ISO 37001
International standard for anti-bribery management systems
SAMA CSF
Saudi framework for financial sector cybersecurity
Quick Verdict
ISO 37001 offers voluntary global anti-bribery certification for all sectors, mitigating legal risks via due diligence. SAMA CSF mandates cybersecurity maturity for Saudi financial firms, ensuring resilience through audits. Organizations adopt ISO for ethics proof, SAMA for regulatory survival.
ISO 37001
ISO 37001: Anti-bribery management systems
Key Features
- Risk-based anti-bribery management system framework
- Mandatory third-party due diligence and monitoring
- Leadership commitment and anti-bribery culture emphasis
- PDCA cycle for continual improvement and audits
- Internationally certifiable with proportionate controls
SAMA CSF
SAMA Cyber Security Framework Version 1.0
Key Features
- Six-level maturity model targeting Level 3 minimum
- Four core domains with detailed subdomains
- Principle-based risk management approach
- Board and CISO governance requirements
- Third-party security and payment systems controls
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
ISO 37001 Details
What It Is
ISO 37001: Anti-Bribery Management Systems is an international certifiable standard providing requirements 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 by personnel and business associates.
Key Components
- Core clauses 4-10: context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, improvement.
- Key controls: anti-bribery policy, risk assessments, due diligence, financial/non-financial controls, training, reporting/investigations.
- Built on ISO Harmonized Structure for integration with standards like ISO 9001.
- Optional third-party certification with audits.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mitigates legal risks (e.g., FCPA, UK Bribery Act) via evidentiary due diligence.
- Builds stakeholder trust, reputational assurance, ESG alignment.
- Drives efficiencies (up to 15% compliance cost reduction), cultural shifts.
- Enables market access, competitive tenders.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, risk assessment, controls design, training, audits.
- Scalable for all sizes/industries; 6-12 months typical.
- Certification via accredited bodies with surveillance audits.
SAMA CSF Details
What It Is
The Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority Cyber Security Framework (SAMA CSF), Version 1.0 (May 2017), is a mandatory regulatory framework for SAMA-regulated financial institutions in Saudi Arabia. It provides a principle-based, outcome-oriented approach to cybersecurity governance, controls, and maturity, focusing on detecting, resisting, responding to, and recovering from cyber threats across information assets.
Key Components
- Four principal domains: Cyber Security Leadership and Governance, Risk Management and Compliance, Operations and Technology, Third-Party Cyber Security.
- Numerous subdomains with principles, objectives, and control considerations (over 100 subcontrols).
- Built on NIST, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS; features a six-level maturity model (Level 3 minimum baseline).
- Compliance via self-assessments and SAMA audits.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mandatory for banks, insurers, finance firms to avoid penalties, audits, operational disruptions.
- Enhances resilience, reduces incident risks, enables competitive differentiation.
- Builds stakeholder trust, supports Vision 2030 digital growth.
Implementation Overview
Phased approach: gap analysis, risk assessment, control roadmap, deployment, monitoring, audits. Applies to all sizes of SAMA entities; requires board sponsorship, tech investments (SIEM, IAM), training.
Key Differences
| Aspect | ISO 37001 | SAMA CSF |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Anti-bribery management systems only | Cybersecurity across financial operations |
| Industry | All sectors globally | Saudi financial institutions only |
| Nature | Voluntary certifiable standard | Mandatory regulatory framework |
| Testing | Third-party certification audits | Self-assessments and SAMA audits |
| Penalties | Loss of certification | Regulatory fines and enforcement |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ISO 37001 and SAMA CSF
ISO 37001 FAQ
SAMA CSF FAQ
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