by Phil Molé, MPH
As EHS software becomes more connected, data-driven, and AI-enabled, information security is no longer just an IT concern. It’s a business-critical requirement.
EHS platforms now manage everything from incident investigations and contractor records to ergonomics assessments, worker health data, and operational risk insights. In many cases, that includes personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive operational data, and proprietary business information. For organizations evaluating EHS software providers, the question is no longer simply “Does this platform have the features we need?” It’s also: “Can we trust this company with our data?”
That expectation is only growing stronger. Stakeholders across industries are demanding greater transparency and accountability around cybersecurity and data privacy, driven in part by evolving regulations like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which limits how for-profit businesses can use sensitive information pertaining to California residents, and EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which applies broadly to any companies processing the personal information of residents of the EU.
In the face of this increasing scrutiny around how organizations collect, store, and use sensitive information, there’s been growing demand for organizations to meet additional performance standards. Systems and Organization Control 2 (SOC 2,) a cybersecurity and data management compliance framework developed by the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants), has become a common benchmark for sound security practices, especially among SaaS providers. For example, an organization that attests its security practices to SOC 2 needs to prove its conformance with practices outlined by the standard and undergo periodic audits. But as cyber threats evolve and AI is further embedded into workplace operations, many organizations are looking for an even higher standard of assurance.
The Importance of ISO 27001
Assurance is where ISO 27001 stands apart.
ISO 27001 is the world’s leading international standard for information security management systems (ISMS), jointly developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It provides organizations with a structured, risk-based framework for protecting sensitive information and continuously improving security practices across people, processes, and technology. NSF International Strategic Registrations (NSF-ISR) certifies organizations to ISO 27001.
ISO 27001 is structured like other ISO standards, to help organizations that already hold certifications to other ISO standards add an ISO 27001 by NSF-ISR certificate. Like other ISO standards, including ISO 45001 for Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) and ISO 14001 for Environmental Management, 27001 embodies a risk-based approach. Another similarity to other ISO standards is that 27001 considers the context of the organization, which in this includes its “needs and objectives, security requirements, the organizational processes used and the size and structure of the organization.”
Organizations certified to ISO 27001 by NSF-ISR have demonstrated that they meet rigorous global standards for identifying, managing, and mitigating information security risks.
For buyers of EHS software, that matters because ISO 27001 by NSF-ISR certification signals far more than a basic security checklist. Compared to SOC 2, ISO 27001 is generally considered more prescriptive, more comprehensive, and more difficult to achieve. It requires organizations to implement and maintain a formalized, continuously improved information security management system, not just document controls at a point in time. Certification demonstrates that security is embedded into the organization’s operations, governance, and risk management processes at every level. Organizations certified to ISO 27001 by NSF-ISR must also undergo a rigorous 3-year certification audit cycle, with annual audits the first two years and an extensive recertification audit during the third year.
That level of rigor is becoming especially important as AI adoption accelerates within EHS. While many organizations recognize the potential of AI to improve safety outcomes, automate workflows, and surface risks faster, trust remains one of the biggest barriers to adoption. EHS professionals want assurance that AI systems are secure, transparent, and responsibly managed, particularly when sensitive employee information may be involved. In areas like ergonomics, occupational health, and worker observations, AI tools may process data tied directly to individuals, making privacy and security foundational to user confidence.
Trust is Essential in EHS Software
Our own surveys continue to confirm that trust is a decisive factor in EHS software selection. For example, EHS professionals who are not currently using AI consistently cite the need for proof that they can trust the software as a main stumbling block. Much of the trust they’re seeking is connected to the outputs of AI, and whether they’re accurate and relevant for EHS, but some of it also relates to protection of sensitive data like PII.
In that environment, certification to ISO 27001 by NSF-ISR helps organizations move beyond hype to governance, and operational maturity. By “governance,” we mean the user of the EHS software can verify that the software is effective and accurate and does everything it’s supposed to do and none of what it’s not supposed to do. An ISO 27001 by NSF-ISR certification demonstrates that a software provider has invested in the controls, governance, and risk management processes necessary to safeguard sensitive information while supporting innovation responsibly.
For large enterprises and global organizations, ISO 27001 by NSF-ISR certification is increasingly becoming a vendor requirement, not just a differentiator, because it provides confidence that technology partners can support broader corporate cybersecurity and compliance objectives.
Keep in mind, too, that you can’t separate questions of trust in data security practices from questions of trust when it comes to broader issues related to the software platform, and the provider.
For instance, does the software company offer a true platform, with a single sign on and integrated user experience? Are there proof points, in terms of numbers of customers, recognition by third-party analysts, and a visible roster of human subject matter experts (SMEs) behind the software.
You also need to make sure that any software you have (including its AI capabilities) is purpose-built for EHS. That is, you need software that has EHS expertise baked in, and algorithms trained on real EHS datasets, so it can accurately identify potential for severe injury and fatality (PSIF) risks from your incident descriptions, or pinpoint root causes for incidents, or identify appropriate corrective actions to address identified root causes.
Finally, if you’re looking into AI for EHS, make sure that any agentic AI in the software doesn’t overstep its boundaries. While some vendors emphasize the autonomy of their AI agents, you don’t want agents to exercise complete autonomy in high-risk situations and environments. The AI you can trust follows a human in the loop approach, in which human EHS SMEs still have a role in approving or rejecting the output of the AI.
Ultimately, choosing an EHS software provider is about more than technology capabilities. It’s about selecting a long-term partner your organization can trust. Companies certified to ISO 27001 have cleared a high bar, proving they take information security seriously and are committed to protecting customer data in an increasingly complex digital landscape. For organizations navigating the future of connected safety and AI-enabled EHS, that assurance matters more than ever.
VelocityEHS: A Partner You can Trust
VelocityEHS has a proven track record in listening to and supporting EHS professionals and gaining their trust. We’ve attested our software to SOC 2 for years, and now, we’re certified to ISO 27001 by NSF-ISR. Our certification speaks to the high bar we meet for data governance, not only by being able to earn the certification, but also by committing to the annual audits needed to maintain the certification.
With the VelocityEHS Accelerate Platform ® you also get a true platform that brings together our award-winning Safety, Ergonomics, Chemical Management, and Operational Risk capabilities into one seamless solution. You can access them all via a single sign-on, with consolidated data access and reporting capabilities.
We’ve also purposely designed our VelocityAI capabilities with the input of real human EHS and AI SMEs, who trained the AI on real EHS datasets for real-world accuracy. VelocityAI follows a human in the loop approach, because we know EHS professionals need to be looped in, not edged out.
Continuous improvement is a core tenet of many ISO standards, and it’s foundational to everything we do at VelocityEHS. Our technologists engage with professional AI communities and attend top-tier conferences. They also frequently contribute to the world of academia and, on occasion, get to see their work emblazoned with a trademark symbol.
For all of these reasons, and many more, VelocityEHS has earned the trust of the EHS community, attested by 15,000+ customers, over 10 million global users, and recognition by third-party software analysts like Verdantix.
Are you ready to see our software in action for yourself? Set up a meeting today.
