ISO 37001
International standard for anti-bribery management systems
ISO 20000
International standard for service management systems
Quick Verdict
ISO 37001 provides anti-bribery management systems to prevent corruption globally, while ISO 20000 establishes service management systems for reliable IT delivery. Companies adopt ISO 37001 for legal risk mitigation and trust; ISO 20000 for operational efficiency and market differentiation.
ISO 37001
ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management Systems
Key Features
- Risk-based anti-bribery management system framework
- Mandatory third-party due diligence and controls
- Leadership commitment with dedicated compliance function
- PDCA cycle for continual improvement and audits
- Internationally certifiable with proportional controls
ISO 20000
ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 Service management system requirements
Key Features
- Annex SL structure for ISO integration
- End-to-end service lifecycle controls
- PDCA-driven continual improvement
- Risk-based planning and leadership accountability
- Multi-supplier lifecycle governance
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
ISO 37001 Details
What It Is
ISO 37001:2025 Anti-Bribery Management Systems is an international certifiable standard providing requirements and guidance for establishing, implementing, and improving an ABMS. Its primary purpose is to help organizations prevent, detect, and respond to bribery risks proportionately, using a risk-based PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) approach across public, private, and not-for-profit sectors, focusing on direct/indirect bribery involving personnel and business associates.
Key Components
- Clauses 4-10 cover context, leadership, planning, support, operations, evaluation, and improvement.
- Core elements: anti-bribery policy, risk assessments, due diligence, financial/non-financial controls, training, reporting, audits.
- Built on ISO Harmonized Structure for integration with standards like ISO 9001.
- Optional third-party certification with 3-year cycles and surveillance audits.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mitigates legal risks under FCPA/UK Bribery Act; reduces liability via "reasonable steps" evidence.
- Builds reputational trust, enables market access, cuts compliance costs up to 15%.
- Drives ethical culture, third-party governance; aligns with ESG.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, risk assessment, controls design, training, audits.
- Scalable for all sizes/industries; 6-12 months typical.
- Certification via accredited bodies involves Stage 1/2 audits.
ISO 20000 Details
What It Is
ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 is the international certifiable standard for service management systems (SMS). It specifies requirements to establish, implement, maintain, and improve an SMS covering the full service lifecycle, using a risk-based, PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) approach aligned with Annex SL for integration with other ISO standards.
Key Components
- Clauses 4-10: context, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, improvement.
- Operational domains: service portfolio, relationships, supply/demand, design/transition, resolution/fulfilment, assurance.
- Core processes: incident/problem management, change/release, configuration/asset, availability/continuity, security.
- Certifiable via accredited audits (Stage 1/2, surveillance).
Why Organizations Use It
- Drives service reliability, customer trust, risk reduction (e.g., 50% certificate growth).
- Enables market differentiation, procurement wins, integration with ISO 9001/27001.
- Supports voluntary compliance for operational excellence, not legal mandates.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, design, deploy, audit (12-18 months typical).
- Applies to all sizes/industries delivering services (IT, cloud, BPO).
- Involves leadership commitment, process tooling, training, continual improvement.
Key Differences
| Aspect | ISO 37001 | ISO 20000 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Anti-bribery management systems only | IT/service management systems broadly |
| Industry | All sectors, high-risk industries emphasized | IT services, all service providers |
| Nature | Voluntary certifiable management standard | Voluntary certifiable management standard |
| Testing | Internal audits, certification body audits | Internal audits, certification audits |
| Penalties | Certification loss, no legal penalties | Certification loss, no legal penalties |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ISO 37001 and ISO 20000
ISO 37001 FAQ
ISO 20000 FAQ
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