Do You Need ISO 9001 if You’re Already Certified to ISO 27001?

Please note: this article focuses on ISO 27001 (Information security, cybersecurity, and privacy protection). It could just as easily relate to any of the specialized standards such as ISO 13485 (medical), ISO 42001 (Artificial Intelligence), ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety), etc.

Short answer: No, it’s not required.

Smarter answer: In most tech-driven businesses — especially those in regulated industries, combining ISO 9001 with ISO 27001 (and ISO 42001) creates a more complete and credible management system.

This article explores how these standards complement each other and why tech companies should think strategically about integration, not just certification.

These standards are most powerful when used together — ISO 9001 ensures consistent quality and customer focus, while ISO 27001 and ISO 42001 safeguard information and AI governance, respectively.

The choice to integrate them should depend on business objectives, market, customer needs, and the scope of the operation. For example, the aviation industry is a highly regulated and structured environment that would appreciate these certifications.

How does ISO 9001 support ISO 27001 and ISO 42001?

🔹 Operational Credibility

ISO 27001 shows you manage security risks — but ISO 9001 proves you can consistently deliver high-quality products and services.

🔹 Process Maturity

ISO 9001 supports standardized, repeatable processes and measurable improvements — which are not core areas of ISO 27001 or 42001.

🔹 Product Design and Development

Design and Development organization success depends on strong design and development processes — something ISO 9001 addresses directly.

🔹 Customer and Market Trust

In aviation and other regulated industries, ISO 9001 is widely seen as a seal of reliability and process discipline.

🔹 Audit Synergy

All three standards use the Annex SL structure, enabling integrated audits and reducing duplication of effort,  a benefit worth leveraging.

Each of these standards contain many similarities, in that they are harmonized and require basic management principles. However, the differences are significant and summarized below:

Standard	Primary Benefit
ISO 9001	Consistent quality across processes and deliveries
ISO 27001	Information security, risk management, business continuity
ISO 42001	Trustworthy and ethical AI governance

Standard	Scope
ISO 9001	Customer focus, process control, continual improvement
ISO 27001	Risk-based security controls, access control, incident response
ISO 42001	AI lifecycle management, bias mitigation, transparency, oversight

Standard	Required By
ISO 9001	Aviation clients, government buyers, regulated supply chains
ISO 27001	Corporate clients, cloud service providers, privacy-sensitive industries
ISO 42001	Emerging AI regulations, tech clients, public trust expectations

Conclusion:

While ISO 9001, ISO 27001, and ISO 42001 (or other specialized ISO standards) can stand alone, they are significantly stronger together, especially in regulated, safety-sensitive sectors. For many organizations, maintaining ISO 9001 alongside 27001 and preparing for 42001 creates a balanced, future-ready management system rooted in quality, security, and responsible innovation.