Standards Comparison

    ISO 26000

    Voluntary
    2010

    International guidance for social responsibility integration

    VS

    MAS TRM

    Mandatory
    2021

    Singapore guidelines for technology risk management in finance

    Quick Verdict

    ISO 26000 offers voluntary social responsibility guidance for all organizations globally, emphasizing principles and stakeholder engagement. MAS TRM mandates technology risk controls for Singapore FIs, focusing on cyber resilience and governance to meet supervisory expectations.

    Social Responsibility

    ISO 26000

    ISO 26000:2010 Guidance on social responsibility

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

    Key Features

    • Non-certifiable guidance explicitly rejecting certification
    • Seven principles underpinning all SR decisions
    • Seven interconnected core subjects holistically applied
    • Stakeholder engagement drives prioritization and relevance
    • Integrates with management systems like ISO 14001
    Technology Risk Management

    MAS TRM

    MAS Technology Risk Management Guidelines

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

    Key Features

    • Board and senior management accountability
    • Risk-proportional implementation approach
    • Comprehensive IT lifecycle controls
    • Third-party risk management integration
    • Annual penetration testing for internet systems

    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 voluntary international guidance standard on social responsibility (SR), applicable to all organizations regardless of size, type or location. Unlike certifiable standards like ISO 14001, it provides non-prescriptive principles and practices for integrating SR into governance and operations, using a stakeholder-informed, holistic approach.

    Key Components

    • **Seven principlesAccountability, transparency, ethical behavior, respect for stakeholder interests, rule of law, international norms, human rights.
    • **Seven core subjectsOrganizational governance, human rights, labor practices, environment, fair operating practices, consumer issues, community involvement.
    • Built on multi-stakeholder consensus; no requirements or certification model—credibility via transparency and reporting.

    Why Organizations Use It

    Enhances sustainability commitment, risk management (e.g., supply chain due diligence), alignment with SDGs/OECD/GRI, stakeholder trust, and resilience without certification burdens. Drives strategic benefits like talent retention and market access.

    Implementation Overview

    Phased approach: materiality assessment, stakeholder engagement, policy integration into management systems, training, KPIs, transparent reporting. Suited for all sectors/geographies; uses PDCA for continuous improvement, supported by ISO tools like Communication Protocol.

    MAS TRM Details

    What It Is

    MAS Technology Risk Management (TRM) Guidelines (January 2021) are supervisory guidelines from Singapore's Monetary Authority for financial institutions (FIs). They establish a risk-based framework for governing technology and cyber risks, emphasizing proportionality to FI size, complexity, and exposure.

    Key Components

    • 15 sections spanning governance, asset inventories, risk assessment, secure SDLC, IT service management, resilience, access controls, cryptography, cyber operations, testing, and audit.
    • Core principles: board accountability, defence-in-depth, continuous monitoring/improvement.
    • No certification; compliance via supervisory review and enforcement.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Mandatory for MAS-regulated FIs (banks, insurers, fintechs) to avoid fines, license actions.
    • Builds resilience, reduces systemic risks, supports digital transformation.
    • Enhances trust, operational stability, ERM integration.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: establish governance, inventory assets, assess risks, deploy controls, test resilience.
    • Targets Singapore FIs; scalable by risk profile.
    • Requires board-approved strategy, independent functions, metrics reporting.

    Key Differences

    Scope

    ISO 26000
    Social responsibility core subjects, principles, governance
    MAS TRM
    Technology/cyber risk governance, controls, resilience

    Industry

    ISO 26000
    All organizations, all sectors globally
    MAS TRM
    Singapore financial institutions only

    Nature

    ISO 26000
    Voluntary non-certifiable guidance
    MAS TRM
    Supervisory guidelines with enforcement

    Testing

    ISO 26000
    Self-assessment, stakeholder engagement, reporting
    MAS TRM
    Penetration testing, vulnerability scans, DR tests

    Penalties

    ISO 26000
    No formal penalties, reputational risks
    MAS TRM
    Fines, license actions, enforcement

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about ISO 26000 and MAS TRM

    ISO 26000 FAQ

    MAS TRM FAQ

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