What is ISO Certification? A Simple Explanation for Companies | DICIS AG

With an ISO certification, companies, institutions, and authorities demonstrate that they meet standards for management systems such as ISO 9001 for quality management, ISO 14001 for environmental management, and ISO 27001 (information security management system). The most well-known and popular is  certification according to ISO 9001:2026 (until autumn 2026, ISO 9001:2015).

In this article, you will find answers to questions such as:

What exactly is an ISO certification?

How much effort is required to obtain such a certification?

Who is authorized to perform an ISO certification?

In the video, you will learn about seven steps on the way to ISO certification. These apply equally to certification according to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 27001.

What exactly is meant by
ISO certification?

An ISO certification means that an independent auditor confirms that your company operates according to specific standards. You can have your entire company certified or only individual areas, locations, or processes. This applies to small and large companies alike.

For companies, as well as for the self-employed and freelancers, an important question arises at the beginning of the certification process: How can I quickly and easily start taking advantage of the benefits of ISO certification? You can learn more about this in our free e-book.

About the Certification

Who performs an ISO certification?

An ISO certification is carried out by independent certification bodies. These demonstrate their competence, for example, through auditors trained to IRCA standards, membership in the Federal Association of Independent Certification Bodies, or accreditation.

The ISO (International Organization for Standardization) does not issue certificates. As an international organization, it focuses on developing standardized norms, the  compliance with which is usually voluntary.

In the video, you will learn how to achieve ISO certification quickly and easily. By proceeding step-by-step and utilizing digital assistants, you can significantly reduce your workload.

How much does an ISO certification cost?

The costs for ISO certification for small companies are usually between €1,000 and €5,000 per year (up to 20 employees) and between €5,000 and €20,000 per year (up to 50 employees). Additionally, costs for consulting and training may apply.

The exact costs depend heavily on the size of your company, how many standards you wish to certify, and the complexity of the implementation. The decisive factors are primarily the number of processes you have and how well your company is already organized.

DICIS AG has developed an online cost calculator that allows companies to quickly and easily calculate the costs of certification. You can transparently see how much you need to invest in consulting, training, and the actual certification, and receive a direct comparison.

Which ISO certifications are available?

The most well-known ISO certifications are ISO 9001 for quality management, ISO 14001 for environmental management, and ISO 27001 for information security management.

Most ISO standards are known by their number and cover different areas within a company.

  • ISO 9001:2026 – Quality Management (2026 Revision)
  • ISO 14001:2026 – Environmental Management (2026 Revision)
  • ISO 27001:2022 – Information Security Management
  • ISO 50001 – Energy Management
  • ISO 45001 – Occupational Health and Safety

Many companies combine several of these standards into an integrated management system. This avoids duplication of work and allows them to manage their company more efficiently.

With an ISO certification, you show customers, partners, and authorities that your company operates according to clear, internationally recognized standards. This builds trust and provides you with a competitive advantage.

Which ISO certification is the
most well-known?

ISO 9001 is the most well-known and most common certification worldwide. According to the annual  ISO Survey, 878,662 companies and more than one million sites were ISO 9001 certified in 2018.

ISO 9001 regulates the establishment of a so-called “quality management system” for companies. It is a management system that enables companies to achieve high customer orientation through

  • process management,
  • consistent document control,
  • regularly conducted supplier audits,
  • continuous improvement,
  • knowledge management

There is a philosophy behind ISO 9001: companies that rely on clear processes, access to knowledge, and continuous improvement are more successful in competition than those whose success rests solely on the shoulders of a few top performers.

In the past, ISO 9001 certification was often quite complex and formalistic. With the revision of the standard in 9001:2026, ISO has granted companies significantly more freedom in establishing a quality management system.

With an online tool, you can create your complete documentation online—supported by an AI assistant. You then go through the certification process entirely digitally. You can test the entire process for free for 30 days.

Who is authorized to perform an ISO certification?

There is no legally prescribed standard for ISO certifications. ISO itself has defined requirements for certification bodies in the previously mentioned ISO 17021 standard.

Essentially, the standard is about expertise and neutrality. It must be ensured that certification is carried out by individuals and institutions that do so at a high professional level and without bias.

  • Certification institutes do not actually issue an ISO certificate, but rather a confirmation of conformity for a specific ISO standard.
  • This confirmation specifies the areas of a company, organization, or institution for which the certificate is awarded.

  • Neutrality and expertise are certified, for example, by national accreditation bodies such as DAkkS in Germany or the BVUZ (Federal Association of Independent Certification Bodies).

However, all of this is voluntary. Theoretically, you could have any person or company attest that you act in accordance with ISO standards. The central challenge here is credibility.

  • Since ISO certifications help companies position themselves as reliable partners in competition, the credibility of the certifying body plays a major role. The digital certification is carried out according to the quality criteria of the BVUZ (Federal Association of Independent Certification Bodies). The certificate that companies integrate into their website leads to an online profile. On this profile, the fulfillment of all standard requirements is documented step-by-step.

  • The advantage of large certification institutes such as TÜV or Dekra is their proven long-term experience and brand recognition. The disadvantage is the high investment required—without knowing if it will pay off.

Through digitalization, new possibilities for ISO 9001 certification have emerged. With the first digital certification process, DICIS offers a simple and fast ISO certification. The advantage lies in the drastic savings: instead of expensive training and months-long projects, customers receive free training and create their individual quality management system online.