What is the primary objective of **MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme)**?

**The primary objective of MLPS 2.0 is to classify information systems into five protection levels based on potential harm to national security, social order, and public interests, ensuring commensurate technical, management, and governance controls.** Originating from China's 2017 Cybersecurity Law (Article 21), it mandates network operators to implement graded protections across physical security, network boundaries, data protection, and security operations, with extensions for cloud, IoT, big data, and industrial control systems.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme)**?

**All network operators in mainland China, including domestic firms, foreign-invested enterprises, and multinationals with local systems, must comply with MLPS 2.0.** This covers virtually any entity operating IT networks, cloud services, IoT, or industrial systems, especially in critical sectors like energy, finance, telecom, and healthcare, where Level 3+ classifications are common.

Does **MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme)** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**Yes, MLPS 2.0 requires external security reviews by licensed Chinese firms for Level 2+ systems, with PSB approval and a minimum score of 75/100 needed for certification.** Level 1 allows self-assessment; higher levels demand documentation submission, on-site inspections, and periodic re-evaluations.

How often should an assessment for **MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme)** be performed?

**Assessments under MLPS 2.0 must occur biennially for Level 2, annually for Level 3, semi-annually for Level 4, and as mandated for Level 5, plus after major changes.** Self-inspections are required continuously, with third-party evaluations and PSB oversight ensuring ongoing compliance.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme)**?

**Non-compliance with MLPS 2.0 results in fines up to 100,000 yuan, operational suspensions, business license denials, and intensified PSB inspections.** Severe cases link to broader sanctions under the Cybersecurity Law, including system shutdowns and public enforcement actions.

An **MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme)** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, MLPS 2.0 control domains—governance, physical, network, data, and operations—map to ISO 27001 Annex A and NIST CSF categories.** Organizations use Statements of Applicability and risk treatment plans to align, though MLPS adds prescriptive legal enforcement and PSB oversight absent in voluntary frameworks.

What is the primary objective of **ISO 56002**?

**ISO 56002 provides guidance for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an Innovation Management System (IMS).** The standard structures the IMS around the PDCA cycle and Clauses 4–10, covering **context of the organization**, **leadership**, **planning**, **support**, **operation**, **performance evaluation**, and **improvement**. It emphasizes principles like value realization, future-focused leadership, strategic direction, and managing uncertainty to transform ad-hoc innovation into a repeatable capability applicable to all organization sizes and sectors.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **ISO 56002**?

**No organization is legally required to comply with ISO 56002, as it is a voluntary guidance standard.** It applies professionally to established organizations of any size or sector seeking to manage innovation systematically, including executives, R&D leaders, and compliance officers aiming for strategic alignment, portfolio governance, and stakeholder confidence. SMEs and startups may adopt elements pragmatically via diagnostics like the Potential Innovation Index (PII).

Does **ISO 56002** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**ISO 56002 does not require external audits or third-party certification, being a non-certifiable guidance standard.** Organizations conduct internal audits (Clause 9.2) and management reviews (Clause 9.3) for self-assessment. Optional conformity assessments may use ISO 56004 guidance, with certification possible under related ISO 56001 for requirements-based validation.

How often should an assessment for **ISO 56002** be performed?

**Assessments for ISO 56002 should be performed periodically through internal audits and management reviews, typically annually or aligned with PDCA cycles.** Clause 9 mandates monitoring, measurement, and regular evaluation of IMS performance via KPIs, with reviews feeding Clause 10 improvements; frequency depends on organizational context, such as quarterly portfolio reviews or post-pilot diagnostics.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **ISO 56002**?

**Non-compliance with ISO 56002 carries no legal penalties, as it imposes no mandatory requirements.** Consequences are business risks including resource waste on "zombie projects," strategic obsolescence, poor ROI, IP leakage, and lost stakeholder trust; without IMS governance, innovation failure rates remain high at 70–80%, hindering competitiveness.

An **ISO 56002** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, ISO 56002 maps directly to other international frameworks via its High-Level Structure (HLS) and PDCA alignment.** Its Clauses 4–10 integrate with management systems sharing Annex SL, enabling reuse of governance, audits, and reviews while tailoring to innovation-specific needs like portfolio balancing and uncertainty management.

