Canadian certification body accredited by the Standards Council of Canada
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Certification explained

How accredited certification works

Who writes the standards, who assesses certification bodies, and who issues your certificate? This guide explains the roles using Complade’s ISO 27001 certification as an example.

From international recognition to your certificate

  1. International recognitionGlobal ACIFormer roles of IAF (International Accreditation Forum) and ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation)
  2. AccreditationStandards Council of CanadaAssesses Complade’s competence and impartiality
  3. Audit and certificationComplade Inc.Audits the ISMS (information security management system) and makes the certification decision
  4. Certified organizationYour organizationImplements, operates and maintains its ISMS (information security management system)
A simplified view of responsibilities, not ownership. Peer evaluation also involves regional accreditation cooperation bodies.

Who does what?

Global ACI

Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (Global ACI) took over the roles of IAF (International Accreditation Forum) and ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) on 1 January 2026. Its Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MRA) relies on peer evaluation of accreditation bodies. Regional cooperation bodies conduct most of these evaluations.

How the MRA (multilateral recognition arrangement) works · The transition from IAF (International Accreditation Forum) and ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation)

Standards Council of Canada (SCC)

SCC (Standards Council of Canada) accredits Complade Inc. for the activities listed in its accreditation scope. Accreditation assesses the certification body’s competence and impartiality. It is distinct from certification of a client’s ISMS (information security management system).

View Complade’s SCC (Standards Council of Canada) accreditation scope

What stands behind our accreditation

Complade is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), a Government of Canada Crown corporation. SCC assesses certification bodies against the international requirements applicable to their work. ISO’s profile of SCC

  • Competence and impartiality. Accreditation assesses a certification body’s ability to perform audits and make impartial certification decisions within a defined scope.
  • Ongoing oversight. SCC’s management systems accreditation programme includes annual surveillance and periodic reassessment. Assessment activities include observing audits under the programme’s witnessing requirements. SCC programme overview (PDF)
  • International recognition. Multilateral recognition arrangements rely on peer evaluation of accreditation bodies. They support recognition of accredited results within the scopes covered. The recognition framework

Why choose SCC accreditation?

Complade Inc.

Complade conducts certification and surveillance audits. The certification decision is made independently of the team that conducted the audit. ISO/IEC 17021-1 sets requirements for management system certification bodies; ISO/IEC 27006-1 adds requirements specific to ISMS (information security management system) auditing. Complade does not implement your ISMS (information security management system) or write your policies.

ISO/IEC 17021-1 · ISO/IEC 27006-1 · Our impartiality policy

Your organization

Your team defines the ISMS (information security management system) scope, manages risks, implements controls and keeps evidence of their operation. The certificate covers the ISMS (information security management system) within its stated scope. Responsibility for information security remains with your organization.

Stage 1 document requirements

What does international recognition mean?

The MRA (multilateral recognition arrangement) supports acceptance of accredited results among its signatories within recognised scopes. It does not guarantee acceptance by every buyer or regulator. Check the required standard, certificate scope and any market or contract requirements. Read Global ACI’s guidance

References to IAF (International Accreditation Forum), the IAF (International Accreditation Forum) MLA (multilateral recognition arrangement) and IAF CertSearch still appear in documents and lookup tools. Global ACI’s website continues to link to IAF CertSearch for certificate verification. Global ACI

How to check an ISO 27001 certificate

  1. Check the organization’s name, standard, scope and certificate dates.
  2. Check the issuer’s accreditation for the relevant standard in its accreditation body’s directory.
  3. Check the certification record and confirm that it meets your intended use.

Find a Complade certificate · IAF CertSearch

Your certification with Complade

Review the process and pricing, then apply to receive your quotation and review the agreements.

ISO 27001 · Pricing · Start your application

Support for additional standards

ISO/IEC 42001, ISO/IEC 27701 and ISO 9001 services are planned. Email certification.info@complade.com to discuss your scope and timing. Any proposed engagement will state its accreditation status before you commit.

Complade is not currently SCC-accredited for ISO/IEC 42001, ISO/IEC 27701 or ISO 9001. Assessment of these additional programmes is planned as part of Complade’s annual accreditation audit with the Standards Council of Canada in Q2 2027, from April to June. Accreditation remains subject to SCC’s assessment and decision. Approval and its timing are not guaranteed.

Current automatic estimates cover ISO/IEC 27001 and CyberSecure Canada.

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