Independent ISO guidanceEvidence-led guidance · Reviewed 1 November 2026About this project
ISOauditINDEPENDENT AUDIT READINESS
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Clarity before certification

Know your standard.
Trust your evidence.
Take the next step.

Independent guidance and practical tools for UK organisations preparing for an ISO management-system audit.

Review your readiness Explore the standards

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THE EVIDENCE PATHA practical approach
From requirement
to a clear finding.
  1. 01

    Define the scope

    Activities. People. Sites. Boundaries.

  2. 02

    Examine the evidence

    Records. Interviews. What happens in practice.

  3. 03

    Record the finding

    Criteria. Evidence. A defensible conclusion.

  4. 04

    Verify the improvement

    Cause. Action. Proof of effectiveness.

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START WHERE YOU ARE

What brings you here?

01A customer asks for ISOFind your starting standard02An audit is approachingCheck evidence and priorities03I need to check a certificateUnderstand what to verify

THE STANDARDS LIBRARY

Different priorities.
One clearer starting point.

Understand what each standard is for, what evidence to prepare and which edition applies.

View all standard guides
2026

ISO 9001

Quality management

Consistent quality
2026

ISO 14001

Environmental management

Environmental performance
2018 + Amendment 1:2024

ISO 45001

Occupational health and safety

Safer work
2022 + Amendment 1:2024

ISO/IEC 27001

Information security management

Information security
2025

ISO/IEC 27701

Privacy information management

Privacy management
2023

ISO/IEC 42001

Artificial intelligence management

Responsible AI
Edition matters

ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 have new 2026 editions. Check the transition dates for your existing certification.

Read Revision Watch

AN AUDIT SHOULD HELP YOU ACT

A finding is only useful
when you can follow
the evidence.

Connect each conclusion to the requirement, the sample examined and the action that follows. Keep decisions understandable and improvement measurable.

Explore gap analysis
ILLUSTRATIVE FINDINGSample only

Supplier review records

Criteria
The organisation’s approved supplier review procedure.
Evidence
Two of five sampled annual reviews had no recorded evaluation.
Finding
The sampled records did not demonstrate that the planned review had been completed.
Next action
Investigate the cause, correct the gap and check that the revised process works.
How to build an effective response

THE RIGHT REVIEW, AT THE RIGHT TIME

What question do
you need answered?

An internal audit, gap analysis and certification audit have different purposes. Start with the outcome you need.

01

ISO Gap Analysis

Turn a broad certification ambition into a clear evidence map. A gap analysis compares selected parts of your management system with the agreed standa...

02

Internal Audit

Follow work from requirement to result. An internal audit tests whether agreed arrangements are implemented and effective, with findings tied to evide...

03

Pre-Certification Readiness Audit

A structured readiness review before an independent certification audit. Test whether scope, operating evidence, internal audits and management decisi...

04

Transition Audit

Translate a revised standard into a controlled implementation plan. Separate changes to the requirements from changes your organisation needs to make,...

Review the full scope, evidence and proposed deliverables before preparing a brief. Read the certification guide or explore the sector pathways for further context.

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MAKE YOUR NEXT STEP PRACTICAL

Start with what
you can evidence.

The readiness review separates answering a question from demonstrating that a process works. See gaps by clause, choose your priorities and export the results.

Start your readiness review

Indicative self-assessment. It does not predict certification.

Three useful perspectivesTOOL METHOD
01

Response completion

Have you considered each question?

02

Reported prompt coverage

What do your answers say is in place?

03

Evidence references

Have you identified supporting records?

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REVISION WATCH

Current editions.
Visible deadlines.

All revision briefings

Implementation briefing

ISO 9001:2026: plan the transition around evidence

The revised quality-management standard is published. Use the current UKAS timetable to separate your implementation work, your certification body’s accreditati...

Reviewed 1 November 2026↗

LET’S MAKE THE SCOPE CLEAR

Turn the question in your head
into a brief you can work with.

Prepare an audit brief