ISO/IEC 38505-1:2026 – Information technology addresses the governance of data as a distinct domain within the governance of IT. Prepared by ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 40, it adapts the established governance principles and model of ISO/IEC 38500 to data, giving governing bodies a framework for the effective, efficient and acceptable use of data in their organizations. This page presents an interpretive overview for testing engineers, procurement specialists and quality managers.
Standard Information
Governance of data has become a board-level concern, and ISO/IEC 38505-1:2026 responds by translating the well-known governance model of ISO/IEC 38500 into the data domain. The document guides owners, directors, partners and executive managers on the use and protection of data. It also serves auditors, service providers and external specialists who need a common reference for evaluating how organizations govern data. - Designation: ISO/IEC 38505-1:2026
- Full title: Information technology - Governance of data - Part 1: Application of ISO/IEC 38500 to the governance of data
- Status: Current
- Publication date: 2026-08-20
- ICS classification: 35, 35.020
- Technical committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 40
Scope and Application
The document sets out principles for governing bodies on the effective, efficient and acceptable use of data within their organizations. It does so in three ways: it applies the governance principles and model of ISO/IEC 38500 to data; it assures stakeholders that adherence to its principles and practices gives them confidence in the organization's governance of data; and it informs and guides governing bodies in the use and protection of data.
Beyond governing bodies, the document addresses a wider community. Executive managers, external businesses and technical specialists such as legal or accounting specialists, retail or industrial associations, professional bodies, internal and external service providers including consultants, and auditors can all draw on it as a shared reference.
Its applicability is deliberately broad. The document covers the governance of current and future use of data that is created, collected, stored, secured, protected or controlled by IT systems, and it impacts the management processes and decisions relating to data. It defines governance of data as a subset or domain of the governance of IT, which in turn sits within organizational or corporate governance. All organizations fall within its scope: public and private companies, government entities and not-for-profit organizations, of any size and regardless of their dependence on data.
Products and Materials Covered
This standard is not a product specification, so no physical equipment, material or device family falls within its scope. Under the ICS classifications 35 and 35.020, it belongs to information technology in general, covering foundational concepts rather than measurable hardware characteristics.
The "object" it governs is data held or processed by IT systems. This includes data that is created, collected, stored, secured, protected or controlled by such systems, in both current and future use. The applicable subject matter therefore spans governance frameworks, management processes and decision practices relating to data, together with the organizational structures through which governing bodies direct and evaluate data use.
Procurement specialists should note that conformity claims made against this document concern governance arrangements, not product performance. Any statement that a supplier "conforms" to ISO/IEC 38505-1:2026 refers to how its governing body directs and controls data use, assessed through documentation and management review rather than laboratory measurement.
Testing and Compliance Considerations
Because this is a governance standard, conventional type testing does not apply. Instead, conformity is demonstrated through documented evidence: governance charters, principles adopted by the governing body, decision records and management processes relating to data. An accredited laboratory or audit body working with this type of standard typically reviews such documentation against each principle, interviews responsible managers and records findings in an assessment report.
Acceptance verification, in this context, means confirming that the governance model has actually been applied. Auditors check whether the governing body has evaluated, directed and monitored the use of data in line with the principles, and whether stakeholders can be given the confidence the document describes. Where evidence is incomplete, findings are classified as nonconformities or observations for correction.
Retest triggers translate here into reassessment triggers. Material changes in IT systems, new categories of data collected, changes in governing-body structure, or revised stakeholder obligations can each justify a renewed review. Organizations commonly schedule periodic reassessment and event-driven review, mirroring practice in other management-system audits. No pass/fail values exist in the standard; judgment rests on the presence and consistency of governance evidence.
Readers who require the authoritative text should obtain it through official ISO or IEC channels; this overview is interpretive and does not replace the document itself.
Related Standards and Series Context
The designation itself carries structural information. The number 38505 identifies the series, and the suffix "-1" marks this as Part 1 of a multi-part structure. Part 1 carries the title "Application of ISO/IEC 38500 to the governance of data", which signals its role as the entry point that grounds the series in the parent IT governance framework.
The year element, 2026, indicates the edition associated with the publication date of 2026-08-20. Under ISO/IEC designation conventions, a dated reference freezes the edition cited, while undated references allow later revisions to apply. The joint "ISO/IEC" prefix shows development by the two organizations acting together through their common technical committee, ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 40.
No statement about the content of other parts, or about differences from earlier editions, can be drawn from the designation alone. Readers should consult official ISO and IEC catalogues for the current series composition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What
sample requirements apply when submitting for evaluation under ISO/IEC 38505-1:2026 – Information technology?
Submission depends on the governance framework and IT organizational context being assessed rather than physical specimens. Because ISO/IEC 38505-1:2026 – Information technology addresses governance of data at the board level, relevant materials typically include governance documentation, policies, and supporting IT management records.
How does ISO/IEC 38505-1:2026 – Information technology differ from related standards in applicability and method selection?
This standard focuses specifically on governance roles and responsibilities for data within IT governance, complementing other parts of the series. Related standards may address implementation guidance or management systems, so method selection depends on whether your need is governance oversight, implementation, or broader IT service compliance.
What
is the judgment basis for demonstrating compliance with ISO/IEC 38505-1:2026 – Information technology?
Assessment relies on the standard's governance model, definitions, and principles as the reference basis, evaluated against an organization's documented governance structures. Since the standard provides a framework rather than numeric limits, conformity judgments rest on qualitative alignment with its specified governance responsibilities.