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💻  ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018
ISO Certified Standard

IT Service Management System

The global benchmark for IT service management — certifying that your organisation delivers managed IT services that meet agreed quality, reliability, and performance standards.

9K+
Certified Organisations
ITIL
Aligned Framework
2018
Current Edition
IT service management and infrastructure
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QACS Certified IAS Accredited Body
Overview

What is ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018?

ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 is the international standard for IT Service Management Systems (SMS). It specifies the requirements for planning, establishing, implementing, operating, monitoring, reviewing, maintaining, and improving an SMS to deliver managed services. It is aligned with ITIL best practices and is recognised globally as the definitive IT service management certification.

Certification demonstrates to clients, government bodies, and enterprise buyers that your IT services are delivered through managed, disciplined, and continually improving processes. For managed service providers (MSPs), system integrators, and IT departments, ISO 20000-1 is increasingly a tender prerequisite and competitive differentiator in a crowded market.

ISO 20000-1 :2018

Internationally Recognised Standard

Published by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), this standard is accredited under ISO/IEC 17021-1 and recognised by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) worldwide.

Key Characteristics

Aligned with ITIL v4 best practices
Covers design, delivery, and improvement of IT services
Required for many government IT contracts
Applicable to internal IT departments and MSPs
Integrates with ISO 27001 for IT governance
Requirements

Key IT Service Management Requirements

ISO 20000-1:2018 requires organisations to establish a Service Management System that governs all IT service delivery activities from planning through to improvement.

Cl.4

SMS Context & Scope

Define the Service Management System scope, objectives, and the services covered, aligned to business and customer needs.

Cl.5

SMS Leadership

Management commitment to service quality, defined service management policy, and clear governance structure.

Cl.6

Service Management Planning

Plan the SMS to achieve objectives, manage risks to service delivery, and plan changes to the SMS.

Cl.7

Support Processes

Manage resources, build service management competency, control documented information, and manage supplier relationships.

Cl.8

Service Delivery Operations

Operate incident, problem, change, release, configuration, and capacity management processes.

Cl.9

SMS Performance Evaluation

Monitor service performance metrics, conduct internal audits, and review the SMS effectiveness through management reviews.

Cl.10

SMS Improvement

Address service delivery nonconformities, implement corrective actions, and drive continual service improvement.

Benefits

Why Get ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 Certified?

Certification delivers measurable returns — operational, commercial, and reputational.

🖥️

Service Quality Improvement

Disciplined ITSM processes reduce incidents, improve resolution times, and deliver more reliable IT services.

📋

Government Contract Access

MeitY, NIC, and state government tenders increasingly require ISO 20000-1 from IT service contractors.

🤝

Client Confidence

Demonstrates to enterprise clients that your IT services are managed, measured, and continually improved.

Faster Incident Resolution

Formal incident and problem management processes reduce MTTR and prevent recurring failures.

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Cost Efficiency

Structured change and configuration management prevents costly unplanned outages and failed changes.

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Vendor Management

Formal supplier management controls improve quality of outsourced components within your service delivery chain.

Applicability

Who Should Get Certified?

Organisations that benefit most:

  • Managed service providers bidding for enterprise IT contracts
  • IT companies seeking government technology project eligibility
  • In-house IT departments demonstrating service management maturity
  • System integrators managing complex multi-vendor environments
  • Cloud and data centre operators with SLA-driven commitments

Industries covered:

Managed Service Providers (MSPs)System IntegratorsIT Outsourcing CompaniesBPO & KPOBanks & Financial ServicesTelecom OperatorsGovernment IT DepartmentsHealthcare ITE-government ServicesCloud Service Providers
How to Get Certified

QACS Certification Process

Our IAS-accredited, structured audit process ensures your certification is credible, efficient, and internationally recognised.

01

Service Catalogue Review

Map all services in scope, identify management processes, and assess current ITSM capability against ISO 20000-1.

02

SMS Development

Define and document your service management processes, policies, SLAs, and governance framework.

03

Stage 1 Audit

Documentation review confirming SMS scope, process documentation, and readiness for Stage 2.

04

Stage 2 Audit

On-site audit verifying ITSM process operation, service performance evidence, and SMS effectiveness.

05

Certificate Issued

ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 certificate issued — valid 3 years with annual surveillance audits.

Ready to Get ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 Certified?

Contact QACS International today. Our team will assess your readiness, walk you through the process, and get your certification journey started — quickly and cost-effectively.