How easy is it to get ISO 37001 certified?
The ease of getting your anti-bribery programme ISO 37001 certified depends on a number of factors, including the size and complexity of your organisation, the current state of your anti-bribery management system, and your level of commitment to the process. However, in general, it is not a particularly difficult process.
The first step is to develop an anti-bribery management system that meets the requirements of ISO 37001. This involves creating a policy on anti-bribery, implementing procedures to prevent and detect bribery, and providing training to employees on anti-bribery compliance. You will need to have some specific items around ownership and engagement by top management and the governing body (also known as the board). There is also a need to build some form of monitoring and measuring of your system, including documented internal audits, reviews and assessments.
Once you have developed your anti-bribery management system and it has been running for long enough for you to really assess and measure its performance, you will need to have it audited by a third-party certification body (like Speeki Europe). If the audit is successful, you will be awarded ISO 37001 certification.
The entire process of getting ISO 37001 certified for the first time can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months or more. A lot will depend on the size of the company and its locations, which will impact the number of days and sites that need to be audited. The certification body will guide you through the process.
ISO 37001 certification can help you:
- reduce your risk of bribery and corruption
- improve your reputation with customers, partners and investors
- attract and retain top talent
- comply with anti-bribery laws and regulations.
If you are considering getting ISO 37001 certified, there are a number of resources available to help you. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) provides several guidance documents on the ISO 37001 standard. There are also a number of articles at Speeki.com that can guide you through the process, and our anti-corruption experts can be engaged to help you prepare.
You should seek support from your company’s senior management, as getting ISO 37001 certified requires their commitment. Senior management must be willing to allocate the resources necessary to develop and implement an anti-bribery management system.
Employees must also be willing to support the anti-bribery management system. This means that they must be aware of the risks of bribery and corruption and be willing to report any suspected instances.
The process to become ISO 37001 certified is not complex, but it will take some effort. The benefits certainly outweigh any time and money that is invested in the process. For further guidance, reach out to the Speeki team.
