What is UKAS accreditation?

UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) is the UK’s national accreditation body. It certifies that organizations offering certification, testing, inspection, and calibration services meet internationally recognized standards.

Why is UKAS accreditation important for ISO 27001?

UKAS accreditation assures that your ISO 27001 certification body has been independently assessed for competence, impartiality, and performance. It enhances the credibility of the ISO 27001 certificate you receive.

Is UKAS ISO 27001 certification mandatory?

While UKAS certification is not legally required, it is strongly preferred by many clients, procurement departments, and government tenders because it demonstrates a higher standard of trust and compliance.

How can I verify if a certification body is UKAS accredited?

You can verify accreditation by checking the UKAS website or looking for the official UKAS crown and tick logo on your certification body’s documentation and website.

Does Tempo Audits offer UKAS-accredited ISO 27001 certification?

Yes, Tempo Audits is a UKAS-accredited certification body, authorized to issue ISO 27001 certificates under UKAS accreditation. This ensures maximum trust, recognition, and audit credibility for our clients.

ISO 27001 Audit, How Long the Audit Process Takes

Understanding the schedule and timeline of an ISO 27001 audit is key to smooth certification. Whether you're planning your first audit or trying to estimate how long the entire process might take, this page covers everything you need to know — from daily audit timings to how long it takes to become ISO 27001 certified overall.

ISO 27001 Certification

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What Does a Typical ISO 27001 Audit Day Look Like?

At Tempo Audits, we provide a clear audit schedule in advance, including structured breaks and flexibility to suit your needs.

Schedule and Breaks:

Standard Day: Audits are typically scheduled from 9am to 5pm UK time, with calendar invites sent in advance.
Breaks Included: A lunch break and short morning/afternoon breaks are built in.
Flexible Timing: Need to take an extra 5 or 10 minutes for a tea break or a delivery? No problem — just let the auditor know.
Remote-Friendly: Our remote audits are designed to accommodate real-world interruptions. Your comfort matters.

Adjusting the Start or Finish Time:

Prefer an earlier or later start (e.g., 8am or 10am)? We’ll aim to accommodate, depending on auditor availability.
While we aim for 8-hour days, the last portion of the afternoon (typically from 3pm onward) is often reserved for internal auditor review — meaning your involvement may wrap up early.

How Is the Audit Length Calculated?

Your total audit time is determined using the ISO 27006 guidelines, which consider:

Organization size
Number of employees and sites
Scope and complexity of your ISMS

We plan your audit so that all work is completed within the allocated time — it’s extremely rare for extra time to be needed. If something causes a delay (like inaccessible systems or key people being unavailable), the auditor will communicate this and arrange additional time if necessary (with prior agreement)

Tempo’s audit processes are built with your tech-stack in mind - with auditors trained-up with the tools you use

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How Long Does It Take to Get ISO 27001 Certified?

The ISO 27001 certification process typically takes 3 to 12 months, depending on your company’s size, existing processes, and information security maturity.

Typical Timelines:

Small to medium-sized businesses: 3–6 months, especially if basic security measures are already in place.
Larger or complex organizations: 6–12+ months due to broader scope and documentation needs.

Factors That Affect How Long It Takes:

Scope of your ISMS: Covering more teams, tools, and systems takes more time.
Current security posture: If you already have strong controls in place, expect a quicker journey.
Audit readiness: Your internal audit and evidence quality affect how smooth the external audit goes.
Availability of team members: Delays happen if key people or evidence aren’t ready.
Your certification body: Some offer faster onboarding or remote audits.
Tooling and automation: Using platforms like Vanta or Drata can cut down prep time significantly.

At Tempo Audits, we tailor your audit schedule to your organization’s readiness and offer flexible options that help you get certified efficiently — without cutting corners.