AI Governance
ISO 42001
ISO/IEC 42001:2023 Artificial Intelligence Management System
By Clear Infosec · Last reviewed: August 2026
ISO/IEC 42001 is the first international standard for an Artificial Intelligence Management System (AIMS), providing a governance framework for developing and using AI responsibly.
What is ISO 42001?
ISO 42001 defines requirements for governing AI across its lifecycle, including risk assessment, impact assessment, and controls for trustworthy AI.
It follows the same management-system structure as ISO 27001, so organizations can align AI governance with existing information security management.
Who does ISO 42001 apply to?
Organizations that develop, provide, or use AI systems and want a structured, auditable approach to AI risk and governance.
Key security expectations
- AI policy, roles, and governance aligned to organizational objectives.
- AI risk assessment and AI system impact assessment.
- Controls across the AI lifecycle, including data and model management.
- Transparency, oversight, and continual improvement of AI systems.
How an assessment works
- 1 Define AIMS scope and inventory AI systems and use cases.
- 2 Perform AI risk and impact assessments.
- 3 Implement lifecycle controls and governance.
- 4 Internal audit, management review, and continual improvement.
Typical evidence
Testing and ISO 42001: AI security testing complements ISO 42001 governance by evaluating AI and LLM systems for technical risks such as prompt injection, data leakage, and model abuse.
How Clear Infosec helps with ISO 42001
Related Clear Infosec services that support ISO 42001:
IT GRC, TPRM & Audit Preparation
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Risk Assessment & Compliance Readiness
Know your risk. Be audit-ready.
vCISO / CISO-as-a-Service
Senior security leadership, on demand.
Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Testing
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Frequently asked questions
What is ISO 42001?
ISO/IEC 42001:2023 is the international standard for an Artificial Intelligence Management System. It gives organizations a governance framework for developing and using AI responsibly and auditably.
How does ISO 42001 relate to ISO 27001?
It uses the same management-system structure, so AI governance can integrate with an existing ISO 27001 information security management system.
This page is general information, not legal or regulatory advice. Requirements are defined by the authoritative body linked above.
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