes/industries; emphasizes tailoring, training (COBIT certifications), change management.
Key Differences
| Aspect | CE Marking | COBIT |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Product conformity to EU health/safety rules | Enterprise IT governance and management objectives |
| Industry | Manufacturers of regulated products, EU/EEA | All industries, global enterprise IT governance |
| Nature | Mandatory marking for harmonised EU legislation | Voluntary IT governance framework |
| Testing | Conformity assessment, notified body for high-risk | Capability assessments, internal/external audits |
| Penalties | Market withdrawal, fines, product recalls | No legal penalties, internal performance issues |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about CE Marking and COBIT
CE Marking FAQ
COBIT FAQ
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