Standards Comparison

    ISO 27001

    Voluntary
    2022

    International standard for information security management systems

    VS

    ISO/IEC 42001:2023

    Voluntary
    2023

    International standard for AI management systems.

    Quick Verdict

    ISO 27001 establishes comprehensive information security management systems protecting all assets, while ISO/IEC 42001:2023 specializes in AI governance across lifecycles. Organizations adopt both for global certification, regulatory alignment, and building stakeholder trust through risk-managed innovation.

    Cybersecurity

    ISO 27001

    ISO/IEC 27001:2022

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

    Key Features

    • Risk-based Information Security Management System
    • 93 Annex A controls in four themes
    • PDCA continual improvement cycle
    • Internationally recognized certification standard
    • Technology- and industry-agnostic framework
    AI Management

    ISO/IEC 42001:2023

    ISO/IEC 42001:2023 AI Management Systems

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

    Key Features

    • PDCA cycle for AI lifecycle governance
    • Mandatory AI Impact Assessments for high-risk systems
    • 38 Annex A controls for AI-specific risks
    • HLS integration with ISO 27001 and 9001
    • Third-party AI supplier risk management

    Detailed Analysis

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

    ISO 27001 Details

    What It Is

    ISO/IEC 27001:2022 is the international certification standard for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS). It uses a risk-based approach to manage information assets' confidentiality, integrity, and availability across all industries and sizes.

    Key Components

    • **Clauses 4-10Mandatory requirements for context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, and improvement.
    • **Annex A93 controls in four themes (Organizational:37, People:8, Physical:14, Technological:34).
    • Built on PDCA cycle for continual improvement.
    • Voluntary certification via accredited auditors.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Mitigates breach risks (avg. $4.45M cost).
    • Meets regulatory/contractual needs (GDPR, NIS2).
    • Enhances resilience, wins bids (20-30% more).
    • Builds trust, reduces insurance premiums.

    Implementation Overview

    Phased: initiation, risk assessment, controls deployment, audits (6-18 months). Scalable for SMEs/enterprises; requires leadership, training, PDCA.

    ISO/IEC 42001:2023 Details

    What It Is

    ISO/IEC 42001:2023 is the world's first international standard for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and improving an Artificial Intelligence Management System (AIMS). It provides a PDCA-based framework to manage AI risks and opportunities across the full lifecycle, applicable to any organization involved in AI development, provision, or use.

    Key Components

    • Clauses 4-10 covering context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, and improvement.
    • Annex A with 38 AI-specific controls for data, transparency, integrity, and resiliency.
    • Built on ISO High-Level Structure (HLS) for integration with standards like ISO 27001.
    • Certification via accredited third-party audits, with 3-year validity and surveillance.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Mitigates AI risks like bias, drift, and ethics issues.
    • Aligns with regulations (e.g., EU AI Act).
    • Enhances trust, reputation, and competitive edge.
    • Drives innovation while ensuring compliance and stakeholder confidence.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased gap analysis, risk assessments (AIIAs), training, and monitoring.
    • Suited for all sizes/sectors; 6-12 months typical with existing ISO systems.
    • Requires leadership commitment, documented processes, and audits.

    Key Differences

    Scope

    ISO 27001
    Information security management across all assets
    ISO/IEC 42001:2023
    AI management systems and lifecycle risks

    Industry

    ISO 27001
    All industries and organization sizes globally
    ISO/IEC 42001:2023
    All industries using or providing AI globally

    Nature

    ISO 27001
    Voluntary certification management standard
    ISO/IEC 42001:2023
    Voluntary certification management standard

    Testing

    ISO 27001
    Stage 1/2 audits, annual surveillance, recert every 3 years
    ISO/IEC 42001:2023
    Stage 1/2 audits, annual surveillance, recert every 3 years

    Penalties

    ISO 27001
    Loss of certification, no direct legal penalties
    ISO/IEC 42001:2023
    Loss of certification, no direct legal penalties

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about ISO 27001 and ISO/IEC 42001:2023

    ISO 27001 FAQ

    ISO/IEC 42001:2023 FAQ

    You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

    Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

    Transform your compliance journey with our AI-powered assessment platform

    Assess your organization's maturity across multiple standards and regulations including ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST, GDPR, and hundreds more. Get actionable insights and track your progress with collaborative, AI-powered evaluations.

    100+ Standards & Regulations
    AI-Powered Insights
    Collaborative Assessments
    Actionable Recommendations

    Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages