International Security Standards11The author of this chapter is Colin Braziel FRSA, FSyI, RISC.
The aim of international security standards is to provide uniform standards for the global security industry, and is the topic of this chapter. A standard is defined as a document that provides requirements, specifications, guidelines, or characteristics that can be used consistently to ensure that materials, products, processes, and services are fit for their purpose. Internationally recognized standards help to raise levels of quality, safety, reliability, efficiency, and interchangeability. The chapter then introduces the International Standards Organization (ISO) its history and its purpose, and more specifically the ISO 27000 series of standards. Other standards organizations are mentioned, such as the European Standardization Organizations, various national standards bodies, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) among others.