Overview
CEN/CLC ISO/IEC/TS 23532-1:2024 defines specialized requirements for the competence of IT security testing and evaluation laboratories engaged in assessments based on the ISO/IEC 15408 series (Common Criteria) and ISO/IEC 18045. This technical specification complements the broad requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 by providing additional guidance specific to laboratories that assess IT security for information systems, supporting improved harmonization and reliability across the sector.
The standard aims to ensure that evaluation labs demonstrate impartiality, confidentiality, technical proficiency, and the integrity necessary to conduct credible information security and cybersecurity evaluations. By detailing expectations for management systems, personnel competence, resource management, and process controls, it facilitates national and international cooperation among labs and accreditation bodies, ultimately contributing to more robust cybersecurity and privacy protection.
Key Topics
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Impartiality and Confidentiality: Laboratories must establish procedures and policies to prevent conflicts of interest and safeguard sensitive data. Individuals involved in developing an IT product or its security profile cannot also test or evaluate the same product, and confidentiality controls must be robust and regularly reviewed.
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Personnel Competence and Records: The standard emphasizes rigorous processes for defining, monitoring, and documenting personnel qualifications and ongoing training, referencing ISO/IEC 19896-3 for evaluator competence.
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Facilities and Environmental Controls: Laboratories need secure, isolated, and well-controlled environments for testing, with protective measures against both physical and electronic threats to ensure data integrity through the entire evaluation process.
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Equipment and Metrological Traceability: Equipment used in testing must be properly maintained, calibrated, and traceable to ensure reliable results. Documentation of equipment configuration and suitability is required.
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Process Control: Comprehensive requirements are specified for reviewing evaluation requests, selecting and validating test methods, managing test records, reporting results, and handling nonconformities and complaints.
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Management System Requirements: Integrated management practices in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 must be adapted with additional documentation and evaluation security manuals specific to IT security evaluations.
Applications
CEN/CLC ISO/IEC/TS 23532-1:2024 has practical value across several critical domains:
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Accreditation of IT Security Laboratories: Used by accreditation and certification bodies to assess whether a lab is qualified to perform evaluations under ISO/IEC 15408/Common Criteria.
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Vendor and Supplier Assessments: Organizations seeking to validate the trustworthiness of products and suppliers can reference labs accredited under this specification for reliable product security evaluation.
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Regulatory and Procurement Compliance: Supports government, defense, and highly regulated industries requiring demonstrable, internationally recognized IT security evaluations for products and systems.
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Cross-Border Recognition: Facilitates mutual recognition of laboratory competence among countries, supporting cross-jurisdictional acceptance of IT security evaluation results and certificates.
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Development and Maintenance of Secure Products: Product developers benefit from understanding evaluation requirements early in the design process, streamlining product certification.
Related Standards
- ISO/IEC 15408 Series: Security evaluation criteria for IT security, commonly known as the Common Criteria.
- ISO/IEC 18045: Guidance for the evaluation methodology used in conjunction with ISO/IEC 15408.
- ISO/IEC 17025:2017: General requirements for competence of testing and calibration laboratories.
- ISO/IEC 19896-1 and 19896-3: Competence requirements for information security testers and evaluators.
- ISO/IEC 17000: Conformity assessment vocabulary and general principles.
These related standards jointly form the framework for information security laboratory competence, assurance certification, and global trust in cybersecurity product evaluation.
Keywords: IT security evaluation, laboratory competence, ISO/IEC 15408, Common Criteria, cybersecurity assessment, privacy protection, laboratory accreditation, ISO/IEC 17025, CEN, management system, test laboratory, evaluator qualifications, information security testing.