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If you manage a compliance program, you have done this before. A new framework appears, your organization needs to assess its relevance, and you need to figure out how it fits alongside everything you already manage. ISO/IEC 42001 is that new framework. Published in December 2023, it is the first certifiable management system standard for artificial intelligence. And if you work with ISO 27001, the structure will feel immediately familiar.
What stays the same
ISO 42001 follows the Annex SL management system structure; the same architecture that underpins ISO 27001, ISO 9001, and ISO 22301. That means your existing governance processes carry over: policies, risk assessment methodology, internal audit programs, management review cycles, and continuous improvement mechanisms. You are not starting from scratch. You are extending a system you already operate.
What changes
The risks are different. ISO 42001 requires organizations to assess AI-specific risks that information security frameworks were not designed to cover: algorithmic bias and fairness, model transparency and explainability, data quality and provenance, AI system lifecycle management from design through retirement, and third-party AI supplier oversight.
The controls are different. Annex A provides 39 AI-specific controls organized across themes including AI policy, risk management, AI system lifecycle, data governance, and third-party management. Annex B provides implementation guidance for each.
The scope is different. ISO 42001 applies to any organization that develops, provides, or uses AI-based products or services. This is broader than many compliance professionals expect, it includes organizations that use off-the-shelf AI tools, not just those building AI models.
The multi-framework advantage
For GRC professional managing multiple frameworks, ISO 42001 creates overlap, not duplication. A single policy can address both information security and AI governance requirements. A single risk assessment process can evaluate both domains. Evidence generated for one framework often satisfies controls in another.
This is where multi-framework compliance management becomes practical; scope, track, and demonstrate progress across ISO 27001, ISO 42001, and other applicable standards from one workspace, without maintaining parallel documentation.
Where to start
Identify which AI systems fall within your compliance scope. Map ISO 42001 controls against your existing ISO 27001 controls to identify gaps. Prioritize the AI-specific controls that address your highest-risk systems. Build from there.
Read the full guide: ISO 42001 for compliance professionals | Explore the GRP Professional Workflow