ISO Certification Timeline
Realistic timelines for each ISO standard, plus factors that can accelerate or delay your certification.
Timeline by Standard
ISO 27001
ISO 27018
Requires ISO 27001 foundation
ISO 27019
Requires ISO 27001 foundation
ISO 42001
Timeline Accelerators
Factors that can significantly speed up your certification journey.
Use Automation Platform
30-50% fasterPlatforms like LowerPlane automate evidence collection, policy generation, and control monitoring.
Start with Smaller Scope
20-40% fasterCertify a single product or department first, then expand scope in subsequent cycles.
Hire Experienced Consultant
20-30% fasterConsultants know exactly what auditors look for and can guide you efficiently.
Existing SOC 2 Certification
30-40% fasterMany controls overlap. Leverage existing policies and evidence from SOC 2.
Dedicated Project Team
25-35% fasterFull-time focus vs. part-time effort makes a significant difference.
Common Delays
Watch out for these factors that commonly delay certification projects.
Lack of Executive Support
Adds 4-8 weeksWithout leadership buy-in, getting resources and cross-functional cooperation is difficult.
Scope Creep
Adds 2-6 weeksExpanding scope mid-project requires additional documentation and controls.
Poor Documentation
Adds 3-5 weeksHaving to rewrite policies and procedures that don't reflect actual practices.
Technical Debt
Adds 4-8 weeksLegacy systems without proper access controls or logging require remediation.
Auditor Availability
Adds 2-4 weeksPopular auditors book up quickly. Schedule early in your planning process.
Planning Your Timeline
When planning your certification timeline, consider these key milestones:
- Week 1: Kick off project, define scope, assign team
- Week 4: Complete gap analysis, start risk assessment
- Week 8: Documentation 80% complete, controls implementing
- Week 12: Internal audit complete, fixes implemented
- Week 14-16: Stage 1 & Stage 2 certification audits