ISO 9001
International standard for quality management systems
APRA CPS 234
Australian prudential standard for information security resilience.
Quick Verdict
ISO 9001 provides voluntary quality management certification for global organizations, enhancing efficiency and customer trust. APRA CPS 234 mandates information security for Australian financial firms, ensuring cyber resilience with strict testing and reporting.
ISO 9001
ISO 9001:2015 Quality management systems — Requirements
Key Features
- Risk-based thinking integrated throughout QMS
- PDCA cycle for continual process improvement
- Seven Quality Management Principles foundation
- Leadership commitment and top accountability
- Annex SL for multi-standard integration
APRA CPS 234
APRA Prudential Standard CPS 234 Information Security
Key Features
- Board ultimate responsibility for information security
- 72-hour APRA notification for material incidents
- Systematic risk-based testing of controls
- Third-party managed assets fully in scope
- Asset classification by criticality and sensitivity
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
ISO 9001 Details
What It Is
ISO 9001:2015 is the international certification standard for Quality Management Systems (QMS). It specifies requirements for organizations to consistently meet customer and regulatory needs through a process-based approach using PDCA cycle and risk-based thinking.
Key Components
- 10 clauses (4-10 auditable): context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, improvement.
- Built on **7 Quality Management Principlescustomer focus, leadership, engagement, process approach, improvement, evidence-based decisions, relationships.
- Annex SL High-Level Structure enables integration; voluntary third-party certification with audits.
Why Organizations Use It
- Enhances customer satisfaction, efficiency, risk management.
- Boosts market access, reputation; over 1M certifications worldwide.
- Drives cost savings, compliance, competitive edge.
Implementation Overview
- Gap analysis, process mapping, training, internal audits.
- Applicable to all sizes/sectors; 6-12 months typical; certification via accredited bodies with surveillance.
APRA CPS 234 Details
What It Is
APRA Prudential Standard CPS 234 (Information Security) is a binding prudential regulation issued by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. Effective from 1 July 2019, it mandates regulated financial entities to maintain information security capabilities commensurate with threats and vulnerabilities. Its risk-based approach emphasizes governance, controls, testing, and rapid incident reporting to ensure resilience against cyber incidents impacting confidentiality, integrity, or availability (CIA) of information assets, including those managed by third parties.
Key Components
- 11 core requirements spanning board accountability, role definitions, policy frameworks, asset classification, lifecycle controls, incident response, systematic testing, internal audit assurance, and APRA notifications (72 hours for material incidents, 10 business days for control weaknesses).
- Built on CIA triad principles with commensurability to risks.
- No certification; compliance via evidence-based assurance and supervisory review.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mandatory for APRA-regulated entities (banks, insurers, super funds) to avoid penalties, heightened scrutiny.
- Enhances cyber resilience, stakeholder protection, third-party oversight.
- Builds trust, operational continuity, competitive edge in financial services.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, governance setup, asset inventory, controls/testing, continuous monitoring.
- Applies to all sizes of APRA entities in Australia; audits via internal/external assurance.
Key Differences
| Aspect | ISO 9001 | APRA CPS 234 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Quality management systems for all processes | Information security and cyber resilience |
| Industry | All industries worldwide, any size | Australian financial services only |
| Nature | Voluntary global certification standard | Mandatory prudential regulation |
| Testing | Internal audits, management reviews, PDCA | Systematic independent control testing |
| Penalties | Loss of certification, no legal penalties | Regulatory sanctions, fines, enforcement |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ISO 9001 and APRA CPS 234
ISO 9001 FAQ
APRA CPS 234 FAQ
You Might also be Interested in These Articles...
CIS Controls v8.1 IG1 Ransomware-Resilience Sprint: A 30-60-90 Day Action Plan (With Evidence Checklist)
Tactical CIS Controls v8.1 IG1 playbook for ransomware resilience. 30-60-90 day sprint with tool-agnostic tasks, ownership & evidence checklists to prove progre
Beyond Reactive: Transforming Compliance into Real-Time Threat Prevention
Discover how modern compliance monitoring tools leverage continuous, real-time oversight and automated alerts to shift organizations from reactive problem-solving to proactive threat detection and prevention, safeguarding against emerging risks before they escalate.
5 Ways Modern Compliance Software Makes Evolving Regulations Your Strategic Advantage
Discover 5 ways modern compliance software turns evolving regulations into strategic advantage. Automate monitoring, cut 3x non-compliance costs, stay audit-rea
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
ISO 27001 vs ISO 56002
Compare ISO 27001 vs ISO 56002: Info security ISMS for risk/compliance vs innovation IMS guidance. Both use PDCA & HLS for resilient growth. Integrate now!
APRA CPS 234 vs ISO 56002
Compare APRA CPS 234 info sec rules vs ISO 56002 innovation guidance. Unlock compliance strategies, governance insights & cyber-resilient frameworks for finance pros. Dive in!
ISO 17025 vs ISO 22301
Compare ISO 17025 vs ISO 22301: Lab competence & impartiality vs business continuity resilience. Discover differences, benefits & tips to boost compliance now.