Both TISAX and ISO 27001 address information security. Both require you to demonstrate that sensitive information is appropriately protected. But they serve different purposes, use different assessment mechanisms, and satisfy different requirements.
The question of which one your organisation needs is not a technical question. It is a commercial one: who are your customers, and what do they require?
What TISAX is
TISAX is the automotive industry's information security assessment scheme, governed by the German automotive association VDA. It is required when organisations handle sensitive information for automotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers. Assessments are conducted at one of three levels (AL 1, AL 2, AL 3) depending on the sensitivity of the information involved. Results are shared through the ENX portal and not published publicly.
What ISO 27001 is
ISO 27001 is the international standard for Information Security Management Systems. It is recognised globally, certification is awarded by accredited certification bodies, and a valid certificate can be used as evidence of security posture across multiple clients and sectors.
The key differences
TISAX is industry-specific and assessment-based. ISO 27001 is sector-agnostic and certification-based. TISAX results are shared only with specific business partners through ENX. ISO 27001 certificates are publicly verifiable. Most automotive suppliers who need TISAX do not automatically satisfy the requirement by holding an ISO 27001 certificate, although there is significant overlap in the controls required.
If your customer base spans both automotive and non-automotive clients, running ISO 27001 and TISAX in parallel with controls mapped across both frameworks is often the most efficient approach.
AuditVantage supports organisations through TISAX scoping, Assessment Level selection, gap analysis, remediation, and assessment readiness across all three assessment levels. Get in touch to discuss your requirements.