ISO
ISO 9001: Quality Management Systems
ISO 9001 is the world’s most widely recognized quality management system (QMS) standard, used by organizations to ensure consistent product and service quality, enhance customer satisfaction, and drive continuous improvement. It provides a structured framework to embed quality into every part of an organization—from leadership and planning to operations and customer feedback.
The standard is based on seven core quality management principles, including customer focus, leadership engagement, process approach, continual improvement, evidence-based decision-making, and relationship management. These principles help organizations align their processes with business strategy while ensuring stakeholder needs are met efficiently and effectively.
At the heart of ISO 9001 is the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, which fosters a proactive mindset around risk, opportunity, and performance. By applying this methodology across core functions, organizations are better equipped to manage quality, improve communication, and create value for their customers and stakeholders.
Certification to ISO 9001 demonstrates that an organization has implemented a robust and consistent quality management system, verified by an accredited third-party certification body. The certification process involves a thorough audit of documented policies and procedures, objective evidence, and operational effectiveness across all required clauses of the standard.
ISO 9001 is adaptable to any industry, from manufacturing to professional services and government contracting. It’s particularly relevant for organizations seeking to improve process efficiency, reduce operational waste, and establish credibility with clients, regulators, and partners.
Integrated Quality Corporation (IQC) provides tailored ISO 9001 consulting and internal audit preparation services, helping clients develop or refine their QMS to meet certification requirements. Our approach emphasizes clarity, documentation, risk management, and integration with other frameworks such as ISO 27001 and CMMI.
ISO/IEC 20000-1: IT Service Management
ISO/IEC 20000-1 is the international standard for IT Service Management (ITSM). It defines the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and improving a service management system (SMS), focused on delivering value to both customers and the organization through efficient, effective, and resilient IT services.
This standard builds upon widely accepted ITSM principles, including those from ITIL, and provides a formal, auditable framework for managing the full lifecycle of IT services. Key areas include service delivery, service continuity, incident and problem management, capacity and availability planning, change and configuration management, and information security alignment.
ISO 20000-1 promotes a process-based, service-oriented approach that enables organizations to align their IT services with business goals, improve customer satisfaction, reduce service disruption, and manage service-related risks. It supports both internal IT departments and external service providers seeking to standardize operations and enhance transparency with stakeholders.
Certification to ISO 20000-1 requires organizations to demonstrate that their SMS is fully implemented, maintained, and continually improved. The assessment process typically includes a review of service management policies, documentation, control implementation, service delivery processes, SLAs, and metrics. Auditors assess conformity to the standard across all lifecycle processes and management system components.
For organizations delivering IT services in regulated or contract-driven environments, ISO 20000-1 certification provides confidence to clients and government entities that service performance, availability, and responsiveness are actively governed.
IQC offers expert guidance to design, integrate, and optimize ISO 20000-1-aligned service management systems. Our consultants help clients understand how to define scope, develop process controls, align with ITIL practices, and achieve certification readiness—driving continuous service improvement and operational excellence.
ISO/IEC 27001: Information Security Management Systems
ISO/IEC 27001 is the leading international standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). It provides a comprehensive framework for managing information risks, protecting data assets, and ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical business information.
ISO 27001 defines a systematic, risk-based approach to securing information, including people, processes, systems, and technologies. Organizations are required to define a security policy, conduct risk assessments, identify applicable controls, and implement an ongoing management system to monitor, measure, and improve security posture.
The standard includes Annex A, which contains 93 controls categorized across organizational, people, physical, and technological domains. These include access control, asset management, cryptography, supplier relationships, incident response, business continuity, and security awareness. Organizations must tailor these controls to their specific context and risk profile.
Certification to ISO 27001 validates that an organization has implemented a defensible, standards-aligned information security framework. The assessment involves an independent audit of ISMS documentation, control effectiveness, monitoring processes, and alignment with continuous improvement principles.
ISO 27001 is critical for organizations managing sensitive data—including defense contractors, cloud service providers, healthcare entities, and financial services firms. It demonstrates due diligence, reduces exposure to breaches, and builds trust with customers and partners.
IQC brings specialized expertise in helping clients implement and maintain ISO 27001-compliant ISMS environments. Our services include risk assessments, control design and implementation, policy development, internal auditing, and certification support. We also help integrate ISO 27001 with NIST SP 800-171, CMMC, and other frameworks—offering a unified approach to enterprise security governance.