ISO 26000
International guidance standard for social responsibility practices
APRA CPS 234
Australian prudential standard for information security resilience.
Quick Verdict
ISO 26000 offers voluntary global guidance on social responsibility for all organizations, while APRA CPS 234 mandates enforceable information security for Australian financial entities. Companies adopt ISO 26000 for ethical alignment and CPS 234 to meet regulatory compliance and avoid penalties.
ISO 26000
ISO 26000:2010 Guidance on social responsibility
Key Features
- Non-certifiable guidance preventing misuse for certification
- Seven principles underpinning all social responsibility actions
- Seven core subjects for holistic impact assessment
- Stakeholder engagement to prioritize relevant issues
- Integration into existing management systems without audits
APRA CPS 234
APRA Prudential Standard CPS 234 Information Security
Key Features
- Board ultimate responsibility for information security
- Commensurate capability with threats and vulnerabilities
- Systematic testing and independent control assurance
- 72-hour APRA notification for material incidents
- Third-party asset management and oversight requirements
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
ISO 26000 Details
What It Is
ISO 26000:2010 is a non-certifiable international guidance standard providing a framework for social responsibility (SR). Applicable to all organizations regardless of size, sector, or location, its primary purpose is to help integrate SR into governance, strategy, and operations through transparent, ethical behavior contributing to sustainable development. It uses a holistic, stakeholder-informed, principles-based approach emphasizing context-specific prioritization.
Key Components
- Seven core subjects: organizational governance, human rights, labor practices, environment, fair operating practices, consumer issues, community involvement.
- Seven principles: accountability, transparency, ethical behavior, respect for stakeholder interests, rule of law, international norms, human rights.
- Built on multi-stakeholder consensus; no requirements, thus no certification model—focuses on self-assessment and transparent reporting.
Why Organizations Use It
Enhances credibility, reduces risks (reputational, operational), aligns with SDGs/OECD/GRI, builds stakeholder trust, supports ESG reporting, and drives resilience without certification burdens.
Implementation Overview
Phased approach: materiality assessment, stakeholder engagement, policy integration, training, supplier due diligence, KPIs, and transparent reporting. Suited for all organizations; integrates with ISO 14001/45001; no audits required.
APRA CPS 234 Details
What It Is
APRA Prudential Standard CPS 234 (Information Security) is a binding prudential regulation from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, effective 1 July 2019. It requires APRA-regulated entities to maintain information security capabilities commensurate with threats and vulnerabilities, minimizing impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information assets. The risk-based approach emphasizes proportionality to asset criticality, sensitivity, and potential consequences.
Key Components
- Board accountability and defined roles/responsibilities.
- Information asset register, classification, and risk assessment.
- Controls across asset lifecycle, including third-party arrangements.
- Incident response plans with annual testing.
- Systematic control testing, independent assurance, and internal audit.
- Notifications: 72 hours for material incidents, 10 business days for unremediable weaknesses. Outcomes-focused, no fixed control count, aligned with CIA triad.
Why Organizations Use It
Mandatory for banks, insurers, super funds; avoids penalties, enforcement. Enhances resilience, operational continuity, customer trust, and competitive differentiation via robust governance and third-party oversight.
Implementation Overview
Phased: scoping, gap analysis, governance/policy, asset management, controls, testing/assurance, monitoring. Applies to all APRA entities/groups, Australia-focused. Ongoing APRA supervision, no formal certification.
Key Differences
| Aspect | ISO 26000 | APRA CPS 234 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Social responsibility: 7 principles, 7 core subjects (governance, human rights, environment) | Information security: governance, controls, testing, incident response for financial entities |
| Industry | All organizations globally, any sector/size | APRA-regulated financial services (banks, insurers, super) in Australia |
| Nature | Voluntary guidance, non-certifiable | Mandatory prudential standard, enforceable by regulator |
| Testing | Self-assessment, stakeholder engagement, no mandatory audits | Systematic independent testing, internal audit, annual reviews |
| Penalties | No legal penalties, reputational risk only | Regulatory sanctions, fines, supervisory actions |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ISO 26000 and APRA CPS 234
ISO 26000 FAQ
APRA CPS 234 FAQ
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