Standards Comparison

    ISO 20000

    Voluntary
    2018

    International standard for service management systems

    VS

    ISO 14064

    Voluntary
    2018

    International standard for GHG quantification, reporting, verification.

    Quick Verdict

    ISO 20000 certifies service management for reliable IT delivery, while ISO 14064 standardizes GHG emissions accounting for climate transparency. Companies adopt ISO 20000 for operational trust and market edge; ISO 14064 for regulatory compliance, investor confidence, and decarbonization strategy.

    IT Service Management

    ISO 20000

    ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 Service management system requirements

    Cost
    €€€€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    12-18 months

    Key Features

    • Adopts Annex SL for multi-standard integration
    • Certifiable requirements for full service lifecycle
    • Structures operations into lifecycle domains
    • Mandates leadership and risk-based planning
    • Embeds PDCA for continual improvement
    Greenhouse Gas Accounting

    ISO 14064

    ISO 14064 GHG quantification, reporting, verification standards

    Cost
    €€€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    6-12 months

    Key Features

    • Three-part framework for GHG inventories, projects, assurance
    • Five principles: relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, accuracy
    • Scope 1-3 emission categorization and boundary setting
    • Baseline scenarios and additionality for projects
    • Risk-based validation/verification with materiality assessment

    Detailed Analysis

    A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

    ISO 20000 Details

    What It Is

    ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 is the international certification standard for service management systems (SMS). It specifies auditable requirements to establish, implement, maintain, and improve services across their full lifecycle, from planning to delivery. Adopts Annex SL high-level structure and PDCA methodology for risk-based, flexible governance.

    Key Components

    • Clauses 4–10 cover context, leadership, planning, support, operation (Clause 8 domains: portfolio, relationships, supply/demand, design/transition, resolution/fulfilment, assurance), performance evaluation, improvement.
    • Core processes: incident/problem management, change/release, configuration/asset, availability/continuity, security.
    • Aligns with ITIL; supports third-party certification via accredited audits.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Builds trust via certified reliability and SLA compliance.
    • Reduces risks in multi-supplier ecosystems; integrates with ISO 9001/27001.
    • Drives efficiency, market differentiation; voluntary but procurement-driven.
    • 50% growth in certificates signals competitive edge.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: gap analysis, SMS design, process deployment, audits (Stage 1/2).
    • Suits all sizes/industries (IT, cloud, BPO); 12–18 months typical. (Total: 178 words)

    ISO 14064 Details

    What It Is

    ISO 14064 (Parts 1:2018, 2:2019, 3:2019) is an international standard family for greenhouse gas (GHG) management. It specifies requirements for quantifying and reporting organizational inventories (Part 1), project-level reductions/removals (Part 2), and validation/verification (Part 3). Scope covers emissions/removals across Scopes 1-3. Principle-based approach emphasizes relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, accuracy.

    Key Components

    • Three modular parts forming measurement-assurance lifecycle.
    • Five core principles mirroring GHG Protocol.
    • Boundaries (organizational/operational), baselines, monitoring, Scope 1-3 categorization.
    • No fixed controls; flexible for verification under ISO 14065 bodies.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Enables regulatory compliance (CSRD, SB-253), investor disclosures, carbon markets.
    • Builds stakeholder trust via assured statements.
    • Drives efficiency, risk mitigation, decarbonization strategy.
    • Competitive edge in green finance, procurement.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: governance, boundary design, data systems, assurance.
    • Applicable to all sizes/sectors; 6-12 months typical.
    • Third-party verification (limited/reasonable assurance); no formal certification.

    Key Differences

    Scope

    ISO 20000
    Service management systems (SMS) lifecycle
    ISO 14064
    GHG emissions quantification and verification

    Industry

    ISO 20000
    All service providers, IT-focused, global
    ISO 14064
    All sectors with GHG footprints, global

    Nature

    ISO 20000
    Voluntary certifiable management standard
    ISO 14064
    Voluntary specification for GHG accounting

    Testing

    ISO 20000
    Stage 1/2 audits, surveillance, certification
    ISO 14064
    Independent validation/verification optional

    Penalties

    ISO 20000
    Loss of certification, no legal penalties
    ISO 14064
    No certification; reputational/market risks

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about ISO 20000 and ISO 14064

    ISO 20000 FAQ

    ISO 14064 FAQ

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