Service – AI Management System Certification
ISO 42001 and
AI Governance
Certification by an Independent Accredited Body
We help organisations deploying AI in critical infrastructure build the AI Management System required to achieve ISO 42001 certification and demonstrate EU AI Act conformity. Governing AI in regulated sectors is now a legal obligation, not a strategic choice, requiring robust oversight, accountability, risk management, and continuous monitoring.
Certification Overview
Type
International Standard – Certification
Issued By
Independent Accredited Certification Body
Standard
ISO/IEC 42001:2023
Validity
3 Years with Annual Surveillance
Certificate
Yes – Issued by Accredited Body
Typical Timeline
12 to 16 Weeks
Certification via Accredited Body
ISO 42001 certification is issued by an independent accredited certification body after auditing your AI Management System. We help you build, implement, and prepare for that audit. We do not issue the certificate. The accredited body does. ISO 42001 is also the primary management system standard supporting EU AI Act conformity assessment for high-risk AI systems.
What It Is
Understanding
ISO 42001 and AI Governance
ISO 42001 is the international standard for AI Management Systems. It specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an AIMS within organisations. Certification is issued by an independent accredited body after auditing your AI governance framework. The certificate demonstrates auditable, governed AI operations.
ISO 42001 covers AI system context, leadership and governance, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, and improvement. It is designed to be used in conjunction with other management system standards and is the primary management system standard supporting EU AI Act conformity assessment for high-risk AI systems.
Why This Matters
Why you need it and
how we support you.
Why organisations need this
Converging Obligations Make AI Governance Non-Negotiable
Organisations deploying AI in critical infrastructure face converging obligations that make AI governance non-negotiable.
- The EU AI Act requires high-risk AI systems used in critical infrastructure to undergo conformity assessment. Without a documented governance framework, that assessment cannot be passed.
- Regulated buyers in energy, manufacturing, and government sectors cannot procure AI systems that lack governance documentation. ISO 42001 is becoming the standard evidence they require.
- Management bodies in essential entities face personal liability under NIS2 and the EU AI Act for AI-related failures. Documented governance controls provide the evidence trail that demonstrates due diligence.
- AI systems without human oversight controls, transparency documentation, and risk management frameworks are operationally exposed. A failure becomes a regulatory event without governance infrastructure in place.
- Investors and insurers are increasingly requiring AI governance documentation as a condition of coverage or funding for organisations operating AI in regulated environments.
How KairosVector supports you
From AI Inventory to Certified AIMS
We help organisations build their AI Management System from inventory through to ISO 42001 certification, running the EU AI Act conformity workstream in parallel.
- We begin by inventorying and classifying your AI systems under the EU AI Act risk tiers. This determines which obligations apply and how the AIMS scope should be defined.
- We design the AI Management System architecture including governance policies, risk management framework, human oversight controls, and transparency mechanisms specific to your AI use cases.
- We write your AI governance policies for your operating context and implement the controls alongside your technical and compliance teams.
- We prepare the EU AI Act technical documentation file in parallel with the AIMS build so both workstreams deliver together rather than sequentially.
- We support you through the ISO 42001 certification audit with an accredited body and manage the notified body interface for high-risk systems where required.
High Risk
by Default
The EU AI Act classifies AI systems used in the management and operation of critical infrastructure including energy grids, water systems, and transport networks as high-risk by default. This triggers mandatory conformity assessment obligations that cannot be self-declared. ISO 42001 provides the AI Management System and governance evidence your conformity assessor will require. Operating high-risk AI without this governance framework is a regulatory violation, not merely a gap.
The Engagement Journey
What happens when
you engage us.
We help organisations build, implement, and achieve ISO 42001 certification through an accredited body, running the EU AI Act conformity workstream in parallel.
Step 1 – Scope
AI System Inventory and Classification
We inventory your AI systems, classify them under the EU AI Act risk tiers, and assess your current governance state against ISO 42001 requirements. No AI system is assessed in isolation from its regulatory context. The classification determines the scope of your conformity obligations before any implementation begins.
Output: AI system inventory with EU AI Act risk classification and ISO 42001 gap report. High-risk system conformity obligations clearly defined for each system in scope.
Step 2 – Design
Governance Blueprint
AI Management System design covering governance policies, risk management framework, human oversight controls, and the full programme roadmap from implementation to ISO 42001 certification and EU AI Act conformity. This phase defines what gets built before anything is implemented.
Output: Governance blueprint and ISO 42001 programme blueprint. EU AI Act conformity pathway mapped per high-risk system in scope.
Step 3 – Deploy
AIMS Implementation
AI governance policies written and implemented. Risk controls put in place. Human oversight mechanisms established and tested. EU AI Act technical documentation prepared in parallel with the management system build so both workstreams deliver together rather than creating a sequential bottleneck.
Output: Operating AIMS with implemented controls, policy suite, and EU AI Act technical documentation ready for conformity assessment review.
Step 4 – Demonstrate
Certification and Conformity
We prepare you for ISO 42001 Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits with an accredited certification body. The EU AI Act conformity assessment documentation is finalised and reviewed. For high-risk AI systems requiring notified body involvement, we manage that interface directly on your behalf.
Output: ISO 42001 certificate from an independent accredited body plus EU AI Act conformity assessment documentation package for each high-risk AI system.
Step 5 – Defend
AI Governance Continuity
AI governance is not static. New AI systems are deployed, EU AI Act implementing regulations refine classification criteria as the standard matures, and ISO 42001 surveillance audits require continuous evidence of an operating management system. We maintain your AIMS currency through retainer engagement.
Output: Continuous AI governance posture through retainer engagement. AIMS remains current as regulations evolve and new AI systems are deployed.
Tangible Outputs
What you own
at the end.
Consulting is invisible until delivered. Here is exactly what this engagement produces for your organisation.
AI System Register
AI System Register
Complete inventory with EU AI Act risk classification, applicable obligations, and governance status per system. The foundation document of your AIMS.
Mandatory
Policy Suite
AI Governance Policy Suite
AIMS policies covering AI risk management, human oversight, transparency, data governance, and incident management. Aligned to ISO 42001 and EU AI Act requirements.
Mandatory
EU AI Act File
EU AI Act Technical File
Technical documentation required for EU AI Act conformity assessment per high-risk system. Covers system description, risk management, data governance, and human oversight evidence.
Mandatory
Certificate
ISO 42001 Certificate
Issued by an independent accredited certification body after successful AIMS audit. Demonstrates auditable, governed AI operations to customers, regulators, and investors.
Accredited Body
Who This Is For
Recognise
your situation.
CTO – Critical Infrastructure Operator
Deploying AI for predictive maintenance with no governance framework
We classify your systems, build your ISO 42001 AIMS, and prepare your EU AI Act technical documentation. We then support you through the certification audit with an accredited body. Typically audit-ready within 12 to 16 weeks.
Head of Product – AI System Developer
Procurement teams asking for AI governance evidence you cannot provide
We help you achieve ISO 42001 certification through an accredited body. That certificate converts a procurement barrier into a competitive differentiator in regulated industrial markets.
Chief Risk Officer
Personal liability for AI system failures under EU AI Act and NIS2
We build the governance framework that demonstrates your AI systems are controlled, monitored, and human-overseen. The documentation trail protects both the organisation and individual executives when regulators ask.
Ready to govern your AI systems with confidence?
Book a 30-minute discovery call. We classify your AI systems under the EU AI Act and scope your ISO 42001 certification programme.
You leave with:
- Your EU AI Act risk classification summary
- Your ISO 42001 gap overview
- Your recommended programme timeline