Corruption is one of the most serious risks facing organizations worldwide — regardless of industry, size, or region. It not only jeopardizes values and economic success, but also undermines the trust of employees, business partners, authorities, and the public. In an increasingly regulated world, compliance with legal requirements alone is no longer sufficient. Today, more than ever, organizations are required to take proactive measures against corruption and bribery – systematically, transparently, and effectively.
The international standard ISO 37001 provides companies and institutions with a structured framework for introducing, implementing, and continuously improving an anti-corruption management system. The focus is not on general compliance issues, but exclusively on corruption – and that is precisely where the strength of this standard lies. If corruption is the most relevant compliance risk in your organization, then ISO 37001 offers the right solution: practical, certifiable, and internationally recognized.
The ISO 37001 management system aims to effectively prevent corruption, ensure reliable compliance with legal and internal requirements, and clearly define responsibilities within the company. It creates the basis for identifying risks at an early stage, introducing appropriate control mechanisms, and promoting transparency and integrity in everyday life through targeted measures such as training and guidelines. At the same time, it supports a corporate culture in which ethical behavior and responsibility are practiced. The systematic structure of the standard also makes it possible to continuously develop the system and adapt it to changing requirements.
A particular advantage is its high compatibility with existing management systems. ISO 37001 is based on the High Level Structure (HLS), which is also used by standards such as
ISO 9001 (quality management), ISO 14001 (environmental management), and ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety management). This allows an anti-corruption management system to be seamlessly integrated into existing structures. Alternatively, ISO 37001 can also be implemented as a stand-alone system or integrated into a comprehensive compliance management system based on ISO 37301. The use of existing resources and synergies significantly reduces the implementation effort.
Certification according to ISO 37001 – for example, by Quality Austria – objectively documents that your organization has not only established anti-corruption measures in theory, but has also implemented them effectively in practice. It builds trust among clients, business partners, and the public, and can be a decisive advantage, especially in international tenders. More and more customers and investors today expect clear signals of integrity and responsible conduct – with ISO 37001, you send a visible signal.
- Effectively prevent corruption – through structured prevention and control
- Create legal certainty – comply with all legal and internal requirements
- Clearly define responsibilities – establish areas of responsibility, embed compliance
- Identify and manage risks – using risk-based methods
- Promote transparency and integrity – through training, guidelines, and a corporate culture that puts these values into practice
- Continuously improve – regularly monitor, audit, and adapt the system
- Build trust – with customers, partners, and authorities
- Companies of all industries, sizes, and sectors
- Managers
- Compliance officers
- System managers (e.g., IMS, quality, environment, safety, etc.)
ISO 37301, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 31000
Contact
Team
Ms. Claudia Kerpe, MSc
Head of HR, Business Development Risk, Business Continuity, Compliance and Anti-bribery
