ISO 37001
International standard for anti-bribery management systems
ISO 31000
International standard for risk management guidelines
Quick Verdict
ISO 37001 certifies anti-bribery systems for legal mitigation and trust, while ISO 31000 guides broad risk management for better decisions. Companies adopt 37001 for compliance defense, 31000 for strategic resilience.
ISO 37001
ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management Systems
Key Features
- Risk-based anti-bribery management system framework
- Mandatory third-party due diligence controls
- Leadership commitment and culture requirements
- PDCA cycle for continual improvement
- Internationally certifiable with surveillance audits
ISO 31000
ISO 31000:2018 Risk management — Guidelines
Key Features
- Eight core risk management principles
- Framework integrating leadership and governance
- Iterative six-step risk process
- Non-certifiable flexible guidelines
- Universal applicability to any organization
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 for establishing, implementing, and improving an ABMS. It focuses on preventing, detecting, and responding to bribery risks across organizations, using a risk-based PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) approach applicable to all sectors and sizes.
Key Components
- Clauses 4-10 cover context, leadership, planning, support, operations, evaluation, improvement.
- Core areas: risk assessment, due diligence, financial/non-financial controls, training, reporting.
- Built on ISO Harmonized Structure for integration with standards like ISO 9001.
- Certifiable via third-party audits with annual surveillance.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mitigates legal risks under FCPA/UK Bribery Act; evidences "reasonable steps".
- Builds stakeholder trust, reduces compliance costs up to 15%.
- Enhances reputation, enables market access via certification.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, risk assessment, control design, training, audits.
- Scalable for SMEs to multinationals; 6-12 months typical.
- Optional certification involves Stage 1/2 audits.
ISO 31000 Details
What It Is
ISO 31000:2018, Risk management — Guidelines is an international standard providing flexible, principles-based guidance for enterprise-wide risk management. It defines risk as the effect of uncertainty on objectives and applies a systematic, iterative approach to any organization, emphasizing value creation and protection through better decision-making.
Key Components
- **Three pillarsEight principles (e.g., integrated, customized, dynamic), a framework (leadership, integration, design, implementation, evaluation, improvement), and a six-step process (communication, scope/context/criteria, assessment, treatment, monitoring/review, recording/reporting).
- No fixed controls; focuses on adaptable practices.
- Non-certifiable guidelines, not requirements.
Why Organizations Use It
- Enhances governance, resilience, and strategic execution.
- Drives opportunity realization and loss prevention.
- Builds stakeholder trust without certification mandates.
- Offers competitive edge in volatile environments.
Implementation Overview
- Phased roadmap: leadership alignment, gap analysis, pilot, rollout, monitoring.
- Tailored to any size/sector; involves policy, training, tools like GRC platforms.
- Internal assurance via audits; universal applicability.
Key Differences
| Aspect | ISO 37001 | ISO 31000 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Bribery prevention, detection, response | All risks affecting objectives |
| Industry | All sectors, high-risk emphasis | All sectors, any organization |
| Nature | Certifiable management system standard | Non-certifiable guidelines |
| Testing | Third-party certification audits | Internal monitoring, reviews |
| Penalties | Loss of certification, no legal | No penalties, voluntary |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ISO 37001 and ISO 31000
ISO 37001 FAQ
ISO 31000 FAQ
You Might also be Interested in These Articles...
CIS Controls v8.1, Operationalized: Top 10 Reasons Compliance Monitoring Software Accelerates Real-World Implementation
Operationalize CIS Controls v8.1 with compliance monitoring software. Turn checklists into dashboards, tickets, and audit-proof workflows. Top 10 reasons it acc
NIST CSF 2.0 Plain English Decoder: Translating Govern, Supply Chain, and Core Functions from Jargon to Actionable Insights
Demystify NIST CSF 2.0 jargon with plain English tables for Govern, Supply Chain & Core Functions. Actionable steps for risk oversight & vendor management. Empo
CMMC Level 3 Implementation Guide: Integrating NIST SP 800-172 Enhanced Controls for APT Defense
Step-by-step CMMC Level 3 guide for DIB contractors. Implement 24 NIST SP 800-172 controls on Level 2. Prep for DIBCAC, C3PAO scoping & 180-day POA&Ms. Boost cy
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.
Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages
CMMI vs NERC CIP
Compare CMMI vs NERC CIP: Process maturity meets grid cybersecurity. Align frameworks for BES reliability, compliance gains, and peak performance. Discover synergies now!
FERPA vs WCAG
Discover FERPA vs WCAG: Compare student privacy laws with web accessibility standards for education. Ensure compliant, inclusive sites. Unlock strategies now!
TISAX vs NIST 800-53
Compare TISAX vs NIST 800-53: Automotive-focused TISAX safeguards prototypes & supply chains; NIST 800-53 delivers broad federal controls. Uncover overlaps, differences & strategies for compliance success.