How do ISIS12, VDS 10000, BSI 200-1, and ISO/IEC 27001 compare on cost, scalability, and certification?
ISIS12 and VDS 10000 are simple but paid and not internationally recognised; BSI 200-1 is free and comprehensive but a 1000-page beast and de facto mandatory for German public sector; ISO/IEC 27001 is paid but scales globally and is the only one that yields an internationally recognised certification.
* ISIS12 / VDS 10000 (paid, SME, no cert) then BSI 200-1 (free, heavy, de-facto mandatory for authorities) then ISO/IEC 27001 (paid, scales, certifiable). *
| ISMS | Pro | Contra |
|---|---|---|
| ISIS12 | Einfach, sehr konkret | Gegen Gebühr, nicht international anerkannt, skaliert nicht gut |
| VDS 10000 | Einfach, sehr konkret | Gegen Gebühr, nicht international anerkannt, skaliert nicht gut |
| BSI 200-1 | Umfassend, skaliert (umständlich), frei zugänglich | Insgesamt ~1000 Seiten Normtexte; "de facto" Pflicht für Behörden |
| ISO/IEC 27001 | Umfassend, skaliert gut, Zertifizierung | Gegen Gebühr, erfordert ISMS-Fachwissen |
How to choose:
- Need international recognition or sell into enterprise → ISO 27001.
- German public sector or critical infrastructure → BSI Grundschutz.
- Small organisation needing a starting checklist → ISIS12 or VDS 10000.
Tip: "Skaliert gut" matters more than it sounds. An ISMS that works for 50 people often collapses at 5,000 — at scale you need a framework that supports delegated ownership, automated evidence, and continuous auditing, which is where ISO 27001 (and its sub-standards 27003, 27004, 27007) shine.
Go deeper:
ISO/IEC 27000 family — the ISO 27k series the comparison anchors on: only 27001 yields internationally recognised certification.