What is the first step to begin implementing **ISO 56002**?

**The first step to implement ISO 56002 is a readiness diagnostic and maturity assessment using tools like PII or InnoSurvey.** This establishes baseline capabilities across Clauses 4–10, identifies gaps, and prioritizes leadership alignment (Clause 5), informing a phased roadmap: diagnose, design policy/governance, pilot portfolio, and scale with continual improvement.

MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme) vs ISO 56002

Q: What is the first step to begin implementing **MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme)**?

**The first step is conducting a provisional self-assessment to classify systems into Levels 1-5 based on impact to national security, social order, and public interests.** Inventory assets, document rationale per GB/T 22239-2020, then file with local PSB within 30 days for Level 2+ systems.

Standards Comparison

MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme)

Mandatory

2019

China's mandatory graded protection for network cybersecurity

ISO 56002

Voluntary

2019

International standard for innovation management systems guidance

Quick Verdict

MLPS 2.0 mandates graded cybersecurity for China's networks via audits and PSB oversight, while ISO 56002 guides voluntary innovation systems globally. Companies adopt MLPS for legal compliance; ISO 56002 for strategic capability.

Cybersecurity

MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme)

Multi-Level Protection Scheme 2.0 (MLPS 2.0)

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

Medium

Implementation Time

12-18 months

Key Features

Classifies systems into 5 impact-based protection levels
Mandates PSB registration for Level 2+ systems
Requires third-party audits scoring 75/100 minimum
Scales technical and governance controls by level
Enforces via inspections, fines, and license linkages

Innovation Management

ISO 56002

ISO 56002:2019 Innovation management system — Guidance

Cost

€€€

Complexity

Medium

Implementation Time

12-18 months

Key Features

PDCA cycle for systematic IMS improvement
Leadership commitment and portfolio governance emphasis
Risk-aware opportunity and uncertainty management
Balanced KPIs across inputs, outcomes, learning
Adaptable to all sizes, sectors via Annex SL

Detailed Analysis

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

MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme) Details

What It Is

MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme 2.0) is China's legally mandated cybersecurity framework under the 2017 Cybersecurity Law. It classifies information systems into five protection levels based on potential harm to national security, social order, and public interests. The impact-based approach requires operators to implement graded technical, governance, and physical controls.

Key Components

Core domains: physical security, network protection, data security, access control, monitoring, governance.
Standards like GB/T 22239-2019 define baselines; extended for cloud, IoT, ICS.
Third-party audits for Level 2+, scoring ≥75/100; PSB approval mandatory.

Why Organizations Use It

Legal compliance avoids fines, suspensions, inspections by Public Security Bureaus.
Enhances risk management, resilience; enables market access in China.
Builds regulator trust, supports business licenses; aligns with data laws.

Implementation Overview

Phased: classify systems, gap analysis, remediate, audit, file with PSB. Applies to all China network operators; higher costs/time for Level 3+. Recurring re-evaluations required. (178 words)

ISO 56002 Details

What It Is

ISO 56002:2019 is an international guidance standard for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and improving an Innovation Management System (IMS). It provides a generic, non-prescriptive framework applicable to all organizations, focusing on transforming innovation into a strategic capability via the PDCA cycle.

Key Components

Seven core clauses: context, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, improvement.
Eight principles: value realization, future-focused leadership, strategic direction, culture, insights exploitation, uncertainty management, adaptability, systems thinking.
Built on ISO High-Level Structure for integration; no fixed controls, emphasizes tailored governance.
Guidance only; pairs with certifiable ISO 56001.

Why Organizations Use It

Drives repeatable value from innovation, improves ROI, reduces project failures.
Enhances resilience, market responsiveness, stakeholder confidence.
Mitigates risks like resource waste, IP issues; boosts competitiveness.
Voluntary, but strategic for SMEs to enterprises seeking differentiation.

Implementation Overview

Phased: diagnose, design, pilot, scale, sustain (12-24 months typically).
Involves maturity assessments (e.g., PII), policy development, tooling, audits.
Universal applicability; lightweight for SMEs, integrates with ISO 9001 etc.