Standards Comparison

    UL Certification

    Voluntary
    1894

    Third-party certification for product safety standards compliance

    VS

    ISO 27017

    Voluntary
    2015

    International code of practice for cloud security controls

    Quick Verdict

    UL Certification ensures product safety through testing and marks for market access, while ISO 27017 provides cloud security guidance within ISO 27001. Companies adopt UL for compliance and trust, ISO 27017 for shared cloud responsibility clarity.

    Product Safety

    UL Certification

    Underwriters Laboratories Product Certification Program

    Cost
    €€€€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    6-12 months

    Key Features

    • Develops own consensus safety standards for testing
    • Distinct marks: Listed end-products, Recognized components
    • Requires ongoing factory follow-up inspections
    • OSHA-recognized NRTL for U.S. regulatory acceptance
    • Enhanced Smart marks with QR traceability
    Cloud Security

    ISO 27017

    ISO/IEC 27017:2015 Code of practice for cloud controls

    Cost
    €€€
    Complexity
    Medium
    Implementation Time
    6-12 months

    Key Features

    • Clarifies shared responsibilities for CSPs and CSCs
    • Adds seven cloud-specific CLD security controls
    • Provides guidance on 37 ISO 27002 cloud adaptations
    • Addresses multi-tenancy and VM hardening requirements
    • Integrates with ISO 27001 ISMS audits

    Detailed Analysis

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

    UL Certification Details

    What It Is

    UL Certification is Underwriters Laboratories' integrated conformity assessment system, founded in 1894. It is a third-party certification framework evaluating products against UL-authored consensus safety standards. Primary purpose: verify safety from fire, shock, mechanical hazards across industries like electronics, energy, building. Key approach: risk-based testing, representative sampling, ongoing surveillance.

    Key Components

    • **Mark typesUL Listed (end-products), Recognized (components), Classified (limited scope), Verified (performance claims).
    • Over 1500 standards covering safety, EMC, environmental, cybersecurity.
    • Core principles: construction, performance testing, marking, factory controls.
    • Certification model: lab evaluation, factory inspection, follow-up services.

    Why Organizations Use It

    Drives market access via retailer/procurement demands, reduces liability/insurance costs. Strategic benefits: trust signaling, ESG alignment, global harmonization. Builds stakeholder confidence despite voluntary nature (often de facto required).

    Implementation Overview

    Phased: gap analysis, design/testing, documentation, factory audit, surveillance. Applies to all sizes/industries (electronics to energy), North America focus. Requires UL lab testing, periodic inspections for mark authorization.

    ISO 27017 Details

    What It Is

    ISO/IEC 27017:2015 is an international code of practice that extends ISO/IEC 27002 with cloud-specific guidance for information security controls. It focuses on securing cloud services (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) across public, private, and hybrid models, employing a risk-based approach within an ISO 27001 ISMS.

    Key Components

    • Cloud-adapted guidance for 37 ISO 27002 controls
    • 7 additional CLD controls (e.g., shared responsibilities, VM segregation, asset removal)
    • Built on ISO 27001; no standalone certification
    • Domains: access, operations, supplier relationships, multi-tenancy

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Addresses shared responsibility gaps in cloud contracts
    • Supports regulatory compliance (GDPR, CCPA) and procurement demands
    • Mitigates cloud risks like isolation failures and data remanence
    • Builds stakeholder trust and competitive differentiation for CSPs/CSCs

    Implementation Overview

    • Integrate via ISO 27001 risk assessment and control mapping
    • Activities: define roles, harden VMs, enable monitoring, audit prep
    • Suits CSPs, CSCs globally, all sizes
    • Assessed in ISO 27001 audits (joint scopes: 9-12 months)

    Key Differences

    Scope

    UL Certification
    Product safety, performance testing across industries
    ISO 27017
    Cloud-specific information security controls

    Industry

    UL Certification
    Electronics, appliances, energy global
    ISO 27017
    Cloud providers, customers worldwide

    Nature

    UL Certification
    Voluntary third-party product certification
    ISO 27017
    Guidance code within ISO 27001 ISMS

    Testing

    UL Certification
    Lab testing, factory inspections, surveillance
    ISO 27017
    ISO 27001 audits with cloud controls

    Penalties

    UL Certification
    Loss of mark, market access denial
    ISO 27017
    No direct penalties, audit nonconformities

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about UL Certification and ISO 27017

    UL Certification FAQ

    ISO 27017 FAQ

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