Just like doctors care about their patients’ health and mechanics value safety, everyone in the IT industry cares about both quality and safety. These principles are so deeply interwoven with our work that one can’t exist without the other. They guide what we do, how we do it, why we do it—even when we do it.
However, just about every IT professional will agree that despite the intrinsic focus on quality and safety in our work, staying one step ahead of the onslaught of change is incredibly challenging. Threats, regulations, expectations—they’re evolving every day. Keeping your department’s head above water in this risk-laden landscape requires more than strategic thinking and good instincts. It requires a framework. And that’s where ISO standards come into play.
ISO standards are globally recognised frameworks designed to help organisations keep step with today’s demands and adapt to tomorrow’s. There are over 25,000 published ISO standards out there, but when it comes to IT professionals’ interests in quality and information security, ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 are the names you need to remember.
Think of ISO 27001 as your playbook for information security. It outlines specific requirements for spotting and addressing risks, tightening security controls, and responding swiftly to threats. For an IT department juggling everything from patch updates to data breach prevention, ISO 27001 is the framework that covers each element of your security approach.
Meanwhile, ISO 9001 is all about quality management. It’s your operational backbone—a structured way to consistently deliver and improve your services. Instead of fixing the same issues repeatedly, ISO 9001 prompts you to address the root cause of any weaknesses and continually raise the bar for yourself.
Unlike many industry guides or best-practice frameworks, ISO standards have formal requirements for certification. This means you’re not just following a set of suggestions—you’re committing to a rigorously assessed, internationally recognised standard. Being able to claim an ISO certification (which typically takes 3–12 months) shows that a respected external body has measured your processes against these benchmarks and confirmed you’ve met them.
Although ISO 9001 is often discussed in terms of “improved customer satisfaction” and “stronger competitive advantage,” these are big-picture outcomes that might feel distant when you’re running an IT department. Sure, they are great results for an organisation as a whole—but what are the benefits for you and your team?
When processes are clearly documented and everyone knows the next step, the day-to-day can run with far less confusion. You spend less time chasing details or redoing tasks and more time moving projects forward.
ISO 9001 focuses on getting things right from the start. In IT terms, that translates to fewer emergency fixes and a coordinated effort among the team. Over time, you’ll notice your department running more efficiently, simply because you’re not battling the same issues over and over.
Rather than piling on more red tape, ISO 9001 encourages you to keep evolving how you operate. It’s about evaluating what’s working, what isn’t, and making realistic tweaks that add up over time. This creates a team mindset where suggestions and experimentation are welcomed.
From executives and non-technical teams within your organisation to external partners and customers, ISO certifications show that you’re committed to globally recognised standards. They demonstrate discipline and accountability—especially important when it comes to conversations about compliance and risk.
We can vouch for these benefits because we’ve gone through the certification process ourselves. We've been certified ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 for over 7 years, and have been reaping the rewards ever since. If you’re curious about our experience—or want a deeper dive into what these certifications could mean for your own IT department, read more → Should your IT partner be ISO certified?